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Budget manual

A budget manual documents the procedures, responsibilities, formats, assumptions and timetable used in budgeting. It helps managers prepare compatible information and understand approval and revision requirements. Its content should support the chosen budgeting system rather than prescribe an unnecessarily rigid process. The manual describes how budgets are prepared and controlled; it is not itself the numerical master budget or a guarantee that submitted estimates are unbiased.

Worked example

A manual specifies submission dates, standard cost assumptions, who approves headcount, and how departments report uncertainties in their proposals.

Common mistake

Do not confuse documented procedure with a reliable forecast: source data and managerial incentives still require review.

Where it appears in your exams

QualificationExamRelationshipPeriod
ACCA MA Direct September 2026–June 2027
ACCA PM Direct September 2026–June 2027
FIA FMA Direct September 2026–June 2027