A responsibility center in which a manager is responsible for both revenues and costs is a(n):

Definition of Responsibility Center

A responsibility center is a part or subunit of a company in which the manager has some degree of authority and responsibility. The company's detailed organization chart is a logical source for identifying responsibility centers. The most common responsibility centers are the numerous departments within a company.

Examples of Responsibility Centers

Responsibility centers are often categorized by the degree of authority and responsibility given to the manager:

  • Cost centers. In a cost center the manager is responsible only for costs. Examples of cost centers include a production department, maintenance department, accounting department, human resource department, etc.
  • Profit centers. In a profit center the manager is responsible for its costs and revenues. For example, a company may have a consumer products division and an industrial division to more effectively market the company's products. Each division's manager is responsible for sales and expenses. However, if the company's executive team makes all of the investment decisions, the divisions are considered to be profit centers.
  • Investment centers. In an investment center the manager is responsible for investment decisions as well as costs and revenues. For instance, in a large corporation with many subsidiary companies, the corporation may give authority to the head of each subsidiary to make decisions on the needed investments. In that situation the manager is the head of an investment center.

Meaning Of Responsibility Centre

A responsibility center is an operational unit or entity within an organization, that is responsible for all the activities and tasks structured for that unit. These centers have their own goal, staffs, objectives, policies and procedures, and financial reports. And are used to balance responsibilities related to expenses incurred, revenue generated, and funds invested to an individual.

In a multinational or large corporation, the organization tasks are divided into a subtask, and each task is given to various small division or groups. In this context, all groups in that organization are responsibility centers.

Related links: What is a responsibility accounting?

Types of Responsibility Centre:

  • Cost Centre- A Cost Centre is a department or a unit which supervises, allocates, segregates, and eliminates all sorts of the cost related to a company. The cost center prime work is to check the cost of an organization and to limit the unwanted expenditure the company may acquire. The cost can be the determination of both person and location. In multinational companies, the cost center is authorized to decrease and manage the cost.
  • Revenue Centre- This center is accountable for initiating and monitoring revenue. The management does not have any control over the cost or investment but can monitor a few of the expenses in the marketing section. The production of the revenue center is calculated by analyzing the budgeted revenue with actual revenue and actual marketing expenses with budgeted marketing expenses.
  • Profit Centre-It is a division or department of a company which operates for the calculation of profit. In an organization, different profit centers are managed by the managers, who identifies profits on the basis of costs and incomes. Profit Centre is accountable for all the actions associated with the sales of goods and production.
  • Investment Centre- This center is responsible for both investments and revenue. The investment manager can control expenses, income, the fund invested in assets, etc. He also has the authority to form a credit policy, which has an immediate impact on debt collection.

Also add: What are the functions of management?

The above mentioned is the concept, that is elucidated in detail about ‘Responsibility Centre’ for the Commerce students. To know more, stay tuned to BYJU’S.

Do You Know?

Q1. What is the 4 Ps of Marketing MIx?

Answer: The 4 Ps of Marketing Mix are Product, Price, Place, and Promotion

Q2. Who is known as the father of modern management theory?

Answer: Henry Fayol is the father of modern management theory

What is a Responsibility Center?

A responsibility center is a functional entity within a business that has its own goals and objectives, dedicated staff, policies and procedures, and financial reports. It is used to give managers specific responsibility for revenues generated, expenses incurred, and/or funds invested. This allows the senior managers of a company to trace all financial activities and results of a business back to specific employees. Doing so preserves accountability, and may also be used to calculate bonus payments for employees.

There may be many responsibility centers in a business, but never less than one such center. Thus, a responsibility center is usually a subset of a business. These centers are usually stated on a firm’s organization chart.

From an accounting perspective, a financial report should be issued to each responsibility center that itemizes the revenues, expenses, profits, and/or return on investment for which the manager of each center is solely responsible. This can result in quite a large number of customized reports being issued on an ongoing basis.

The use of multiple responsibility centers requires a certain amount of corporate infrastructure to develop each center, track its results, and manage expectations with the various managers.

Types of Responsibility Centers

A responsibility center may be one of four types, which are noted below.

Revenue Center

A revenue center is solely responsible for generating sales. A typical revenue center is the sales department.

Cost Center

A cost center is solely responsible for the incurrence of certain costs. A typical cost center is the janitorial department.

Profit Center

A profit center is responsible for both revenues and expenses, which result in profits and losses. A typical profit center is a product line, for which a product manager is responsible.

Investment Center

An investment center is responsible not only for profits, but also for the return on funds invested in the group's operations. A typical investment center is a subsidiary entity, for which the subsidiary's president is responsible.

In which of the following responsibility Centres is a manager responsible for both revenues and costs?

Profit Centers. A profit center is an organizational segment in which a manager is responsible for both revenues and costs (such as a Starbucks store location).

Which types of responsibility centers generate both revenues and costs?

Type 1: Profit center The manager has control over both costs and revenues.

What are the 4 types of responsibility centers?

A responsibility center may be one of four types, which are noted below..
Revenue Center. A revenue center is solely responsible for generating sales. ... .
Cost Center. A cost center is solely responsible for the incurrence of certain costs. ... .
Profit Center. ... .
Investment Center..

What is responsibility center in responsibility accounting?

A responsibility center is an organizational unit headed by a manager, who is responsible for its activities and results. In responsibility accounting, revenues and cost information are collected and reported on by responsibility centers.