Budgeting is not part of operations management?

What Is an Operating Budget?

An operating budget is a detailed projection of what a company expects its revenue and expenses will be over a period of time. Companies usually formulate an operating budget near the end of the year to show expected activity during the following year.

How Is an Operating Budget Used?

An operating budget helps organizations set and achieve business goals. Each month or quarter, managers can compare actual results to the operating budget and analyze the outcome, asking such questions as:

• Are sales more or less than projected?

• Were there unexpected expenses?

• Do figures for the rest of the year need to be adjusted?

Analyzing the results can help companies adapt to changing conditions, update their actions and strategies if necessary, and achieve better performance.

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What Are the Parts of an Operating Budget?

The more detailed an operating budget is, the more relevant and valuable it becomes. An operating budget may include a high-level summary along with several supporting sub-budgets that provide greater detail. Here are the most common components of an operating budget:

Revenue

This includes all the different ways a company makes money by selling goods or services. Projected revenue can be based on a simple year-over-year forecast, but breaking revenue down into its underlying components, such as unit volume and average price, can yield greater insights.

Variable Costs

These are costs that rise or fall in lockstep with sales volume. Examples include expenses for raw materials, labor, freight, and sales commissions. 

Fixed Costs

Fixed costs are expenses that remain fairly constant; they have to be paid whether sales are up or down. Examples include rent, utilities, equipment leases, and insurance.

Non-Cash Expenses

The most common non-cash expenses include depreciation, amortization, unrealized gains or losses, stock-based compensation, and deferred income taxes.

Non-Operating Expenses

These are costs that are not directly related to a business’s main activity. The most common non-operating expenses include interest payments, losses on the disposition of assets, and costs from currency exchanges.

Some industries or organizations may include other items in their operating budgets. However, capital expenses are not ordinarily part of an operating budget because they are long-term costs and an operating budget is a short-term budget.

How Do You Create an Operating Budget?

Creating an operating budget is a collaborative effort involving executives and managers. First, they must estimate the coming year’s revenue. This involves checking the firm’s historical performance and then considering market variables that could affect next year’s sales for better or worse. Among them:

• Changing trends in the industry or sector

• New products the company will launch

• Competitors’ actions

• Seasonal changes in sales

• Changes in the economy

Next, executives and managers must estimate projected expenses for each part of the business. Managers can account for their own departments. For example, HR’s budget might include recruiting expenses, changing benefit costs, the cost of replacing the department’s aging laptops, and a host of other outlays. The CFO and other executives may be in the best position to tally projected expenses that affect the entire company, such as rent and taxes. 

As with revenue estimates, considering historical data and market variables can help build sound expense estimates. 

Gathering all of the needed figures can be a big job for all but the smallest organizations. But it’s essential for creating an accurate operating budget—and enjoying the clarity and guidance this document will provide.

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A crucial part of running a business is to ensure that business operations are running smoothly. This is where the role of operations management is important. To ensure that the business reaches its financial goals, the operations manager will ensure that all processes are streamlined and mapped in order to achieve the desired outcome.

The operations manager wears many hats within an organisation. This includes helping with finance, sales, human resources, IT, and if necessary marketing. By keeping his or her hand in each of these jars, an operations manager is aware of what is happening within each of these departments.

Functions of operations manager

The operations manager has a wide range of functions that they need to perform within an organisation. Overall, the main job description of the operation manager is to ensure that all products and tasks are delivered on time, within budget, and to ensure the outcome is successful. To make sure that the job is done well, they perform the following functions:

1. Create and manage a budget
2. Define company policies and implement training
3. Project planning
4. Increase business efficiency
5. Forecasting

Create and manage a budget

Finance is an important aspect to track for an operations manager. They will receive an allocated budget to kickstart and maintain the project. With this budget, they will take a look at the cost of resources and tools. Part of budgeting includes:

Defining
Executing
Updating
Evaluation

Defining

The operations manager will receive the task and will need to allocate a budget towards resources and tools. Most organisations have policies and procedures and the operations manager will need to have a look at this to make sure he/she is following protocol.
The operations manager will need the following to create a budget:

1. Cost estimates
2. Basis of estimates
3. Scope baseline
4. Project schedule
5. Resource calendars
6. Contracts

Once these have been finalised, the operations manager can move on to the next step.

Executing

This means putting the plan into action. The operations manager will need to take a look at resources and tools. This means sitting with those involved and determining what is needed.

Updating

Along the way, there will be challenges. That much is a given in any business. Sometimes there might be an extra resource that is needed or the time during one of the project phases might need to be extended. The operations manager will need to assess the importance of the challenges and will update the budget accordingly. Obviously, this will need approval.

Evaluation

In this phase, the operations manager needs to look at the budget to see whether the allocated funds worked. This will help set a template for similar projects going forward as well as keep the project moving along as planned.

Define company policies and implement training

To ensure business operations are running smoothly, the operations manager will implement policies to make sure that employees are aware of their role within the company. The policies also see that staff work in a safe and harmonious environment.

Efficiency is also an important aspect for the operations manager. Training a staff to perform tasks excellently in the least time possible is a critical part of managing a team. To make sure that employees are performing the job well, constant teaching needs to be implemented. The operations manager may suggest courses or training seminars that may help career advancement and job efficiency.

The operations manager needs to ensure that policies and training meet the organisation’s overall mission.

Project planning

High-level planning is needed when running a business. An operations manager will need to become familiar with the use of schedules to help arrange project plans, resource workloads, work structure breakdowns, and setting realistic timelines.

Resources will need to be optimised to ensure that the company has an edge over competitors and to make sure the outcome is of the highest quality. The operations manager will ensure that the business strategy is in line with the company’s mission with regards to sales, capacity, etc.

Increase business efficiency

A business is only successful if all departments are working as a unit. With a common goal in mind, the outcome is fruitful. The job of the operations manager is to ensure that all objectives are met and that the business is running as efficiently as possible. What this means is that whatever support a department needs, the operations manager will make sure it happens. For example, if automation will help make a function more efficient and produce higher quality, the operations manager will assess to make sure it meets business objectives and is within budget. If given the green light, it will be implemented.

Management should look to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of support services (HR, IT and Finance) through improvements to each function as well as coordination and communication between support and business functions.

Forecasting

A big part of operations management is forecasting. This refers to product demand. By analysing, the operations manager will need to forecast to know what to produce, when to produce and how to produce in accordance with the customer’s needs.

Careers in operations management

There are many career options you could explore within the operations management field. These include:

Business Operations Manager
Quality Assurance Manager
Operations Research Analyst
Logistics Manager

Business Operations Manager

The business operations manager executes and manages the company’s operational activities. This means overseeing the day-to-day operations to ensure that goals are achieved and that business objectives are met.

This role requires an individual to have a ‘big picture’ perspective. What this means is that because they know what the business objectives are, they need to have an overview of what is happening in each department. This way, they can utilise the correct resources when needed.

The role also requires someone to be a critical thinker – someone who can analyse a situation and make a decision that is best for the company.

In larger companies, their roles include the following:

1. Creating and managing a budget
2. Oversee company policies and procedures
3. Ensure company compliance
4. Oversee hiring objectives and job description creation
5. Keep updated on employment trends and best practices
6. Keep track of resources and technology that may improve department efficiency

In a smaller scale business, this role will be slightly different. The business operations manager will supervise the finance department, staffing, policies, marketing and help create and manager business objectives.

No matter the company size, this role is crucial to a business’ operation.

Quality Assurance Manager

The quality assurance manager role needs someone with an excellent attention to detail. Products need to meet a high-quality threshold before it makes its way onto the market. The quality assurance manager will have a template in which they assess the end-product. This means that they create and manage quality control measures.

The role will include:

• Supervising the production process
• Leading teams
• Training new employees
• Managing suppliers
• Analysing data

A career in this field means that the individual needs to be inquisitive and committed to an excellent standard.

Operations Research Analyst

People in this role are high-level problem-solvers. Through optimisation, data mining, and statistical analysis – the operations research analysts are able to provide solutions to business inefficiencies and to streamline processes. The role requires someone who is proficient in mathematics and analytics.

Job responsibilities will include:

• Analysing data and information
• Making decisions
• Problem-solving
• Gathering data
• Using creative problem-solving skills
• Communicating results and outcomes
• Providing recommendations from the collected data

Companies have lately relied on data and analytics for better insight. The operations research analyst needs to turn raw data into something that will help inform the business objectives.

Logistics Manager

This role is usually found in the supply chain industry. The logistics manager is focused on an efficient and accurate work environment and output. In the supply chain industry, they’ll ensure that the products are delivered to the right location – all within a timely manner.

Their responsibilities include:

• Managing stock levels, delivery times and transport
• Analysing data from the systems to evaluate performance and quality
• Managing staff
• Negotiating with suppliers
• Analysing logistical issues and creating solutions
• Implementing health and safety procedures

Logistics managers will need to be effective communicators and have the ability to resolve problems fast.

What skills are needed for operations management

A career in operations management requires a certain skill set that will ensure the individual is successful within the role. These include:

1. Leadership
2. Conflict management
3. Flexibility
4. Critical thinking
5. Excellent time management

Leadership

The operations manager will need to implement and execute policies and procedures. In order to do so effectively, they will need leadership skills. Being a good leader means being able to communicate well, be a great motivator, and have the ability to adapt well to challenges. Creative thinking also indicated strong leadership. The operations manager needs to make plenty of decisions, some of which may require out-of-the-box thinking.

Conflict management

In any work environment, you’ll come across obstacles which are usually in the form of conflict. The operations manager will need to be proficient in conflict resolution. This means listening carefully, identifying points of agreement and disagreements, and developing a plan to resolve the conflict. The goal of the operations manager is to make sure that those involved feel heard during the resolution process and that the procedure is a stress-free one.

Flexibility

Some business environments are stressful and changes can happen by the minute. The operations manager will need to be flexible when it comes to adapting to the changes fast and ensuring that everything is communicated to the rest of the staff. At the same time, they will also need to be receptive to feedback by staff.

Critical thinking

Critical thinking means that an individual can analyse information objectively and come to a reasonable conclusion. An operations manager will need to assess all forms of data, facts, research and observations in order to draw a conclusion that will help them solve a problem or help them make a decision.

Excellent time management

Staff need to be efficient, produce high-quality work but also ensure that all work is completed within the deadline. This is done with excellent time management skills, which will help the organisation save money and increase revenue. An operations manager will encourage exceptional time management skills amongst the staff by ensuring the right skill set is paired with the right task. Getting to know the strengths of employees will help in this regard.

Operations manager salary

As mentioned above, the operations manager will need to have a high-level overview of how an organisation is run. This means having their hands within every department and business function – from IT, HR, Finance, etc.

The average salary for this position in South Africa is R 596 763 per annum.

Operations managers can expect to earn the following according to their occupational level:

A bonus remuneration within this field varies according to your experience and ranges from R16,000 – R42,000.

How to become an operations manager

There is no such thing as a Bachelor of Operations Management degree in university. In fact, the way most people advance to the job of an operations manager is by gaining work experience. The roadmap usually begins within the human resources, information technology, finance, or sales departments. This is where individuals receive a clear idea of how an organisation operates.

Once a significant amount of time has been spent in these departments, they may be promoted to a management position. This is where a whole new skill-set is developed. The management position will help develop communication, leadership, and delegation skills. This will be beneficial in an operations management environment.

The next step will be a junior entry-level position, where an individual can gradually work their way into a senior operations management position.
To speed up the advancement, most employers will encourage staff within the organisation to attend training seminars or participate in courses. These will help build the foundation and provide insight into the fundamentals of the position.

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