The correct answer is D. Assisting Shareholders in decision making.
Cost accounting is a branch of accounting that focuses on the measurement, analysis, and reporting of costs. It is used to help businesses make informed decisions about pricing, production, and other areas.
The four main objectives of cost accounting are:
- Ascertainment of cost: This involves identifying and measuring the costs of products, services, and activities.
- Determination of selling price: Cost accounting information can be used to set prices that will cover costs and generate a profit.
- Cost control and cost reduction: Cost accounting can be used to identify areas where costs can be reduced.
- Performance evaluation: Cost accounting information can be used to evaluate the performance of managers and employees.
Assisting shareholders in decision making is not an objective of cost accounting. This is because cost accounting is focused on the internal needs of the business, not the needs of shareholders. Shareholders are interested in the overall financial performance of the business, not the specific costs of individual products or services.
Cost accounting information can be used to help shareholders make informed decisions, but it is not the primary purpose of cost accounting.