Allocating manufacturing overhead costs is done:

Allocating manufacturing overhead costs during the period is essential for accurately applying costs to products as they are made. This process allows management to keep track of overhead expenses in real-time, enabling more precise financial analysis and decision-making. By allocating overhead throughout the accounting period, businesses can better assess the cost of production, adjust pricing strategies, and manage budgets more effectively.

This approach contrasts with the notion of allocating overhead only at the beginning or end of the period, which would provide less timely information about the costs associated with production. Allocating overhead solely after job completion would delay insights and potentially hinder overall operational efficiency and effectiveness in financial planning. This ongoing allocation is fundamental in managerial accounting, where updated data is crucial for performance evaluation and strategic planning.