SAQA

All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.

SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

National Higher Certificate: Financial Information Systems

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
72273	National Higher Certificate: Financial Information Systems
ORIGINATOR
Durban University of Technology
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
National Higher Certificate	Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies		Finance, Economics and Accounting
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	240	Level 5	Level N/A: Pre-2009 was L5	Regular-Provider-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"		SAQA 06120/18	2018-07-01	2018-12-31
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2019-12-31		2022-12-31

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.

This qualification replaces:

Qual ID	Qualification Title	Pre-2009 NQF Level	NQF Level	Min Credits	Replacement Status
1345	National Higher Certificate: Financial Information Systems	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	240	Complete

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

A qualifying learner will be able to work effectively in a computerised accounting environment.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Certificate in Financial Information Systems or equivalent (Level 5)

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

The qualifying learner should be able to:
1. Prepare complex financial statements and analyse them in order to reach basic conclusions.
2. Apply the principles of systems analysis, design and implementation to small business systems.
3. Demonstrate competency in the operation of costing systems and the compilation of basic management information.
4. Audit the basic business cycles and their computing input, processing and output (with the assistance of CAATS).
5. Apply the principles of technologies needed to implement software systems for business transactions.
6. Apply the principles of technologies needed to implement a software system catering for a business influenced by information technologies.
7. Apply business knowledge and skills effectively to bridge the gap between the information technology discipline and the business functional areas in industry

Specified Outcomes

1
Prepare financial statements for complex partnerships, close corporations and companies manually
(10 credits)
Apply relevant legislation to the financial statements of close corporations and companies
(6 credits)
Prepare financial statements for sole traders and partnerships from incomplete records
(6 credits)
Calculate and interpret ratios of profitability, liquidity, financial structure and financial cover
(8 credits)

2.
Apply the systems development life cycle to applicable case studies
(8 credits)
Use correctly the software development techniques and tools as indicated by Industry for given problems and case studies
(10 credits)
Design a simple solution using a database and proper user interfaces
(12 credits)

3.
Operate a complex process costing system with emerging main and by-products
(E) (6 credits)
Determine profitability by way of direct and absorption costing methods, including breakeven analysis
(E) (6 credits)
Compile information for pricing decisions
(E) (10 credits)
Draft basic manufacturing budgets and apply control meganisms by way of elementary variance analysis
(E) (8 credits)

4.
Draw up an audit program and perform (manual and computerised) compliance and substantive financial audit tests on Expenditure, Manufacturing, Income and Administrative cycles
(E) (30 credits)

5.
Solve information systems problems by applying advanced programming principles
(E) (14 credits)
Implement a business solution with user interfaces
(E) (16 credits)

6.
Use correctly the software development techniques and tools, as indicated by industry, for given problems and case studies
(E) (10 credits)
Design and build information technology object oriented applications
(E) (4 credits)
Design and build business applications using the latest technology in electronic commerce
(E) (8 credits)
Design and build applications using the Internet
(E) (4 credits)
Design and build visual applications using graphics user interfaces
(E) (4 credits)

7.
Apply specific life skills such as formal communication and entrepreneurial aspects
(E) (10 credits)
Apply business principles using information technologies
(E) (10 credits)
Apply statistical methods to analyse simple data sets
(E) (10 credits)

Critical outcomes embedded in the specified outcomes

The qualification is designed and should be presented and assessed in such a way that the following skills of the learner are promoted and developed:

The ability to:
Take decisions and accept responsibility
Communicate effectively, using models, visual and language skills
Work effectively as a member of a team
Collect, organise and critically evaluate information in order to assess the situation correctly
Demonstrate an understanding that the problem-solving contexts do not exist in isolation and therefore require a look at any system as a whole.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

1).

1.1 Financial statements for complex partnerships, close corporations and companies are manually correctly prepared as prescribed by the acts governing them.
1.2 Incomplete accounting records are used to prepare financial statements for partnerships and sole traders according to current accounting practise.
1.3 Ratios are correctly calculated.
1.4 Ratios for different years and different business entities are compared and interpreted on an elementary basis.

2).

2.1 Solutions are developed, illustrating the correct use of appropriate tools and techniques for given case studies.
2.2 Software development techniques and tools are used correctly and the solutions completed correctly.
2.3 A database solution is designed and normalised up to third normal form, and designs for user interfaces are included.

3).

3.1 Practical exercises of complex process costing systems with main and by-products are correctly done.
3.2 Net income is determined by way of direct and absorption costing methods.
3.3 Profitability is determined by using break-even analysis.
3.4 Manufacturing budgets are prepared and elementary variances correctly calculated.

4).

4.1 An audit program is correctly compiled and compliance and substantive tests effectively performed.
4.1 Working papers to document evidence are drawn up.
4.1 Samples are drawn and tested by way of the CAATS package.

5).

5.1 Software solutions are designed and translated into computer programs producing correct results with acceptable programming principles within a given deadline.
5.2 A software solution is implemented correctly

6).

6.1 A working system is designed and implemented, producing correct results.
6.2 Information technology object-oriented applications are correctly designed and built.
6.3 The latest technology in electronic commerce is used to design and build business applications.
6.4 The Internet is used effectively in applications.
6.5 Graphics user interfaces are used effectively for visual applications.

7).

7.1 Specific life skills, communication, legal aspects and entrepreneurial skills are applied to elementary case studies.
7.2 Basic business principles are effectively applied.
7.3 Statistical methods are correctly used to analyse simple data sets.

Integrated assessment:

Competency is formatively assessed by way of tests and projects, and summatively by way of written and practical examinations.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

First Degree in Financial Information Systems.

MODERATION OPTIONS

As required by SERTEC

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

As required by SERTEC

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006; 2009; 2012; 2015.

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION:

When qualifications are replaced, some (but not all) of their learning programmes are moved to the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replaced qualification.

NONE

PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION:

This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.

1.	Durban University of Technology