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: Accountancy 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
87162  National Higher Certificate: Accountancy 
ORIGINATOR
Nelson Mandela University 
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 does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
To apply, evaluate, conclude and report on all the fields of accounting in order to comply with the powers, duties and/or requirements of the law at the Registered Accounting Technician level. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Certificate: Accounting; NQF level 5 or equivalent
NQF level 5 language proficiency in English. 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
N 

QUALIFICATION RULES 
The qualification shall be awarded to a learner who has completed the required credits either through formal education at the technikon, or through a combination of technikon learning and the recognition of relevant experience and/or other learning at appropriate levels that comply with the capabilities defined for this qualification. 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
1. Understand theoretical backgrounds to computer and information systems and operate the computer using various packages.

2. Prepare, analyse and interpret financial statements for regulated and other business entities.

3. To apply and assess Internal Control and code of ethics to business entities

4. Understand and apply legal principles within corporate environment.

5. Understand and apply Quantitative Techniques in a financial environment

SPECIFIED OUTCOMES:

1.1 Understand the computer background theory

1.2 Operate the various computer packages


2.1 Prepare and analyse financial reports for various types of business


3.1 Examine the role and function of the Accounting Officer in applying internal control and the code of ethics

3.2 Examine the role and function of the Audit and the Auditor

3.3 Examine the applications of internal control in the business environment


4.1 Understand and apply legal principles within corporate environment


5.1 Discuss the use of quantitative techniques in the financial environments

5.2 Apply statistical methods and financial calculations in the financial environments


CRITICAL OUTCOMES:

a) Communicating effectively by means of oral, written and mathematical persuasions.

b) Working effectively with others in a team.

c) Identifying and solving basic problems.

d) Demonstrating an understanding of the dynamics between the micro- and intermediate environments as a set of related systems by recognising that basic problem-solving does not exist in isolation.

e) Collecting, analysing, organising and critically evaluating information.

f) Using science and technology effectively.

g) Contributing to the personal development of the learner and the social and economic development of society. 

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
1).
  • Knowledge of the following areas will have to be demonstrated:
  • Historical background
  • Concept definitions
  • Operating systems concepts
  • Information organisation
  • Telecommunications
  • Application programs: background information of various application packages
  • PC hardware and software acquisition
  • Security
  • The learner will demonstrate competence in the use of the following packages:
  • Operating sitemaps: MS DOS commands and file management
  • Operating systems: Windows 95 and file management
  • Word processing
  • Spreadsheets and graphics
  • Record, file and database management
  • Use the specific package in the field of study


    2).
  • The learner will demonstrate the application of knowledge in the following areas:
  • Advanced partnerships
  • Company accounting
  • Closed cooperation
  • Incomplete records and correction of errors
  • Funds statement and cash flow statement
  • Insurance claims
  • Analysis and interpretation of financial statements - Intermediate
  • Royalty accounting
  • Contract accounts including work in progress
  • Branch accounting

    3).
  • Knowledge in the following areas will be demonstrated:
  • The nature, scope and objectives of verification of accounting records of close corporation
  • Qualifications and qualities of an accounting officer
  • Appointment and responsibilities of an accounting officer (encompassing the requirements of the lose corporation act)
  • Rules of professional conduct and code of ethics
  • Disciplinary rules of the institute of commercial and financial accountants of Southern Africa
  • The treatment of material irregularities
  • Reporting an annual financial statement.
  • Knowledge in the following areas will be demonstrated:
  • The nature, scope and objectives of an audit
  • Qualifications and qualities of an auditor
  • Appointment and responsibilities of an auditor (encompassing the requirements of both the companies' act and the PAA act)
  • Generally accepted accounting principles
  • Knowledge in the following areas will be demonstrated:
  • Assertions underlying the financial statements
  • The need for systems, as a management tool to achieve control objectives
  • The concept of control objectives : authorization, accountability, access to assets, asset substantiation
  • Methods used to determine the strengths and weakness of systems
  • Control objectives of specific systems, e.g. Purchases, sales, wages, fixed assets
  • Principles of control in a DP environment
  • Routine transaction auditing and verification of existence, ownership and valuation of assets and liabilities

    4).
  • Knowledge of legal principles within corporate environment will demonstrated in the following areas:
  • The definition of the concept company
  • The establishment of the company
  • Memorandum
  • Offer of shares and prospectus
  • Shareholding and membership
  • The general meeting
  • Directors and board of directors
  • Office holders of company
  • Reorganisation, arrangements, compromises and alteration in control
  • Company groupings
  • Overview of Liquidation
  • Overview of Judicial management
  • Financial statements
  • Close corporations

    5).
  • Knowledge of the following areas will to be demonstrated:
  • Quantitative methods and the decision making process
  • Nature and interpretation of statistics
  • Collection and organisation of data
  • Elementary probability theory
  • Test- probability distributions
  • Knowledge of the following areas will to be demonstrated:
  • Statistical estimation
  • Test of hypothesis
  • Test -two variable distribution
  • Time series and estimating
  • Test -Chi-square test
  • Analyse variance

    Integrated assessment:
  • A range of formative and summative methods and techniques in the form of written tests, practical exercises and case studies, projects and written examinations.
  • Official registration for articles at the professional bodies. The professional bodies will control and manage the process as they have done in the past. This includes the assessment of prior formal, informal and non-formal learning that may contribute to the achievement of the qualification. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Progresses to:
    A qualification at NQF level 6 First Degree (Accounting) 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • SERTEC
  • Advisory Committee
  • SAICA (South African Institute of Chartered Accountants)
  • ICFA (Institute of Commercial and Financial Accountants)
  • SAIBA (South African Institute of Business Accountants) 
    		•

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    Experience
    Related working experience at a management level and / or academic experience in accountancy

    Qualifications
    At least one level higher (e.g. Bachelors Degree) 

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

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS 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. Nelson Mandela University 


    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.