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: 

Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Management 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
94040  Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Management 
ORIGINATOR
University of Johannesburg 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Postgraduate Diploma  Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies  Generic Management 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Not Applicable  NQF Level 08  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered-data under construction  EXCO 0324/24  2024-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2031-06-30  

Registered-data under construction

The qualification content is currently being updated for the qualifications with the status “Registered-data under construction” or showing “DETAILS UNDER CONSTRUCTION” to ensure compliance with SAQA’S Policy and Criteria for the registration of qualifications and part-qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) (As amended, 2022). These qualifications are re-registered until 30 June 2027 and can legitimately be offered by the institutions to which they are registered.

 

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.  

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The purpose of this qualification is to strengthen the learner's knowledge and comprehension in the disciplines of Management Accounting and Finance. It requires a high level of theoretical engagement and intellectual independence providing the qualifying learners with the skills to relate this knowledge to a range of practical contexts generally encountered by accountants in business. The qualification comprises a broad-based curriculum to prepare the postgraduate learner for a wide range of finance-related specialties. The qualification emphasises application, analysis and evaluation within each topic area as well as the application of integrity and ethics in a professional environment. Mastering of the curriculum will provide learners with the skills to synthesise complex management, financial, performance and risk principles in order to drive and add value to the entities that employ them. The successful learner will gain an overall financial and business perspective which will provide them with a competitive advantage for employment.

Rationale:
The rationale for this qualification is to improve the current academic offering of the Department of Finance and Investment Management. The Postgraduate Diploma will be offered to learners who have successfully completed a Bachelor's degree or an Advanced Diploma with appropriate knowledge of Accounting, Financial Management and Cost and Management Accounting assessed at an NQF Level 7 or the completion of the Department's Bridging Programme in Financial Management pegged at NQF Level 7.

There is currently a large demand for graduates to further their qualifications. This is reflected by the increased number of applications received on an annual basis. Due to practical constraints of suitable staff members to supervise the research component required for a Bachelor Honours Degree, the Department would be forced to lower the intake of learners at Honours level. By introducing the Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Management in addition to offering the Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Financial Management would allow the University of Johannesburg to maintain its current NQF Level 8 learner intake. It would also increase the possibility of Advanced Diploma learners to obtain access to further education which might not be possible if only a Bachelor of Commerce Honours qualification is presented.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Management will be aligned to the CIMA (Chartered Institute for Management Accountants) examination and it is envisaged that it would allow successful learners entrance into the Institute's strategic level exams. The development of this qualification will therefore provide learners the opportunity to further their skills without having to complete a research module. The successful completion of the Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Management qualification will grant learners access into a related Master's Degree. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
The Faculty acknowledges the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) as an integral part of education and academic practice. It is acknowledged that all learning has value and the Faculty accepts the challenge to assess prior learning and award credit that is aligned to Faculty programmes to promote lifelong learning. An example of prior learning refers to work experience relevant to the Financial Planning industry, such as experience on projects related to the Financial Planning industry.

The purpose of the University of Johannesburg's RPL policy is to recognise prior learning in order to provide for access into qualifications, grant advanced placement in programmes and grant credits for modules on the principles and processes that serve as basis for faculty-specific RPL practices.

Entry Requirements:
To gain access to this qualification, an applicant must have completed:
  • A Bachelor's Degree with appropriate knowledge of Accounting, Financial Management and Cost and Management Accounting at NQF Level 7.
  • An Advanced Diploma in Financial Management at NQF Level 7.
  • A Bridging Programme in Financial Management at NQF Level 7. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    The qualification comprises six compulsory modules, totalling 120 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules:
  • Contemporary Management Accounting, 15 Credits.
  • Operational Management Accounting, 15 Credits.
  • Advanced Cost and Management Accounting, 15 Credits.
  • Management Accounting Strategy, 25 Credits.
  • Financial Strategy, 25 Credits.
  • Performance and Risk Strategy, 25 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Implement and advise on financial strategies in a local and international context to ensure wealth creation.
    2. Evaluate and advise on internal control systems.
    3. Implement and advise on the management of financial risks and the development of internal controls.
    4. Explain the purpose of different functional roles/departments such as HR, Marketing and IT within the organisation and its relationship with the finance function.
    5. Compile and evaluate financial information to support strategic decision making and strategic control.
    6. Present an understanding of the complex relationships an organisation has with its stakeholders, industry, and the local and global environments.
    7. Apply traditional and contemporary approaches to Cost and Management Accounting. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    The following Assessment Criteria are applied in an integrated way to modules and specialised learning areas, where applicable, to determine competence in the Exit Level Outcomes:
  • Financial strategies are adequately formulated.
  • Acceptable business valuations are performed and mergers and acquisitions appraised.
  • Suitable recommendations regarding investment, financing and dividend decisions are made.
  • Internal control systems are adequately evaluated, planned and advised on.
  • The management of financial risks is efficiently advised on.
  • The development of information systems is properly advised on.
  • Management techniques necessary for decision-making are adequately identified and applied.
  • The management of relationships, projects, and human capital is properly advised on.
  • Financial information in support of strategic decision-making is correctly compiled and evaluated.
  • Strategic control is evaluated and recommended on.
  • Stakeholder relationships are sufficiently analysed and the impact that the external environment has on an organisation and its strategies explained.
  • Traditional and contemporary approaches to cost and management accounting under different scenarios are correctly applied.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Assessments are conducted in strict compliance with the assessment policy of the University of Johannesburg and consist of both formative and summative assessments. Class tests and homework assignments are used as formative assessments to enable learners to assess their understanding of the principles of the various topics. Four formal formative assessments are written during the year. These assessments will count towards 60% of the final mark. One summative assessment is written at the end of the semester in the case of semester modules which counts towards 50% of the final mark. One summative assessment is written at the end of the year in the case of year modules and will count towards 40% of the final mark. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Management aligns well with the CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) Operational, Managerial and Strategic Level examinations offered by CIMA which is headquartered in the UK. The CIMA examinations are written in the UK and 173 other countries.

    This Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Management is aligned to the syllabi and assessment criteria of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). CIMA is member of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) and the world's largest and leading professional body of Management Accountants, consisting of 203 000 registered members and learners in 173 countries.
    The University of Johannesburg (UJ) is one of three South African universities that were granted exemption for its qualification up to the strategic level. The CIMA re-evaluates UJ's exemption status every three years to ensure that the qualification remains relevant and modules are in line with the professional body's stringent requirements for professional registration.

    The CIMA syllabus comprises nine modules that are organised in separate three pillars - that is, the enterprise pillar; performance pillar; and financial pillar.

    Compulsory Modules:

    Enterprise Pillar:
  • Organisational Management.
  • Project and Relationship Management.
  • Strategic Management.

    Performance Pillar:
  • Management Accounting.
  • Advanced Management Accounting.
  • Risk Management.

    Financial Pillar:
  • Financial Reporting and Taxation.
  • Advanced Financial Reporting.
  • Financial Strategy.

    Conclusion:
    The Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Management compares well with the international offerings as they focus on related content areas. Whilst the overall structure of these qualifications varies regarding the credit values, the focus remains the same. These qualifications are aimed at ensuring that learners acquire the technical knowledge and skills that are implicit to and inseparable from the Financial Management practice. Thus, the Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Management compares favourably with the CIMA examinations. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Horizontally this qualification articulates with:
  • Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Financial Management at NQF Level 8.
  • Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Financial Management Sciences at NQF Level 8.
  • Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Cost and Management Accounting at NQF Level 8.

    Vertically this qualification articulates with:
  • Master of Commerce in Financial Management at NQF Level 9.
  • Master of Business Science in Financial Management at NQF Level 9.

    It should be noted that the learner may be required to complete a bridging course in Research Methodology prior to entering a Master's Degree. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

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

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    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. University of Johannesburg 


    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.