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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Advanced Certificate in Accounting Sciences 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
94703  Advanced Certificate in Accounting Sciences 
ORIGINATOR
University of South Africa 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Advanced 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  120  Not Applicable  NQF Level 06  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 intended purpose of this qualification is to enable qualifying learners to:
  • Perform duties in the field of Accounting Sciences, for instance, general book-keeping, costing, auditing (including internal auditing) and tax calculations.
  • Understand basic management and business concepts.
  • Perform accounting calculations.
  • Use a computer for basic business purposes.
  • Articulate to Diploma or under certain conditions to Degree studies.

    Rationale:
    Candidates who are interested in the field of Accounting Sciences, either for career purposes, or otherwise, and who do not qualify for direct admission to the Bachelors' Degree qualifications, may enrol for the one-year Higher Certificate qualification and thereafter for a one-year Advanced Certificate qualification subject to fulfilment of the specified admission requirements for each qualification. Candidates who do not qualify for direct admission to the School's Diploma qualification may do so once they have successfully completed the Higher and Advanced Certificates. They may also eventually qualify for admission to Bachelors' Degree programmes.

    Even though candidates may qualify for direct admission to the School's Diploma qualification, they are strongly advised to consider first enrolling for the Higher Certificate and Advanced Certificate in Accounting Sciences, because, not only do these certificates hone learners' skills in Arithmetic and Business Sciences, but they also expose them to the core disciplines of the Accounting Sciences, namely Financial Accounting; Management Accounting; Auditing and Taxation. This exposure will enable learners to make a more informed choice, either when deciding on a career or when considering further studies. The Advanced Certificate enables qualifying learners to exit with the ability to perform certain accounting-related functions at a higher level than is the case with the Higher Certificate. In addition, it has the advantage for those learners with a Bachelors' Degree who wish to further their studies, at postgraduate level, to be admitted to the Advanced Diploma in Accounting Sciences, a bridging qualification that serves as a gateway towards all the professional Postgraduate qualifications offered by the School of Accounting Sciences. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    RPL for access: All admission via the RPL route must be in accordance with the principles laid down in the UNISA RPL Policy.

    RPL for credits: This qualification can be achieved wholly or in part through Recognition of Prior Learning. However, only 10% of the intake to this qualification may be through RPL.

    The UNISA RPL office can supply full details of processes related to the assessment and accreditation of learning from prior experiences. Evidence can be presented in a variety of forms, including international or previous local qualifications, reports, testimonials mentioning functions performed, work records, portfolios, videos of practice and performance records. UNISA lecturers will act as assessors for RPL purposes.

    Entry Requirements:
    The minimum entry requirement for admission to this qualification is a Higher Certificate in Accounting Sciences. 

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    The Advanced Certificate in Accounting Sciences consists of seven compulsory modules and three electives, each worth 12 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules:
  • Financial Accounting Reporting.
  • Principles of Management Accounting.
  • Principles of Strategy, Risk and Financial Management Techniques.
  • Legal Aspects in Accountancy.
  • Business Management.
  • Financial Accounting for Companies.
  • Selected Accounting Standards and Simple Group Structures.

    Elective Modules:
    Learners must select three of the following electives:
  • Principles of Taxation.
  • General Management.
  • Corporate Governance in Accountancy.
  • Auditing Theory and Practice.
  • Internal Auditing: Theory and Principles. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Demonstrate a fundamental, outline knowledge of each of the major disciples, namely, financial accounting, management accounting, taxation and auditing.
    2. Select and use a range of procedures and techniques to solve routine problems in a familiar environment.
    3. Gather information and analyse/synthesise data gathered from the work environment.
    4. Develop effective presentation skills.
    5. Present and communicate information coherently and reliably using the basic convention and formats of a professional discourse.
    6. Have the capacity to take responsibility for own learning within a supervised environment. 

    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:

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Auditing and taxation principles are understood and to a limited extent applied.
  • Elementary economic and management principles are understood.
  • Basic management accounting principles are applied.
  • An informed understanding of principles and theories that apply is obtained.
  • An understanding of the organisation or operating environment as a system within a wider context in relation to society is obtained.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Auditing and taxation principles are understood and to a limited extent applied.
  • Elementary economic and management principles are understood.
  • Basic management accounting principles are applied.
  • An informed understanding of principles and theories that apply is obtained.
  • An understanding of the organisation or operating environment as a system within a wider context in relation to society is obtained.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Financial transactions are classified and recorded.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Presentation skills using appropriate technologies are developed.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • Financial information is communicated coherently (verbally and in writing) using reliable basic professional discourse.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
  • Decisions about and responsibility for own actions are taken.
  • Own performance is evaluated against given criteria.

    Integrated Assessment:
    All assessment will integrate knowledge, skills and attitudes and applied competence.

    Formative assessment:
    Learning and assessment are integrated. The study guides contain self-assessment tasks with feedback. The scheme of work includes a combination of written and multiple choice assignments based on the learning material which learners have to submit and for which they earn year marks. Learners are given feedback in the form of written comments in the assignments and suggested solutions and mark plans presented in a formal tutorial letter. The process is continuous and focuses on smaller sections of the work and a limited number of outcomes.

    Summative assessment:
    Examinations of a representative selection of outcomes practised and assessed in the formative stage. Summative assessment also tests the learner's ability to manage and integrate a large body of knowledge to achieve the stated outcomes of a module. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    Victoria University, Melbourne (Australia) offers the Certificate IV in Accounting:
    This nationally recognised qualification is designed to provide learners with the knowledge, skills and experience to operate as a Bookkeeper or Accounts Clerk. This qualification also ensures that learners meet the academic eligibility requirements for registration as a Business Activity Statements (BAS) Agent with the Tax Practitioner's Board.

    The qualification provides learners with a working knowledge of the financial sector. It is designed to give them a "bigger picture" of the financial services sector and improve their value to the organisation. On completion of this qualification, learners will be able to:
  • Apply professional practices in finance.
  • Implement compliance procedures.
  • Prepare operational budgets.
  • Set up a computerised accounting system.
  • Maintain inventory records.

    Modules:
    This qualification comprises nine (9) compulsory and two (2) elective modules: