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: 

Advanced Diploma in Accounting 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
94786  Advanced Diploma in Accounting 
ORIGINATOR
University of Cape Town 
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 Diploma  Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies  Finance, Economics and Accounting 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  200  Not Applicable  NQF Level 07  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 primary purpose of this qualification is to provide an efficient qualification for non-accounting learners to become Chartered Accountants This is in line with the general purpose of an Advanced Diploma according to the HEQSF; that is to strengthen and deepen the learner's knowledge in a particular discipline or profession, or enhance flexibility in the event of a change in circumstance, thus enabling change in career path. Non-accounting learners are provided an efficient route to completing the relevant university qualifications required to be eligible to pursue the Chartered Accountant qualification.

The qualification is a response to the SAICA document which requires all Chartered Accountants to hold a first Degree but not necessarily require that the degree be accounting related. The aim is to equip learners with advanced knowledge in the accounting field to be able to perform exceedingly and to improve competency.

The Advanced Diploma is directly linked to opportunities for employment to learners who have a diverse educational background particularly in view of the requirement for integrated reporting and combined assurance providers.

The qualifying learner will be able to:
  • Understand and manipulate quantitative information provided in tables, graphs and sets of equations.
  • Understand and internalise as a personal value the importance of conducting professional activity within the scope of national, provincial, municipal and international law.
  • Conduct systematic research aimed at providing answers to questions whose resolutions are not antecedently known, or to verifying answers that are assumed on the basis of "accepted wisdom".
  • Produce written text of descriptive, prescriptive, or argumentative character to accepted international standards in his or her specific field of training.
  • Understand when and how to acknowledge the limitations of his/her own expertise and elicit the more appropriate expertise of others.
  • Appreciate the importance of life-long learning and the importance of self-initiative in pursuing it.

    Rationale:
    Currently there is no accelerated qualification in South Africa that offers learners from other disciplines the opportunity to complete the relevant university qualifications required to be eligible to pursue the Chartered Accountant qualification. This qualification would provide the opportunity to such learners. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    The university supports the RPL policy intervention to widen access into different qualifications. Admission through this route though depends on a variety of factors including the availability of places and the significance of a qualification to the country's economy.

    Entry Requirements:
    Learners are required to have the following in place in order to be considered for admission:
  • A recognised Bachelors' Degree with 65% in the final year. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    The qualification consists of 5 compulsory modules totalling 200 Credits.
    Modules:
  • Financial Reporting Conversion, 72 Credits.
  • Managerial Accounting and Finance Conversion, 45 Credits.
  • Corporate Governance Conversion, 35 Credits.
  • Taxation Conversion, 30 Credits.
  • Business Analysis and Governance Conversion, 18 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Understand and manipulate quantitative information provided in tables, graphs and sets of equations.
    2. Understand and internalise as a personal value the importance of conducting professional activity within the scope of national, provincial, municipal and international law.
    3. Conduct systematic research aimed at providing answers to questions whose resolutions are not antecedently known, or to verifying answers that are assumed on the basis of "accepted wisdom".
    4. Produce written text of descriptive, prescriptive, or argumentative character to accepted international standards in his or her specific field of training.
    5. Understand when and how to acknowledge the limitations of his/her own expertise and elicit the more appropriate expertise of others. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Financial statements for a wide range of organisational forms (incorporated enterprises, sole traders, partnerships, group structures) are interpreted.
  • Information necessary for effective cost management is calculated, recorded and reported on.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2
  • The regulatory framework within which a professional accountant or auditor operates is identified and applied.
  • The laws guiding the applications within the profession are observed and adhered to.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • An audit approach in a practical scenario is formulated.
  • Simple financial models are built and evaluate, and assumptions are tested.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Appropriate reports for regulatory bodies and the different levels of management are prepared.
  • Financially related information is prepared, produced and presented in a logical format according to generally accepted accounting principles and applicable standards of disclosure or reporting (e.g. JSE, Companies Act, etc.).

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • New contexts are adapted to and constructive change promoted.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Each module will have formative assignments, ranging from weekly submissions to quarterly tests, and summative exams. The results of the assignments held during the year will constitute the year mark for the qualification and this will constitute between 40 and 45% of the final mark. A final examination will be written in each course, this will form between 55 and 60% of the final mark. These final examinations will be the same papers as written by final year learners of the Bachelor of Commerce in chartered accountants stream learners. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The University of Hong Kong offers the Advanced Diploma in Accounting. This qualification will provide learners with a solid foundation in the accounting field. The modules in the course have been designed so that holders of the Advanced Diploma can seek exemptions from various professional examinations. In addition, the modules are comparable in both content and academic standards to courses at the first level of undergraduate degree qualifications.
    The College of Business and Finance is committed to professional education and lifelong development for the learners who are not accounting professionals.

    Modules:
  • Basic Accounting.
  • Intermediate Accounting I (Prerequisite: Basic Accounting).
  • Management Accounting (Prerequisite: Basic Accounting).
  • Auditing.
  • Financial Management.
  • Hong Kong Taxation.

    The professional body for accounting technicians offers the Advanced Diploma in Accounting located in the United Kingdom.

    Outcomes of the qualification:
  • Understanding the regulatory framework underpinning financial reporting.
  • Understanding key features of published financial statements.
  • Drafting a limited company's statutory financial statements.
  • Drafting consolidated financial statements.
  • Interpreting financial statements using ratio analysis.
  • Preparing budgets and income and expenditure forecasts.
  • Making suggestions for improving financial performance by monitoring and analysing information.
  • Preparing performance reports for management.
  • Completing corporation tax returns and supporting computations for incorporated businesses.
  • Understanding impact of legislation and legislative changes.
  • Understanding tax law and its implications for incorporated/unincorporated business.
  • Understanding capital assets.
  • Understanding importance and use of internal control systems.
  • Evaluating the accounting system and identifying areas for improvement.
  • Conducting ethical and sustainability evaluations of accounting systems.
  • Making recommendations to improve the accounting system.

    Conclusion:
    This qualification compares favourably with other international qualifications of similar focus, modules and qualification outcomes. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    With regard to articulation options learners who meet entrance requirements of the Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting will be accepted to that qualification.

    Horizontal articulation to Bachelor of Commerce Degree in Accounting at NQF Level 7 is possible and vertical articulation to Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) in Financial Analysis and Portfolio Management at NQF Level 8 is possible subject to meeting some faculty specific requirements. 

    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 Cape Town 


    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.