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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Contribute to the management of costs and the enhancement of value 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
12999  Contribute to the management of costs and the enhancement of value 
ORIGINATOR
SGB HET Accountancy and Financial Management 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
FASSET - Financial and Accounting Services SETA 
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies Finance, Economics and Accounting 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  10 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

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 unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
People credited with this unit standard are generally found within the accounting technician field. On successful completion of the unit standard, people will be able to collect and analyse information to assist in highlighting trends in costs and making suggestions for the reduction of costs and adding value. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Unit standards for basic accounting at NQF level 4. 

UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
A person may exhibit this competence in the private and/ or the public sector.
Costs: Movements in prices charged by suppliers, competitors and providers of services, and general price changes. 

Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
Demonstrate an understanding of the business and accounting environment. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. The business environment is defined in relation to generally accepted accounting practice/ GRAP. 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
External sources of information on costs and prices, General economic environment
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. Various accounting techniques are described and utilised in the process of collecting, analyzing and disseminating cost information. 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
Basic time series analysis. Information presentation, Index numbers, Performance indicator interpretation, Standard costing and budgetary control systems, Control ratios
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
3. The principles and theory underpinning accounting are explained in relation to costing systems within the framework of GAAP/ GRAP. 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
Published statistics use and limitations, Quality control, Value analysis, Total quality management
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
4. Organisational policies and procedures related to accounting and administrative systems are explained in GAAP/ GRAP terms. 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
Business transactions, External environment and specific external costs, Contribution of functional specialists to cost reduction and value enhancement
 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
Collect, analyse and disseminate information about costs. 
OUTCOME RANGE 
Movements in prices charged by suppliers, competitors and providers of services, and general price changes 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. Valid, relevant information is identified from internal and external sources. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. Trends in prices are monitored for movements and analysed on a regular basis, and potential implications are identified. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
3. Standard costs are compared with actual costs and any variances are analysed. 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
Materials variances; usage, price Labour variances; rate, efficiency Fixed overhead variances; expenditure, volume, capacity, efficiency
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
4. Forecasts of trends and changes in factor prices and market conditions are consistent with previous experience of factor prices and market conditions. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
5. Relevant staff in the organisation are consulted about the analysis of trends. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
6. Reports highlighting significant trends are presented to management in an appropriate format. 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
Report, Table, Diagram
 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
Make recommendations to reduce costs and enhance value. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. Routine cost reports are analysed, compared with other sources of information and the implications of findings are identified. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. Relevant performance indicators are monitored and the results are assessed to identify potential improvements. 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
Productivity, Unit costs, Resource utilisation, Profitability, Quality of Service
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
3. Relevant specialists are consulted to assist in the identification of ways to reduce costs and enhance value. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
4. Exception reports to follow up matters that require further investigation are prepared. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
5. Specific recommendations are made to management and are explained in a clear and appropriate manner. 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
Efficiencies, Modifications to work processes
 


UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
Accreditation for this unit standard shall be obtained from the relevant Education and Training Quality Assurance Body, through summative assessment by a registered assessor.

Moderation Option: Moderation activity comments by SGB's, organisations and individuals may be forwarded to NSB03. 

UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
A demonstrated understanding of:
  • The Business Environment
  • Accounting techniques
  • Accounting principles and theory
  • The organisation
  • Materials, labour and expenses
  • Variance analysis
  • Standard costing and budgetary control systems
  • General economic environment
  • Total Quality Management
  • Value analysis

    Terminology:
  • GAAP - Generally Accepted Accounting Practices
  • GRAP - Generally Recognised Accounting Practices 
    		•


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems in which responses display that responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking have been made. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation and community. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, organise and critically evaluate information. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and language skills in the modes of oral and written presentations. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems. 

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

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  20188   National Certificate: Real Estate  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  SERVICES 
    Core  14852   National Diploma: Agri Sales and Service Management  Level 5  NQF Level 05  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  AgriSETA 
    Core  49469   National Diploma: Complex Procurement  Level 5  NQF Level 05  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2012-06-30   
    Core  36213   National Diploma: Technical Financial Accounting  Level 5  NQF Level 05  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  FASSET 
    Core  49060   National Degree: Master Craftsmanship (Electrical)  Level 6  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2018-12-31  EWSETA 
    Fundamental  49743   National Certificate: Manufacturing Management  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  FOODBEV 
    Fundamental  49745   National Certificate: Value Engineering  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  QCTO 
    Elective  59201   National Certificate: Generic Management  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  As per Learning Programmes recorded against this Qual 
    Elective  50017   National Diploma: Club Professional Golfing  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Registered"     		 2008-11-30  Was CATHSSETA until Last Date for Achievement 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    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. KP ACADEMY (PTY) LTD 


    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.