Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Management Accounting

Purpose

The purpose of this qualification is to develop learners in Management Accountancy and represents serves as admission towards a Master's qualification on NQF Level 9. It may also serves as a final qualification with various career opportunities in the financial sphere. The institution is the only institution in the Free State and Northern Cape that is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) to educate young professional Management Accountants.

The focus of the qualification is furthermore to develop Management Accountants that are responsive to business and the community. Learners will be equipped with general expertise in Financial Management, Performance Management and Enterprise Management.

The qualification is also globally accredited by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).

Rationale

The qualification has two rationales

• South Africa experiences a shortage of general accountants. The qualification develops managerial Accountants that can be employed in the private and public sectors.
• There are currently only a few people with a master' qualification or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Accounting in South Africa. The qualification serves as a base for learners who want to further their studies towards a research-based Master's qualification and PhD.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Where learners do not meet the minimum admission requirements, RPL may be used to grant access to the qualification. RPL will be applied according to the Recognition of Prior Learning, Credit Accumulation and Transfer, and Assessment policy. This will relate to both access to the qualification as well as for credit recognition or exemption towards achieving the qualification.

The institution will ensure that quality assurance processes that address the specificities of the RPL process (including applications, assessment, and reporting and management systems) are implemented; and that administrative and support systems, both prior and subsequent to RPL assessment, are in place.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• A relevant qualification at NQF Exit Level 7.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory and elective modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 8 totalling 128 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, 128 Credits

• Enterprise Management, 32 Credits.
• Performance Management, 32 Credits.
• Financial Management, 32 Credits.
• Dissertation in Taxation Honours, 32 Credits.

The learner that qualifies must be able to

1. Apply fundamental knowledge, theories, principles and practices of financial management and reporting standards.
2. Interpret of financial statement information.
3. Cost and price products.
4. Plan, budget and control activities.
5. Measure performance of cost, revenue, profit and investment centres.
6. Apply strategic management.
7. Apply project management principles.
8. Manage relationships and communicate effectively within an accounting and/or business environment.
9. Perform a literature review on a selected research question within the field of Management Accounting.

Integrated Assessment

The assessment strategy provides for both formative and summative assessment opportunities, ranging between 40 and 60% for both these components depending on the nature and requirements of the module. This combination of assessment opportunities affords learners the opportunity to monitor their progress on a regular basis and address problems as they occur. Currently, a limited number of modules however utilise continuous assessment, based on the nature of these module which can be better assessed utilising assessment strategies such as portfolio's, reports and/or assignments, amongst others. Assessment methods include self-tests, online quizzes, tests, assignments, group assignments, exams.