Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting

Purpose

The qualification aims to equip the leaner with the academic knowledge necessary for working in these sectors of the economy, thus enabling them to apply their academic knowledge in practical situations.

Rationale

There is currently a shortage of Chartered Accountants in South Africa. The purpose of this qualification is to provide leaners with the opportunity to gain entry into the Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting and thereafter on completion of their studies, to meet the entry requirements for the chartered accountants board examinations. In addition, leaners who do not meet the entry requirements for the Board Examinations are equipped for employment in leadership positions in finance and management in commerce and industry.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The institution accepts the principle underlying outcomes-based, source-based and life-long learning, in which considerations of articulation and mobility play a significant role, and subscribes to the view that Recognition of Prior Learning, whether acquired by formal education curricula at this or another institution or informally (by experience) is an indispensable element in deciding on admission to and awarding credits in an explicitly selected teaching-learning qualification of the institution.

An applicant who falls outside of the formal qualifications system, but who can demonstrate (through the production of substantial and satisfactory evidence) experiential or work-based learning or a non-formal qualification (or a combination), may be considered for admission and/or for the Recognition of Prior Learning for the achievement of the qualification in part or in full. An applicant who after such assessment, is deemed to have sufficient potential, but is in need of further academic development, must be directed to other suitable learning qualifications prior to admission or to parallel qualifications after admission.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• National Senior Certificate, National Qualifications Framework(NQF) Level 4.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory and elective modules at National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 7 totalling 432 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 7, 416 Credits

• Accounting 102, 16 Credits.
• Accounting 101, 16 Credits.
• Principles of Macroeconomics, 16 Credits.
• Principles of Microeconomics, 16 Credits.
• Management 120, 16 Credits.
• Introduction to Statistics, 16 Credits.
• Development and Applications Fundamentals, 16 Credits.
• Quantitative Methods 1, 16 Credits.
• Introduction to Commercial Law, 16 Credits.
• IS and T for Business, 16 Credits.
• Accounting 200, 32 Credits.
• Auditing 200, 16 Credits.
• Intermediate Microeconomics and Applications, 16 Credits.
• Introduction to Ethics and Bus Ethics for Accounting and Management, 16 Credits.
• Intermediate Macroeconomic and Applications, 16 Credits.
• Business Enterprises Law, 16 Credits.
• Managerial Accounting and Financial Management 200, 16 Credits.
• Auditing 300, 32 Credits.
• Accounting 300, 32 Credits.
• Tax and Estate Planning 300, 32 Credits.
• Managerial Accounting and Financial Management 300, 32 Credits.

Elective Modules, Level 7, 16 Credits, Choose one

• Special Topics in Business Law, 16 Credits.
• Basic IsiZulu Language Studies A, 16 Credits.

1. Evaluate and develop an entity's ability to make decisions that result in maximising its performance, in particular with respect to governance and resources.
2. Record, recognise, measure and present, to a limited Degree, both financial and non-financial information to external users in manner that ensures compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) (or alternative standards and principles where necessary).
3. Ensure enhanced reliability of information through validation, testing and the provision of assurance services, at an introductory level. These include statutory and regulatory audit/ assurance requirements, documentation and evaluation of controls.
4. Manage an entity's financial assets and assess an entity's value.
5. Use decision-making tools in achieving the entity's strategies.
6. Engage in taxation planning, and ensure taxation compliance and reporting for various forms of entities, at an introductory level.
7. Carry out assignments with the highest standards of integrity, in accordance with the profession's ethical standards.
8. Display personal qualities including self-management, leadership and initiative, innovation, change management, life-long learning, team work and time management.
9. Display professional skills including the ability to obtain, interpret and critically evaluate information, solve problems and make decisions, communicate effectively, manage and supervise.

The following Associated Assessment Criteria will be used in an integrated manner across the Exit Level Outcomes

• Apply and evaluate key International Financial Reporting Standards', concepts, terms and principles more specifically the Accounting Framework and the Qualitative characteristics of financial information.
• Analyse a mini case study and recommend a course of action and to identify problems embedded in a scenario.
• Interpret and manipulate information to produce relevant calculations in support of an appropriate solution and to present recommendations supported by well-reasoned arguments.
• Provide oral evidence to unseen case studies during tutorials, and demonstrate during written tests and examinations their ability to communicate their ideas and opinions on inter-disciplinary issues pertaining to professional ethics, auditing and Accounting.
• Submit a written assessment of A Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) Listed entity and to present findings to a panel of academics and professional from commerce and industry.

Integrated Assessment

Formative assessment during weekly tutorial classes where leaners are exposed to discussion groups of mini case studies on simulated accounting scenarios, concept test and quizzes and moderation of their allocated weekly problem-solving homework assignments.

Summative assessments in terms of written tests and examinations. This is in the form of problem case studies (mechanical) and advisory type scenarios focusing on Accounting Theory and the qualitative aspects of the Accounting framework. Observe leaner providing oral evidence to unseen case studies during tutorials, and demonstrate during written tests and examinations their ability to communicate their ideas and opinions on inter-disciplinary issues pertaining to professional ethics, auditing and Accounting. The method of assessment focusses on tests and examinations as well as an integrated project.