Bachelor of Commerce in Financial and Management Accounting

Purpose

The purpose of the Bachelor of Commerce in Financial-and Management Accounting is to equip learners with the necessary knowledge and skills to follow a successful career in a range of occupations including accountant, auditor, cost-analyst, tax practitioner and/or trainee manager. The qualification provides the theory and application of the principles of accounting and management to ensure that learners have the capacity to develop and grow intellectually. The main purpose of the qualification is to provide qualifiers with graduate level knowledge, specific skills and applied competence in financial-and management accounting and its related disciplines that provide opportunities for personal intellectual growth, gainful employment activity and rewarding contributions to society. The qualification will thus enable learners to make a valuable contribution to the world of financial- and management accounting practice and in the process enable them to continue and further their discipline-based studies.

The qualification should also facilitate entry into Postgraduate academic research qualifications in order to ensure that the local and international leadership base of innovative and knowledge based economic and scholarly and professional activity is widened. Graduates may pursue career opportunities across accounting or finance in either specialist or generalist roles.

Rationale

The rationale for this qualification stems from the need of the complex modern business world for participants with broad knowledge and understanding of finance, accounting, taxation and auditing practice to contribute to the continuing success of the economy as a whole. After completion of the qualification, the successful student will be equipped to understand the full function of an accountant inside an organisation as well as be able to start their own business. Successful businesses improve the standard of living of its owners, managers and employees and it creates prosperous communities and a prosperous nation.

The qualification meets specific needs in the accounting and finance sector by equipping learners with the necessary knowledge and skills to follow a successful career in financial and management accounting.

A qualifying learner will be able to make meaningful contribution to a business because they will be equipped with knowledge, skills, values and attitudes that will enable them to be confident and independent in a business environment, and to contribute responsibly in the economic reconstruction, development and growth.

The qualification provides a broad and flexible educational preparation for a range of professional, business related careers in private and public enterprise in specialised areas such as management accounting, corporate financial analysis and reporting, tax consulting, insolvency, corporate recovery, risk management, financial planning, cost accountant, strategic planning and/or market analysis. Accountants work in diverse sectors including Government, private enterprise and not for profit organisations.

Employers may include financial institutions, manufacturing industry, international and national investment banks, asset and fund managers, and credit unions. There are also opportunities in the public sector, specialist divisions in retail banking, financial markets, and other financial solutions providers.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Where applicants do not meet the minimum admission requirements stated, RPL may be used to grant access to the qualification. RPL will be applied according to the Recognition of Prior Learning, and Credit Accumulation and Transfer and the institution's processes.

Through a structured process 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

• Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4, with endorsement.

Or

• National Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4, granting access to Bachelor's Degree studies.

Or

• National Certificate (Vocational), NQF Level 4, granting access to Bachelor's Degree studies.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory and elective modules at Levels 5, 6, 7 totalling 410 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 5, 135 Credits

• Management Accounting 1, 25 Credits.
• Financial Accounting 1, 25 Credits.
• Statistics, 20 Credits.
• Economics, 20 Credits.
• Financial Management 1, 20 Credits.
• Ethics, Corporate Governance and Business Law, 25 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 6, 125 Credits

• Management Accounting 2, 25 Credits.
• Financial Accounting 2, 25 Credits.
• Organisational Management 1, 25 Credits.
• Taxation 1, 25 Credits.
• Auditing 1, 25 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 7, 60 Credits

• Management Accounting 3, 30 Credits.
• Financial Accounting 3, 30 Credits.

Electives Modules, Level 7, 90 Credits (Choose 3)

• Organisational Management 2, 30 Credits.
• Financial Management 2, 30 Credits.
• Taxation 2, 30 Credits.
• Auditing 2, 30 Credits.

1. Demonstrate the application of the key terms, concepts, facts, principles, rules and theories of management, accounting and associated disciplines in the interaction with appropriate groups through participation in business and marketing related activities.
2. Evaluate, select and apply the appropriate applications and techniques to solve problems in familiar and unfamiliar contexts.
3. Demonstrate the ability to provide accurate financial information to management for decision making.
4. Demonstrate specialist forefront knowledge and expertise in information system.
5. Apply critical ability in the evaluation of Accountancy problems to propose solutions to a variety of problems that might arise in the course of managing a business.
6. Use appropriate theoretical principles to analyse and evaluate taxation.
7. Practice the ethics applicable to business, commerce and management and those pertinent to a Tax Practitioner.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 1

• An understanding of the interrelatedness of the different areas of management and, accounting and how actions, ideas or developments impact on applications of theory and practice is demonstrated.
• The basic techniques for the identification and control of costs and cost management are applied.
• An understanding of the context of management accounting in commercial and public sector bodies and its wider role in society, and the role of the management accountant within organisations is demonstrated.
• The tools and techniques to understand the mathematics associated with managing business operations are outlined.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 2

• The ability to work independently and as part of a team, taking responsibility for identifying and dealing with situations is demonstrated.
• An understanding of the ethical and social implications of management and accounting actions on the organisation, community and society at large is demonstrated by analysing existing societal structures.
• Solutions for identified complications within the business are provided.
• Own learning is used in developing strategies and action plans to direct and steer the entity in the path for success.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 3

• Budgetary control and other accounting control mechanisms are applied.
• The techniques of investment appraisal, break-even analysis and profit maximising are applied to aid both long and short-term decision making.
• Financial performance is measured with the calculation of basic ratios.
• The economic context of business and how competition, the behaviour of financial markets, and government economic policy can influence an organisation is understood.
• The key elements in designing and managing the organisation's financial strategy, in the context of contributing to achieving the organisation's objectives and within its external constraints, such as the general regulatory and investment environment are applied.
• The full financial statements for a single.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 4

• Knowledge and understanding of accounting information system is gained and practiced. Knowledge of accounting information systems in the business environment is applied.
• Accounting information skills are applied in order to participate and interact on a practical level in a business environment.
• The tools and techniques that generate the needed information are evaluated and controlled and presented and projected.
• The tools and techniques for identifying the key types of competitive environment are understood.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 5

• Information in the management processes of decision-making is applied to control and to optimise performance.
• Skills and tools of project management are used to enhance business success.
• The skills and tools needed to work with, manage and develop teams are applied; this includes both the legal aspects of managing individuals, as well as the softer elements of negotiation and leadership skills.
• The legal framework for business, underpinning for commercial activity, including the areas of contract law, employment law, financing, administration and management of companies are understood and applied.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 6

• Advances in tax law are analysed and assessed for application.
• New international advances in taxation are critically evaluated.
• Topical and relevant problems within taxation are examined and resolved.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes 7

• The ethics implied by corporate governance principles are fully understood and appropriately applied.
• Clients, employees and the world at large are dealt with professionally and ethically.

Integrated Assessment

Applied competence is assessed through a variety of formative assessment methods and an examination as summative assessment. Various assessment activities that are constructively aligned to the qualification and subject outcomes; and teaching and learning activities integrate theory and practice. A combination of continuous assessment and traditional written examinations serve to assess the integration of all/most of the learning outcomes for each subject in the qualification. Formative assessment takes place during the process of teaching and learning and involve group work, tests and assignments, as well as informal continuous assessment tasks in the form of small pre-and post-tests during contact sessions to identify misconceptions and learning gaps along the way. These assessments follow a schedule given to learners. The integration of assessment is achieved by using one assessment activity (in the form of two assignments in April and September) for more than one outcome and across learning areas which include both theory and application. Summative assessment in the form of a three-hour examination takes place at the end of the year and provides information and feedback that sums up the teaching and learning process. The intention behind the examination as summative assessment is to either validate the achievement of outcomes for progress to the next year or the awarding of the qualification.