Bachelor of Commerce in Management Accountancy

Purpose

The primary purpose of the professional Bachelor of Commerce in Management Accountancy is to provide a well-rounded, broad education that equips graduates with the knowledge base, theory, methodology in conjunction with procedural knowledge of management accountancy, and to enable them to demonstrate initiative and responsibility in a professional context.

Qualifying learners can function as management and financial accountants and those who completed the traineeship can qualify to register as a Chartered Management Accountant with the Chartered Institute for Management Accountants (CIMA,) after completing the external exams of CIMA.

Rationale

The Bachelor of Commerce in Management Accountancy is a qualification that is in line with the requirements of the Chartered Institute for Management Accountants (CIMA) and will provide South Africa with skilled and well qualified management accountants. Other professional bodies recognising the qualification are the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (The Association) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).

Qualifying learners can also apply for certain exemptions from CIMA.

The qualification prepares learners for professional training and post-graduate studies. Career opportunities include project managers, management consultants, finance directors, chief executives, and entrepreneurs.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

RPL refers to the principles and processes through which the prior knowledge and skills of a person are made visible, mediated, and rigorously assessed and moderated for the purposes of alternative access and admission, recognition, or further learning and development.

• RPL must be conducted in a valid, reliable, and equitable way.
• RPL may be used to grant access to a qualification or advanced standing/exemption from modules of a particular academic programme.
• A learner who, based on RPL, is granted exemption from doing some modules in the qualification may complete the qualification with a total number of credits that is less than the normally required number of credits for the qualification in question.
• Not more than 10% of a cohort of learners can be admitted through an RPL process.
• The faculty must 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 after RPL assessment, are in place.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• 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 modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 5, 6 and 7 totalling 414 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 5,128 Credits

• Accounting: An introduction to the financial reporting cycle and financial reporting frameworks, 32 Credits.
• Basic Micro-and macro- economics, 24 Credits.
• Introduction to Accounting Information Systems, Corporate Governance and Internal controls, 12 Credits.
• Mathematical Techniques, 12 Credits.
• Academic Literacy Development, 12 Credits.
• Introductory Statistics, 12 Credits
• Introduction to Business Science, 24 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 6,146 Credits

• Worldviews and Ethics for Accountants, 12 Credits.
• Financial Accounting, 32 Credits.
• Introduction to Taxation, Corporate Taxation, 24 Credits.
• An Introduction to Corporate Governance, Auditing Environment and Professional Ethics, 18 Credits.
• Introduction to Management Decision-making and Control, 18 Credits.
• Introduction to Financial Management, 18 Credits.>Intermediate Business Science, 24 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 7,140 Credits

• Financial Accounting: Advanced Financial Reporting, 32 Credits.
• Corporate Governance, Standards, Ethics and Statutory Requirements, 24 Credits.
• Financial Management, 18 Credits.
• Management decision-making and control,18 Credits.
• Taxation: Advanced Aspects of Direct and Indirect Taxation and Tax Administration, 24 Credits.
• Advanced Business Science, 24 Credits.

1. Apply a foundation of knowledge, skills and professional values and ethics that enables learners to continue to learn and adapt to change throughout their professional lives.
2. Evaluate and apply professional competency and management accountancy knowledge to resolve challenges in accounting and finance; organisational and information technology practice.
3. Examine and apply professional values, ethics and attitudes and distinctive characteristics of professional behaviour.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Apply key terms, concepts, facts, principles, rules, theories of management accounting, techniques and methodologies used in the field.
• Apply acquired intellectual, technical, and functional, personal, interpersonal and communication skills and organisational and business management.
• Appreciate that the different areas of management and accounting are interrelated and the impact thereof on applications of theory and practice.
• Understand the context and role of management accountancy in the commercial and public sectors.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Provide accurate financial information to drive successful business.
• Manage and communicate financial goals and policies with management.
• Select and apply the appropriate techniques to:
• Prepare financing requests.
• Forecast and manage income and expenses.
• Create business strategies
• Provide solutions for identified problems/challenges within the organisation.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• An understanding of the ethical and social implications of management and accounting actions and decisions on the organisation, community, and society at large.
• The ability to work independently and as part of a team, taking responsibility for own learning and identifying and solving accounting problems.