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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Postgraduate Diploma in Specialised Accountancy 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
101440  Postgraduate Diploma in Specialised Accountancy 
ORIGINATOR
University of Witwatersrand 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Postgraduate Diploma  Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies  Finance, Economics and Accounting 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Not Applicable  NQF Level 08  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered  EXCO 0821/24  2021-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2031-06-30  

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 qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The purpose of this qualification is to equip learners with skills that will enable them to operate in specialised accountancy. Qualified learners will be able to undertake research and improve on other related skills such as writing.

Upon qualifying the learner will be able to:
  • Understand corporate reporting, business analysis and governance, including risk and ethics.
  • Convert transactional financial data into financial statements using the formal prescribed accounting standards as well as evaluate and make recommendations based on the information within these statements.
  • Operate in both turbulent and stable economic environments and respond effectively to uncertainties.
  • Access, process and communicate information appropriately and effectively.
  • Engage in continuous learning through the exercise of fundamental learning skills and understands the requirement to maintain continued competence and to keep abreast the changing business, financial and policy environment which brings ever new methods, techniques, and competitive challenges.
  • Work individually, as part of a team and as a part of a multi-divisional operation.
  • Develop ethical and practical leadership skills including abilities to exercise judgement within an environment of competing values.

    Rationale:
    The Postgraduate Diploma in Specialised Accountancy is designed to provide learners with knowledge of specialised accountancy and equip them with skills to solve problems related to Accountancy. This qualification allows learners to advance and excel with their studies at higher levels. It is targeted for learners who want to pursue a career as an Accountant and assist them to write qualifying examinations with the Association of Charted Certified Accountants (ACCA). The aim of this qualification is to allow learners who do not want to be chartered accountants an opportunity to still pursue a qualification at a Postgraduate level. There is great market demand for this qualification as some learners intend to pursue a more general accounting career and this qualification will assist them in getting one step forward in their career. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Entry Requirements:
    The minimum entry to this qualification is a three (3) year Bachelor's Degree, Level 7. 

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification comprises compulsory and elective modules at Level 8 totalling 120 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules, 72 Credits:
  • Governance, Risk and Ethics, 24 Credits.
  • Corporate Reporting, 24 Credits.
  • Business Analysis, 24 Credits.

    Electives, 48 Credits (select two):
  • Advanced Financial Management, 24 Credits.
  • Advanced Performance Management, 24 Credits.
  • Advanced Taxation, 24 Credits.
  • Advanced Audit and Assurance, 24 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Understand corporate reporting, business analysis and governance, including risk and ethics.
    2. Convert transactional financial data into financial statements using the formal prescribed accounting standards as well as evaluate and make recommendations based on the information within these statements.
    3. Operate in both turbulent and stable economic environments and respond effectively to uncertainties.
    4. Access, process and communicate information appropriately and effectively.
    5. Engage in continuous learning through the exercise of fundamental learning skills and understand the requirement to maintain continued competence and to keep abreast of the changing business, financial and policy environment which brings new methods, techniques, and competitive challenges.
    6. Work individually, as part of a team and as a part of a multi-divisional operation.
    7. Develop ethical and practical leadership skills including abilities to exercise judgement within an environment of competing values. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Understand the role of an Accountant within an ethical framework.
  • Apply and evaluate financial reporting principles in a variety of business contexts.
  • Evaluate a strategic position, determine a strategic choice, and implement a strategic action.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Prepare auditable financial statements to international standards.
  • Use critical thinking to analyse the validity and reliability of evidence in a wide range of contexts.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Understand the nature and functioning of diverse forms of enterprise and economic systems and is able to perform tasks necessary to the effective functioning of enterprises in varying circumstances.
  • Propose and formulate potential solutions to various economic, organisational, business and social problems.
  • Use multi-disciplinary approaches for conceptual thinking and problem-solving.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Access information using a spectrum of technologies, ranging from hand-written to auto-generated business records and electronic databases.
  • Process and communicate information using technologies ranging from written reports to visual presentations.
  • Use and organise information knowledge in an ever-changing context.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • Formulate and solve problems effectively.
  • Interpret and apply new legislation and accounting standards.
  • Propose potential solutions to convergent and divergent economic, organisational, business and social problems.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
  • Understand and use skills to manage oneself and exercise self-discipline.
  • Initiate and plan the successful completion of projects and administrative tasks individually or in collaboration.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:
  • Show a value system in the conduct of studies.
  • Understand and apply the importance of ethical and professional behaviour.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Learning and assessment will be integrated throughout this qualification. Continuous formative assessment is required to ensure that learners get feedback on their progress towards the achievement of outcomes. Summative assessment is concerned with the judgement of the learning in relation to the Exit Level Outcomes of the qualification. Such judgement should include 'integrated assessments' which assesses the students' ability to integrate the larger body of knowledge, competencies and attitudes that are represented by the Exit Level Outcomes, either as a whole or as components of the qualification.

    Learners will be required to write tests and examinations for each of the various modules completed throughout this Degree. Additionally, verbal and written assignments will be administered within the qualification to ascertain all skills have been tested accordingly within this qualification. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The qualification is compared to other international qualifications; examples from the United Kingdom are given below:
  • BPP University offers a Master of Science (MSc) Accounting and Finance which prepares one to undertake the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Professional Level examinations either during the programme or once graduated. One of the entry requirements is a Degree (lower second class or higher) in any accounting or finance-related discipline.

    Stage 1 (Compulsory):
  • Governance, Risk and Control.
  • Corporate Reporting.
  • Leadership for Finance Professionals.

    Stage 2 (Compulsory):
  • Business Analysis.
  • Financial Management.
  • Portfolio management.

    Stage 3 (Compulsory):
  • Business and Research Skills Consultancy Project (12-month programme).
    Or
  • Academic and Career Skills module (ACS) (18-month programme).

    Stage 3 (Electives):
  • Performance Management.
  • Taxation.
  • Audit and Assurance.

    The University of Derby offers a Master of Science (MSc) Accounting and Finance which also prepares learners for ACCA professional level examinations. The programme is made up of three stages - Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma and MSc. Therefore the second stage, that is the Postgraduate Diploma will be compared.

    The Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Accounting is composed of the following modules:
  • Advanced Financial Management.
  • Advanced Performance Management.
  • Advanced Taxation.
  • Advanced Audit and Assurance.
  • International Finance.
  • Mergers and Acquisitions.

    Conclusion:
    The Postgraduate Diploma in Specialised Accountancy is comparable to international qualifications in terms of purpose, modules and articulation. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows possibilities for both horizontal and vertical articulation:

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting Sciences, NQF Level 8.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Master of Accountancy, NQF Level 9. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    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. University of Witwatersrand 


    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.