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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Occupational Certificate: Management Accountant 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
112809  Occupational Certificate: Management Accountant 
ORIGINATOR
Development Quality Partner - CIMA 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-   OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Occupational Certificate  Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies  Finance, Economics and Accounting 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  180  Not Applicable  NQF Level 08  Regular-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered  SAQA 08127/19  2019-12-05  2024-12-05 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2025-12-05   2028-12-05  

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 prepare a learner to operate as a Management Accountant. Management Accountants are business strategists who link the objectives of organisation's boards to the rest of the organisations. They guide critical business decisions, help to create sustainable business success and help their organisations to grow. Management accountants provide the analysis which managers need to understand the economics of a business's operations, and they play a key role in the management of organisational performance and risk. Qualifying learners will be able to perform a variety of financial management tasks for organisations in all sectors of the economy.

The level of responsibility varies depending on the level of the position and the size of the organisation. Qualifying learners will be able to apply theoretical and technical skills in a range of situations and to display initiative and judgement in planning activities.

A qualified learner will be able to:
  • Provide information on areas of economic activity relevant to an organisation's decisions and apply within this context the numerical techniques to support such decisions.
  • Provide direction on the efficient management and interaction of organisational structure and operational functions to achieve the organisational strategy.
  • Manage the implementation of organisational strategy through people, projects, processes and relationships.
  • Create and articulate the vision and direction for the growth and long-term sustainable success of the organisation, including successfully managing and leading change within the process of strategy formulation and implementation.
  • Identify and classify costs and cost behaviour and apply budgetary control measures.
  • Prepare organisational budgets and provide advice regarding products and services, taking into consideration production costs, drivers of costs, sales volumes and prices as well as the short-term risks associated with all of these.
  • Analyse and manage costs to support the implementation of the organisation's strategy and assess investment decisions and their associated risks.
  • Identify, evaluate and manage various risks that could adversely affect the implementation of the organisation's strategy.
  • Prepare financial statements within a conceptual and regulatory framework.
  • Manage working capital and analyse financial statements which have been prepared using appropriate international financial reporting standards to facilitate business decision-making.
  • Use consolidated financial statements to analyse performance and position and source the long-term finance required to fund the operations of organisations, particularly their capital investments.
  • Formulate and implement a financial strategy to support the objectives of the organisation.
  • Apply ethical values in the context of corporate governance and company administration.

    Rationale:
    Management Accountant is currently one of the occupations in high demand in South Africa. The qualification is against international management accounting standards and contributes to the alignment of South African business practices to international norms. The alignment will assist in South Africa's international competitiveness and will enhance its standing in the global economy. The implementation of the qualification can make a significant impact on the South African business environment and economy. This qualification prepares learners to become professional management accountants.

    Management accountants fulfil leadership roles in the financial divisions of organisations. Management accountants focus on future planning, financial strategy formulation, financing of operations. The strategic roles that management accountants fulfil in organisations contribute to business success, which in turn plays an important role in economic growth and job creation. The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and their stakeholders assisted in the development of this qualification.

    Learners will be well-prepared with the insight and skills that are relevant to further specialised study in support of the principles of life-long learning. The specific skill sets incorporated in the design of the qualification present a combination that is highly attractive to prospective employers and adds value to the organisations that employ them.

    The qualification provides a learning pathway to become a qualified management accountant. Learners may complete supportive qualifications to perform specific functions in the financial divisions of organisations. This qualification provides professional status where the learner can apply for professional body designations. The qualification also provides an opportunity for employed people to develop financial as well as business skills that will equip them for more senior positions and career progression. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    RPL for access to the external integrated summative assessment:
    Accredited providers and approved workplaces must apply the internal assessment criteria specified in the related curriculum document to establish and confirm prior learning. Accredited providers and workplaces must confirm prior learning by issuing a statement of results or by certifying a work experience record.

    RPL for access to the qualification:
    Accredited providers and approved workplaces may recognise prior learning against the relevant access requirements.

    Entry Requirements:
    Occupational Certificate Management Accounting Practitioner, Level 7. 

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of the following compulsory Knowledge, Practical Skill and Work Experience Modules.

    Knowledge Modules:
  • 241102000-KM-1, Strategic Management, Level 8, 36 Credits.
  • 241102000-KM-2, Risk Management, Level 8, 36 Credits.
  • 241102000-KM-3, Financial Strategy, Level 8, 36 Credits.
    The total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 108.

    Practical Skill Modules:
  • 241102000-PM-10, Prepare and Interpret Financial Statements for Single Entities and Basic Groups, Calculate Corporate Taxes, Manage Cash Flows and Identify Sources of Short-term Finance, Level 8, 12 Credits.
  • 241102000-PM-11, Analyse Financial Statements to Provide Insights into the Financial Performance and Position of the Organisation Over time and in Comparison with others and Source Long-term Finance, Level 8, 12 Credits.
  • 241102000-PM-12, Evaluate the Financing Requirements of Organisations and the Relative Merits of Alternative Sources of Finance to Meet These Requirements and Value Investment Opportunities including Corporate Entities for Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestments, Level 8, 12 Credits.
    The total number of credits for Practical Skills Modules: 36.

    Work Experience Modules:
  • 241102000-WM-04, Functioning in the role of Management Accountant - With a long-term and strategic focus, Level 8, 36 Credits.
    The total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 36. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Provide information on areas of economic activity relevant to an organisation's decisions and apply within this context the numerical techniques to support such decisions.
    2. Provide direction on the efficient management and interaction of organisational structure and operational functions to achieve the organisational strategy.
    3. Manage implementation of organisational strategy through people, processes and relationships.
    4. Create and articulate the vision and direction for the growth and long-term sustainable success of the organisation, including successfully managing and leading change within the process of strategy formulation and implementation.
    5. Identify and classify costs and cost behaviour and apply budgetary control measures.
    6. Prepare organisational budgets and provide advice regarding products and services, taking into consideration production costs, drivers of costs, sales volumes and prices as well as the short-term risks associated with all of these.
    7. Analyse, plan and manage costs to support the implementation of the organisation's strategy and assess investment decisions and their associated risks.
    8. Identify, evaluate and manage various risks that could adversely affect the implementation of the organisation's strategy.
    9. Prepare financial statements within a conceptual and regulatory framework.
    10. Manage working capital and analyse financial statements which have been prepared using appropriate international financial reporting standards to facilitate business decision making.
    11. Use consolidated financial statements to analyse performance and position and source the long-term finance required to fund the operations of organisations, particularly their capital investments.
    12. Formulate and implement a financial strategy to support the objectives of the organisation.
    13. Apply ethical values in the context of corporate governance and company administration. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Explain the internal and external factors that impact on a business's ability to meet economic and customer goals.
  • Prepare information for business stakeholders using big data and data analytics and explain the implications of movements in the financial markets.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Address the influence of the business environment on the short-term implementation of the strategy.
  • Consider the effect of the implementation of the strategy on key stakeholders.
  • Communicate implementation plans to encourage collaboration.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Translate the long-term strategy into more tangible, shorter-term goals for implementation.
  • Propose tools and procedures for monitoring implementation of shorter-term goals.
  • Recommend change management techniques relating to the implementation of the strategy.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Identify and analyse strategic options available to the business based on the organisation's environment and its current strategic position.
  • Advice on and justify recommendations relating to the strategic course of action.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • Calculate the appropriate costs, taking into account the impact of cost behaviour, and calculate the full and marginal costs of products.
  • Prepare functional and flexed budgets and apply variance analysis, reconciling budgeted profit with actual profit, to inform decision-making.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
  • Explain the various aspects of cost and cost accounting with budgets.
  • Communicate budget-related information across functions.
  • Consider the cost behavioural impact on pricing-decisions.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:
  • Analyse the drivers of cost and manage accordingly, taking into consideration the environment in which the business operates as well as key stakeholders.
  • Propose performance measures for individuals.
  • Motivate for decisions relating to investments and products, their prices and the long-term assets that are needed to ensure production.
  • Consider risk where appropriate.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8:
  • Identify, classify, evaluate and manage risks that could impact on the implementation of strategy and formulate appropriate responses.
  • Analyse and apply techniques, processes and internal control systems required to manage risk.
  • Manage risks associated with both cash flows and capital investment decisions.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 9:
  • Explain basic accounting terminology, policies and the need for regulation and standards.
  • Apply the principles of double-entry booking in the recording of transactions, correction of errors, bank reconciliation, petty cash and sales tax, and prepare financial statements including trial balance and cash flows.
  • Calculate basic accounting ratios.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 10:
  • Justify recommendations on working capital, cash and short-term finance.
  • Consider the regulatory environment in accounting for business transactions
  • Consider all relevant tax implications.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 11:
  • Identify and evaluate sources of long-term finance.
  • Utilise the analysis of financial statements to provide insights into the performance of the business over time.
  • Adhere to the international financial reporting standards for compliance.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 12:
  • Develop and implement a financial strategy to support the overall strategy of the organisation.
  • Advice on long-term sources of finance in support of the organisation's long-term strategy.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 13:
  • Identify ethical values attributed to professional accountants, ethical dilemmas and explain ways of regulating ethical behaviour.
  • Explain the interaction between corporate governance, ethics and company administration in different forms of business organisations, and the related areas of contract law.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Integrated Formative Assessment:
    The skills development providers will use the curriculum to guide them on the stipulated internal assessment criteria and weighting. They will also apply the scope of practical skills and applied knowledge as stipulated by the internal assessment criteria. Formative assessments lead to entrance into the integrated external summative assessment.

    Integrated Summative Assessment:
    An external integrated summative assessment, conducted through the relevant QCTO Assessment Quality Partner, is required to issue this qualification. The external integrated summative assessment will focus on the Exit Level Outcomes and Associated Assessment Criteria. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The Occupational Certificate: Management Accountant, which is a professional qualification, has been compared with management accountant qualifications in the United Kingdom (UK) and New Zealand.

    United Kingdom:
    The Department of Accountancy and Finance at the Birmingham City University offers a 1-year fulltime Postgraduate Diploma in Accountancy and Finance. The qualification focuses on the critical understanding of the strategic financial management decisions of national and multinational companies and explores complex group structures and the application of existing and proposed accounting standards against a background of rapid development and change.

    Modules:
  • Modern Theory of Finance.
  • Business Management Strategy.
  • Corporate Governance and Operations Risk Control.

    New Zealand:
    The Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand offers a Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Accounting. The qualification comprises the following modules:
  • Financial Accounting.
  • Management Accounting for Business.
  • Taxation in New Zealand.
  • Accounting Information System.
  • Economics for Business.
  • Business Law.
  • Law of Business organisation.
  • Managing organisation and people.

    Conclusion:
    The South African Occupational Qualification: Management Accountant compares favourably with the qualifications above in terms of content and level of complexity. However, the international qualifications start at a Postgraduate level, while the South African qualification with its parts provides a learning pathway from entry to expert level. While the international qualifications integrate theory and practical skills, the Occupational Certificate distinguishes between theoretical or knowledge content and applied practical skills. The international qualifications do not require proof of work experience before students reach the final exit level, i.e. the professional qualification. The Occupational Certificate requires proof of work experience for each of the part-qualifications. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Horizontal Articulation:
    This qualification articulates horizontally with:
  • Bachelor of Accounting Sciences Honours in Management Accounting, Level 8.
  • Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Management Accounting, Level 8.

    Vertical Articulation:
    This qualification articulates vertically with:
  • Master of Commerce in Management Accounting, Level 9. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    Qualifying for External Assessment:
    To qualify for an external assessment, learners must provide proof of completion of all required modules using statements of results and work experience.

    Foundational Learning:
  • Not required for this qualification.

    Additional legal or physical entry requirements:
  • None.

    Criteria for the accreditation of providers:
    Accreditation of providers will be done against the criteria as reflected in the relevant curriculum on the QCTO website.

    The curriculum title and code is Management Accountant: 241102000.

    Encompassed Trades:
    This qualification encompasses the following trades as recorded on the NLRD:
  • This qualification is not trade-related. 
    		•

    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.
     
    NONE 


    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.