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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Occupational Certificate: Management Accounting Specialist 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
112829  Occupational Certificate: Management Accounting Specialist 
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 06  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:
This qualification follows on the Occupational Certificate: Management Accounting Officer and prepares a learner to function at an operational level in the field of management accounting. It provides at exit level from the full pathway towards professional management accountant status.

The qualifying learner will be able to:
  • Provide direction on the efficient management and interaction of organisational structure and operational functions to achieve the organisational strategy.
  • 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.
  • Manage working capital and analyse financial statements which have been prepared using appropriate international financial reporting standards to facilitate business decision making.

    Rationale:
    This qualification is the second step in the learning pathway to becoming a professional Management Accountant. Management Accountant is currently one of the occupations in high demand in South Africa. In the design of the qualification, the institution received co-operation with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and their stakeholders. The institution aligned the qualification to international management accounting standards. This alignment will assist in keeping South African business practices in line with international norms. It will also enhance South Africa's international competitiveness and standing in the global economy. The implementation of the qualification can make a significant impact on the South African business environment and economy.

    The qualification allows learners to enter the labour market and to become economically active while continuing along the learning pathway towards full professional status. The qualification also provides learners with the skills required in various junior to mid-level management accounting roles in the financial divisions of organisations in all sectors of the economy. 
    		•

    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 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 Officer, Level 5. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification is made up of the following compulsory Knowledge, Practical Skills and Work Experience Modules:

    Knowledge Modules:
  • 241102000-KM-05, Organisational Management, Level 6, 36 Credits.
  • 241102000-KM-06, Management Accounting, Level 6, 36 Credits.
  • 241102000-KM-07, Financial Reporting and Taxation, Level 6, 36 Credits.
    The total number of Credits for Knowledge Modules: 108.

    Practical Skills:
  • 241102000-PM-04, Create the Vision and Direction for the Growth and Long-term Sustainable Success of the Organisation and Manage and Lead Change within the Process of Strategy Formulation and Implementation, Level 6, 12 Credits.
  • 241102000-PM-05, Apply the Fundamentals of Management Accounting to an Organisational Context, Level 6, 12 Credits.
  • 241102000-PM-06, Analyse Production Costs, Drivers of Costs, Sales Volumes, Prices and Risks and Prepare Organisational Budgets, Level 6, 12 Credits.
    The total number of credits for Practical Skills Modules: 36.

    Work Experience Modules:
  • 241102000-WM-02, Function in the Role of Management Accounting Specialist with a focus on Short-term Decision Making, Level 6, 36 Credits.
    The total number of credits for Work Experience Modules 36. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Provide direction on the efficient management and interaction of organisational structure and operational functions to achieve the organisational strategy.
    2. 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.
    3. Manage working capital and analyse financial statements which have been prepared using appropriate international financial reporting standards to facilitate business decision making. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Address the influence of the business environment on the short-term implementation of the strategy.
  • Consider the effect of the implementation of strategy on key stakeholders.
  • Communicate implementation plans to encourage collaboration.

    Associated Assessment Criteria Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • 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 Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Justify recommendations on working capital, cash and short-term finance.
  • Take the regulatory environment into consideration in accounting for business transactions.
  • Consider all relevant tax implications.

    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:
    Before issuing this qualification, the relevant QCTO Assessment Quality Partner must conduct an external integrated summative assessment. Before the external integrated summative assessment will focus on the exit level outcomes and associated assessment criteria. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This qualification compares with standards and qualifications in the United Kingdom and in Australia.

    United Kingdom:
    The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants which based in the United Kingdom is the largest professional body for management accountants in the world and it has members in most countries. South Africa generally accepts the standards set by CIMA as the standards for management accountants.

    The Occupational Certificate: Management Accounting Specialist compares with CIMA's suite of qualifications i.e. the Certificate in Business Accounting; the CIMA Diploma in Management Accounting, the CIMA Advanced Diploma in Management Accounting and the CIMA professional qualification.

    The Occupational Certificate: Management Accounting Specialist compared with the CIMA Diploma in Management Accounting which forms part of the learning pathway towards the CIMA professional qualification.

    The Diploma consists of the following modules:
  • Organisational Management.
  • Management Accounting.
  • Financial Reporting and Taxation.

    The CIMA qualifications have been evaluated by the National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom (NARIC) and were compared to the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

    Australia:
    The International College of Management, Sydney, Australia (ICMS) offers a Bachelor of Business Management (Accounting) qualification that prepares learners, among other related occupations, for a career in management accounting. The qualification takes 2.75 years to complete and consists of a combination of theoretical and workplace training. The qualification CPA Australia and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (Chartered Accountants ANZ) approved this qualification.

    This qualification aims to equip learners with a variety of specialist and more generic soft skills, to enable them to work and contribute effectively in a range of complex environments including management accounting. The qualification also aims to develop in learners a thorough understanding of accounting principles and their application. The qualification provides them with opportunities to learn directly from business experts and through real industry experience.

    First Year Modules:
  • Business Communication.
  • Principles of Marketing.
  • Introduction to Human Resources.
  • Accounting for Business.
  • Managing People and Organisations.
  • Business Economics.
  • Service Management and Innovation.
  • Financial Accounting I.
  • Principles of Responsible Leadership.
  • Management Accounting I.
  • Business Statistics.

    Second Year Modules:
    Terms 1 and 2: lndustry training where learners work in junior positions in organisations Term 3:
  • Career Planning and Strategy.
  • Business and Corporate Law.
  • New Enterprise Creation.
  • Applied Leadership.

    Third Year Modules:
  • Research Methods.
  • Elective (out of wide variety of subjects).
  • Strategic Marketing Management.
  • Business Ethics.
  • Strategic Management.
  • Elective (out of wide variety of subjects).
  • Corporate Finance.
  • Research Project.

    Conclusion:
    The South African Occupational Qualification of Management Accounting specialist compares favourably with the compared qualifications in terms of content, duration and level of complexity. While the CIMA Diploma in Management Accounting integrates theory and practical skills, the Occupational Certificate distinguishes between theoretical or knowledge content and applied practical skills. The CIMA Diploma in Management Accounting does not require proof of work experience before learners reach the final exit level.

    The Bachelor of Business Management (Accounting) qualification covers many of the topics included in the Occupational Certificate: Management Accounting Specialist, although they are structured differently. The Australian qualification also includes work experience in the curriculum. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    The qualification offers the following horizontal and vertical articulation opportunities.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • National Diploma: Cost and Management Accounting, Level 6.

    Vertical Articulation:
    Occupational Certificate: Management Accounting Practitioner, Level 7. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    Qualifying for External Assessment:
    In order to qualify for an external assessment, learners must provide proof of completion of all required modules employing statements of results and work experience records.

    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 Accounting Specialist 241102000#02.

    Encompassed Trades:
  • This qualification is not a trade-related.

    Assessment Quality Partner (AQP):
  • QCTO. 
    		•

    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.