What do accountants do?
• Keep records of companies’ income and expenditure
• Handle money, cheques and other payments
• Manage assets
• Plan what to do with money
• Ensure all legal requirements are met
• Manage businesses
• Compile budgets
• Control expenses
• Manage purchases
• Teach children
• Lecture at tertiary level
What skills do I need?
• Excellent maths and analytical skills
• Interest in banking systems
• Attention to detail
• Determination and commitment
• Excellent language skills
• Ability to deal with people
• Presentation skills
What qualifications are there?
• Advanced diploma
• Certificate
• Diploma
• National certificate
• Bachelor of commerce in accounting (BComAcc)
• Bachelor of accounting science (BAccSc)
• Bachelor of economic science (BEconSc)
• Bachelor of business science (BBusSc) finance
What subjects do I need?
MUST HAVE
• English
• Mathematics
• Mathematical literacy (for some programmes)
USEFUL
• Accounting
• Computer Science
• Economics
• Business Studies
What are my career options?
– Accounts clerk
– Administrator
– Asset manager
– Auditor
– Banker
– Bookkeeper
– Business manager
– Chartered accountant
– Commercial lawyer
– Company secretary
– Compliance officer
– Financial consultant
– Financial planner
– Financial manager
– Financial secretary
– Foreign exchange officer
– Insurance consultant
– Internal auditor
– Investment manager
– Lecturer
– Management accountant
– Office administrator
– Property manager
– Property valuator
– Supply chain manager
– Tax consultant
– Teacher
– Teller
What do I need to become a chartered accountant (CA)?
There are a lot of different jobs in accounting, but becoming a CA means you must be registered, and this involves a few steps:
1. Get an accredited university qualification (three years)
2. Get a certificate in the theory of accounting (CTA) (one year)
3. Do a training contract or learnership (three years)
4. Pass the Initial Test of Competence (ITC) exam
5. Pass the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) exam
6. Register with Saica as a CA(SA)
Professional bodies
– The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (Saica)
PO Box 59875, Kengray 2100
Tel: 011 621 6600
www.saica.co.za
– The Independent Regulatory Board of Auditors (IRBA)
PO Box 8237, Greenstone 1616
Tel: 087 940 8800
Email: [email protected]
www.irba.co.za
– Chartered Secretaries Southern Africa
Tel: 011 551 4000
Email: [email protected]
www.chartsec.co.za
– The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
Tel: 011 217 2288
PO Box 924, Saxonwold 2132
www.acca.org.za
Useful contacts
– BANKSETA — Banking Sector Education and Training Authority
Tel: 011 805 9661/086 102 0002
www.bankseta.org.za
– Fasset — Financial and Accounting Services Sector Education and Training Authority
Tel: 086 101 0001
www.fasset.org.za