Course Overview
There is a need for adequate control to be maintained over the financial affairs of companies, which sometimes fail due to inadequate preparation of Financial Statements with costs being allowed to exceed budget and income. This Qualification aims at equipping learners to perform the Accounting function in small organizations and to provide support to Accountants and Financial Managers in medium and large organizations so that the Accounting and Financial Management functions can be performed effectively. As all organizations need to employ people with this knowledge, Bookkeepers to Financial Statements are in short supply.

The nature of the Qualification and the integrated work-place assessment requirements will reduce the amount of non-productive time traditionally associated with workplace training when learners enter the world of work as Bookkeepers in medium to large organizations and as senior Bookkeepers in small organizations.

This Qualification has been developed as a coherent set of “generic” competences in Accounting so that it applies to a wide range of different types of accounting jobs in a variety of organizations. Transferable core competences for broadly defined areas of accounting activity have been identified and included in this Qualification as they apply to all employees involved in an Accounting role in any organization. Some of the individual competencies, particularly those in large organizations relating to a specific job in the field have also been included in the Qualification, where these might have a broader applicability for learners.

Learners completing this Qualification will be able to be employed as Bookkeepers who do the work that requires fundamental knowledge of and the application of Bookkeeping and Accounting procedures in a variety of situations. They require a range of skills and the ability to apply essential methods and procedures within the limits of their authority. Their work roles are in general Accounting where they lend support to the Accountant and/or the Financial Manager of medium to large organizations. They also perform a wide range of Accounting tasks independently in small companies but under the indirect supervision of an external Accountant in terms of legal requirements, in different industries and in commercial and industrial organizations.

Learning Outcomes
On completion of this Certificate you will be able to:

• Completion of the monthly and annual bookkeeping function
• Skills for depreciable asset disposal, year-end adjustments, preparation and analysis of financial statements for sole proprietorships, partnerships, close corporations, companies and a thorough understanding of cash flow statements.
• Completion of basic management accounts and a working knowledge of cost accounting; including knowledge of breakeven analysis, cost-volume-profit analysis, advanced costing, budgeting and standard costing, financial management and business ethics

ICB Examinations
Students write the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers examinations. Upon successful completion of the ICB exams students will be awarded a Certificate in Senior Bookkeeping. Students need 60% to pass.

Modules to be covered for this certification:

• Business Literacy
• Bookkeeping to Trial Balance
• Payroll & Monthly SARS Returns
• Computerized Bookkeeping
• Cost & Management Accounting
• Financial Statements

 Duration:
Part time        17h30 – 20h30                        2 days a week              12 months
Full time          08h00 – 12h00                        5 days a week              6 months

Please note:

• No proof of qualification will be given before the total amount of the course has been fully paid.
• Exam fees for the Institute for Certified Bookkeepers are subject to additional cost, and NOT included.
• Students need to have completed an Introduction to Accounting course.