NQF Level: 3

SAQA ID: 73710
Learnership code: 01Q010036001203

Target Learners

Level 3 – Certificate: Accounting Technician covers a range of basic accounting practices and techniques; from costing and double-entry bookkeeping to computerised accounting. It is ideal if you are new to working in finance or you are looking to expand and develop your foundation knowledge and skills.

Admission Requirements

There are no formal entry requirements in terms of qualifications, but learners must have a good level of literacy and numeracy and must be able to complete assessments in English.

Learners must be employed in order to participate in this learnership.

Duration

Part-time (20 tuition days)

The duration is variable, depending on the learners’ progress and previous experience, but it is likely to take between six and twelve months.

Topics covered

  • Principles and procedures related to processing business transactions, financial documents and payments for customers and suppliers.
  • Developing skills in processing ledger transactions and preparing an initial trial balance.

  • Maintenance and reconciliation of a cash book by accurately entering receipts and payments, balancing off the book and reconciling with bank statements.
  • Knowledge and understanding of the banking system and related organisational activities.
  • Petty cash transactions and the importance of the Journal as a primary accounting record.
  • Maintaining control over debtors and creditors, aided by preparation and use of debtor and creditor control accounts.
  • Non-standard bookkeeping transactions and double-entry bookkeeping records.

  • Developing transferable skills and effective working in an accounting environment.
  • Teamwork skills and the ability to work independently.
  • Demonstrating workplace-ready standards of literacy and numeracy.

  • Cost recording systems within an organisation and how best to respond to requests for information relating to costs and expenditure.
  • Recording and extracting information, and using a costing system to provide information for management.

  • Selecting and using computerised accounting or bookkeeping software to input and process data for orders, invoices, receipts and payments.
  • Preparing management and period-end reports.
Assessment

The qualification is completed once the learner has been formally assessed by two means:

  • Computer based assessments (CBAs) set and marked centrally by the AT(SA)
  • Skills tests (and a case study project) set centrally by the AT(SA) and assessed by FINTAC.

Once learners have been declared competent in all appropriate units, they will be awarded the Certificate: Accounting Technician qualification.

Progression

The Certificate: Accounting Technician leads to the AT(SA) Advanced Certificate: Accounting Technician, which is registered at level 4 on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). Along with relevant work experience, it also leads to membership of AT(SA) at the Silver membership level.

Delivery

The AT(SA) courses can be delivered at a location of your choice or tailored to your company’s needs.  As registered learnerships, the AT(SA) qualifications enjoy all the benefits of SETA funding, tax rebates and government incentives.

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