University of Zululand Unizulu Bcom Accounting
Purpose Statement
The aim of this programme is to prepare graduates with the basic knowledge and skills required for students who can enter the accounting profession as a professional worker. It focuses on four core areas which are Financial Accounting, Auditing, Taxation, and Financial Management and Management Accounting.
The pedagogic aim of the programme is to develop the capacity to read and learn accounting as a dependant learner on entry and as an independent learner at exit, and this fundamentally influences the exit level outcomes of the accounting modules of the programme. A core aim of the programme is to ensure that graduates are sufficiently prepared to proceed to higher degrees in any of the four areas.
Employment opportunities citing typical employers
The accounting profession is very critical in the South African economy and in the world as it play a vital role in management of the finances of any institution. The accounting profession ensures that the institution is run efficiently, the accounting records are kept accurately, tax is calculated correctly and paid on time.
The accounting profession has evolved over years and it has played a pivotal role in the implementation of corporate governance. The accountants are employed as financial accountant, management accountant, internal auditor, tutor, financial advisor, financial analyst, tax consultant and project accountants in government, commerce and industry.
Entrepreneurial opportunities
The accounting profession has many entrepreneurial opportunities in the different sectors. The accountant can directly participate in the production of goods or provide the accounting service. The number of enterprises that are run by the accountants in South Africa is on the rise.
Vertical articulation for further / higher degree studies where applicable
The programme is designed to be sufficient for students who wish to proceed to honours, masters and doctoral degrees, and in this way obtain the kind of depth that will make them attractive as professional and knowledge workers to work as researchers in public and private sector entities, and as academics at the universities. For example, the shortage of academics within the accounting profession in the private and public universities is high.
The student may also enrol for a bridging programme (1 year) in order to do the certificate of theory in Accountancy (CTA) in order to complete the academic requirements of the chartered accountancy (CA) profession in South Africa.
Horizontal articulation with other qualifications where applicable
The programme is also well positioned to articulate horizontally to other qualifications such as LLB and other Bachelor of Commerce degrees. It articulates horizontally with further education sector teacher education programmes, which is amongst the fastest employing sectors in the country especially given that accounting is positioned as a scarce skill teaching subject.
Head of Department
Sphelele Khomo BCom (Wits), BAcc (Wits), CA(SA)
Email: khomos@unizulu.ac.za
Tel: 035-902-6796