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SAICA AND AAT(SA)

PUBLIC SECTOR

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

SUPPORT

Natalie Zimmelman

23 August 2013

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BACKGROUND

• Pressure from Accountant-General and Auditor-General to

assist in public sector

• Gauteng DLG, together with DBSA, working on “Operation

Clean Audit”

• Collaboration between AAT and SAICA to develop and pilot the

Local Government Accounting Certificate (NQF3) in 2007/2008

• Commitment of SAICA and AAT to continue development of

Accounting Technicians NQF 3 to NQF 5 - launch AAT (SA) –

21 October 2008

• Delivery of Local Government Qualifications to over 4 000

people nationally

• National Treasury Approach in 2012

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SKILLS SHORTAGE

• Independent research survey into shortage of

financial skills

• 739 organisations interviewed

• 22 030 (approximately) accountants short across

different levels

• 16 642 vacancies at NQF levels 3 to 6 in both

financial and non-financial services sectors

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OVERALL OBJECTIVE

• Create an holistic financial skills programme across all levels which:

• Enhances the financial skills of the current public

sector finance staff at all levels;

• Addresses the financial skills shortage through the

provision of learnerships for unemployed

matriculants and graduates, hence increasing the

pool of trained finance staff.

• Provides for sustainability through potential

provider accreditation

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SKILL LEVELS

NQF 7

CA(SA)

CFO level

NQF 5/6

NT/LGSeta

Municipal Finance Management Programme

NQF 3, 4 & 5

Financial Accountant and Clerical levels

Currently addressed by the

SAICA training programme

at National Treasury

Currently supported by

the SAICA Deloitte

Municipal Finance

Manager Training

Programme

Currently

addressed

by the AAT (SA)

programmes

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ADDITIONAL SUPPORT

• SAICA Public Sector Committees

• Public Sector Audit Committee Forum (SAICA one of the founding members)

• SAICA Municipal Specific CPD programmes

• SAICA Councilor Training

• Professionalisation of Local Government

• AAT(SA) Professional Ethics Programme

• FET College Accreditation to offer AAT(SA) Local Government Qualifications

• SALGA MOUs (AAT(SA) and SAICA) to drive initiatives

AAT(SA) Qualifications

Business Stream

Certificate: Accounting

(NQF 5)

FET Certificate: Accounting Technician

(NQF 4)

Certificate: Accounting Technician

(NQF 3)

Local Government

Stream

LG “Diploma” in Accounting –

November 2014

FETC: Accounting Technician LG

Certificate: Accounting

Technician LG

Public Sector Stream

Public Sector “Diploma” - 2016

Public Sector Advanced Certificate

Public Sector Certificate

Qualification Outcomes

Certificate: Accounting Technician Local Government: this certificate develops skills in double entry bookkeeping and gives an understanding

of management and administrative process.

FET Certificate: Accounting Technician Local Government: introduces complex accounting tasks including preparation of final accounts,

maintaining cost accounting records and preparing reports and returns.

Local Government “Diploma” – to be developed: (Mandatory Units & two electives) Will focus on the areas of accounting most relevant to your needs including audit

preparedness, financial statements and financial ratios.

Benefits of

Qualifications Recognition - qualification

• Registered with SAQA

• Registered learnerships (tax and Seta benefits)

• Internationally recognised

Quality assurance

• Accredited providers

• Externally set examinations

• Support of AAT and SAICA

Staff benefits

• Competent staff

• Professional and proud staff

How does it work? • Classes of between 20 and 25

• Classes at departmental offices

• LGAC – 18 days facilitation, plus

revision and assessment over 12

months

• LGAAC – 40 days plus revision and

assessment over 24 months

• Timetable agreed with municipality

• Accredited training providers appointed by

AAT(SA) OR Municipality

• Timetable can be shortened at employer

discretion

Professional Membership

Membership = Academic knowledge + Practical

competence

1. Qualification 2. Workplace

experience

AAT Qualifications Recognition of

Prior Learning

Membership Levels When you register with AAT(SA), you belong to a professional body. AAT(SA) offers membership status for every

step of your accounting journey. Once you have completed a level, you will gain recognition, support and benefits

from one of five membership levels below.

This table describes the different AAT(SA) membership levels and the skills set you will gain from each level.

You can progress through the membership levels when you further your qualification and work experience.

Membership Levels When you register with AAT(SA), you belong to a professional body. AAT(SA) offers membership status for every

step of your accounting journey. Once you have completed a level, you will gain recognition, support and benefits

from one of five membership levels below.

This table describes the different AAT(SA) membership levels and the skills set you will gain from each level.

You can progress through the membership levels when you further your qualification and work experience.

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THUTHUKA DELOITTE MUNICIPAL FINANCE

MANAGEMENT TRAINING PROJECT

• Objective of supporting municipalities in achieving

minimum standards of competence, as required by

the regulations

• Funding granted by National Skills Fund of R72m

• Guided by National Treasury Municipal Finance

Capacity Building Unit

• National Roll-out includes National Treasury Interns

• 1 210 learners (160 unemployed graduates; 550

Interns and 500 Municipal Officials

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THUTHUKA DELOITTE MUNICIPAL FINANCE

MANAGEMENT TRAINING PROJECT (cont.)

• 15 Unit Standards of MFMP provided

• Externally provided mentorship and learner support

• Support for municipalities to integrate learning in the

workplace

• Support for the placement of unemployed graduates

• All material provided

• Advocacy and communication

• Funding proposal submitted to the National Skills

Fund in 2013 for a further 1 100 learners (awaiting

response)

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CA(SA) LEVEL

• Grow CAs(SA) specifically for the Public Sector

environment

• Recruit learners specifically from rural areas and in

partnership with potential recruiting public sector

entities

• Add learners to the existing TBF programme

• Training period delivered in partnership with large

firms, National Treasury and Auditor-General

• Trainees deployed to smaller public sector

departments and municipalities (of origin)

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THUTHUKA BURSARY FUND

• Established out of a need to transform CA(SA)

profession

• Based on successful model at UFH and includes:

• Strong academic programme

• Extra Tuition

• Life, study and workplace readiness skills;

• All material needs

• Cohort approach

• Consolidation of industry interests

• Public Private Partnership

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CONCLUSION

• The development of a comprehensive and ongoing

skills development initiative

• Creation of a sustainable long-term stakeholder team

including Municipalities, DBSA, SALGA, LGSeta,

CoGTA and National Treasury for a true Public

Private Partnership

• Skills Development is ALL of our responsibility

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QUESTIONS