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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATION: 
Business Accountant 
DESIGNATION ID DESIGNATION TITLE
521  Business Accountant 
PROFESSIONAL BODY DESIGNATION STATUS
CIBA - Chartered Institute for Business Accountants (Formerly SAIBA)  Reregistered 
SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
SAQA 03146/24  2018-07-26  2025-03-31 


DESCRIPTION:
The Business Accountant (SA) (BA(SA)) designation is awarded to:
  • Persons with a completed commerce or related Degree or Diploma at NQF Level 6.
    Or
  • Persons with other degrees of diplomas but who work in an accounting or finance related field.

    In addition the applicant has to subscribe to the SAIBA Code of Conduct and adheres to the SAIBA CPD policy.

    This BA(SA) is ideal for persons that are building their career as an accounting and financial professional or who work in an accounting or finance environment. This makes the designation ideal for both:
  • Accounting and finance professionals working in industry.
    Or
  • Consultants such as Business Advisers, HR specialists, Attorneys, Governance specialsit working with accounting and finance professionals.

    A BA(SA) has access to valuable resources such as an online social network, SAIBA-sponsored research, a Job Board, and much more.

    The BA(SA) enhances an employee's value to their current organisation and expands their career potential.

    Earning the BA(SA) will make you part of a network of over 4000 peers worldwide via our international affiliations. 
    		•
    AWARDING CRITERIA
    For the Professional Designation to be awarded, professionals must comply with the following minimum requirements: 
    Underlying Registered Qualification or Part Qualification:
    Degree or Diploma, minimum NQF Level 6 plus, 2 years relevant experience in an accounting of finance related job plus, to retain the designation 40 hours CPD per year.

    The PD is a unique designation giving effect to all commerce degrees and diplomas registered at NQF 6 and higher and offered by all entities registered with the Department of Education as a private higher education institution under the Higher Education Act, 1997, or a professional qualification issued by an accredited professional body. 
    Experiential Learning or Experience
    SAIBA requires that applicants confirm 2 years relevant experience.

    Experience should relate to:
  • Ethics, Governance, Non-Financial risk, Communication, Self-management, Use of IT, Project management, Prepare and interpret financial statements and management information, Management and control of budgets, Evaluate and compute taxes, Assist with tax practice.

    The applicant verifies experience by submitting a CV and a confirmation letter from an employer or qualified professional. SAIBA may contact references.

    It is the applicant's responsibility to perform a self-assessment on whether the performance indicators have been met. The applicants should request a supervisor, or principle in the or another member of SAIBA to provide an overall assessment whether the applicant is capable of achieving the stated performance indicators.

    SAIBA may perform an independent verification of whatever form to determine whether the performance indicators have been met. This includes correspondence with supervisor, principles or the relevant SAIBA member that co-signed the ADM and assessments of a workplace 
    		•
    Competency Assessment
    It is the applicant's responsibility to perform a self-assessment on whether the performance indicators have been met. The applicants should request a supervisor, or principle in the or another member of SAIBA to provide an overall assessment whether the applicant is capable of achieving the stated performance indicators.

    SAIBA may perform an independent verification of whatever form to determine whether the performance indicators have been met.

    This includes correspondence with supervisor, principles or the relevant SAIBA member that co-signed the self-assessment and assessments of a workplace.

    Candidates may also be requested to submit a portfolio of evidence.

    A person may apply for the professional designation based on recognition of prior learning (RPL) if some of the formal qualification qualifications requirements are not met.

    Each case is dealt with on its own merits and must be accompanied with a portfolio of evidence supporting the RPL application. 
    Designation RPL Statement
    This Designation may be awarded through Recognition of Prior Learning. 
    RETAINING CRITERIA
    In order to ensure the currency of professional knowledge and to retain the Professional Designation, the professional must comply with the following minimum requirements: 
    Code of Conduct
    Members must adhere to the Professional Body Codes of Conduct and Ethics. 
    Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
    CPD or Continuous Profession Development is the mark of professionalism. Obtaining CPD means that you invest in maintaining and expanding your knowledge base. In this way you are able to better serve your clients, charge higher fees and lower your overall risk.

    It is therefore a requirement of SAIBA membership that all members must obtain CPD, and be able to demonstrate that they have obtained CPD. The SAIBA CPD policy is attached at the end of this page.

    A member may obtain CPD in one of the following ways:
  • The unit scheme.
    Or
  • The CPD scheme of an IFAC member body of which he is also a member, provided that the scheme complies with the CPD requirements of IFAC.

    By no later than 1 July each year starting from 1 December 2009, all members must submit to the Institute an annual CPD declaration in the prescribed form which has been properly completed and signed. Failure to comply with this regulation may lead to removal from the register of members. Members should sign into the website and submit their CPD hour online.

    Members must obtain at least 40 units per calendar year of acceptable CPD learning activities which are relevant to their work. One unit is equal to one hour spent on an acceptable CPD learning activity.

    At least 25 units must be verifiable units. A unit will be verifiable if the member can prove that he or she was involved in an acceptable CPD learning activity. A unit will be non-verifiable if the member is unable to prove that the CPD learning activity has taken place.

    A unit will be verifiable if the learning activity provides or includes the following:
  • Course outlines and teaching materials provided.
  • Attendance record, registration forms or confirmation of registration from provider.
  • Independent assessments that a learning activity has occurred.
  • Confirmation by an instructor, mentor or tutor of participation.
  • Confirmation by an employer of participation in an in-house program.

    Examples of learning activities, which may be either verifiable or non-verifiable, include:
  • Participation in courses, conferences, seminars.
  • Self-learning modules or organised on-the-job training for new software, systems, procedures or techniques for application in professional role.
  • Published professional or academic writing.
  • Participation and work on technical committees.
  • Teaching a course or CPD session in an area related to professional responsibilities.
  • Formal study related to professional responsibilities.
  • Participation as a speaker in conferences, briefing sessions, or discussion groups.
  • Writing technical articles, papers, books.
  • Research, including reading professional literature or journals, for application in a professional role.
  • Professional re-examination or formal testing.

    One single, repetitive activity, for example, teaching introductory accounting to different audiences, should not constitute a member's total CPD activity. Members may carry forward a credit of up to 25 verifiable units from one year to the next. Members must obtain their CPD units in areas relevant to their work.

    All members, regardless of their role, must:
  • Maintain competence in professional ethics.
  • Keep their business and finance knowledge up to date.

    All members that hold a license issued by SAIBA and/or carries on regulated activities e.g. accounting officer, independent review or tax practitioner work must:
  • Maintain competence in the specialized areas of their practice.
  • Obtain an appropriate proportion of CPD units in those areas.

    All members shall maintain records of both verifiable and non-verifiable CPD units obtained and of the relevance of those units to their role. In the case of verifiable units, the records shall include proof that the individual was involved in an acceptable CPD learning activity. Such records shall be retained for three years and shall be subject to examination and verification by the Institute and shall be provided to the Institute upon their being requested in writing. Such records shall be provided within the deadline specified in the request, which shall be no later than fourteen days after the date of the request. Failure to comply with this regulation may lead to removal from the register of members. 
    		•
    Fees
    Ensure that the annual membership fee is paid. 


    PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATION PROGRESSION PATHWAY
    (The Designation being reported on here is shown in italics.)

    Sequence Designation ID Designation Title
    1521Business Accountant
    2520Business Accountant in Practice


    PROFESSIONAL BODY WEB ADDRESS:
    For more information on this Professional Designation, please visit http://www.saiba.org.za