Two Stellenbosch University (SU) students have excelled in the January 2024 South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) Initial Test of Competence (ITC), making it onto the prestigious Top 10 candidates list.
Ryan Crewe-Brown and Rohann Rorich clinched joint eight position in the first of two professional qualifying exams for the designation of Chartered Accountant (South Africa) (CA(SA)). Along with Liam Lenz and Lucas Slier, they were among 24 students from 18 participating institutions across South Africa who achieved 75% or higher, meaning they passed with honours.
The results were announced on Friday, 5 April. Overall, the 172 BAccHons and Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting students of SU's School of Accountancy, who sat for the exam for the first time in January this year, scored an impressive pass rate of 97% – well above the national pass rate of 79%.
Crewe-Brown says: “Placing eighth was a huge win for me. It shows that with lots of coffee and a comfy chair anything is possible." He adds that the exam was more challenging than he expected, which makes the result even more welcome. “I am extremely happy and relieved that I don't have to study again for a while."
Rorich says that preparing for the ITC exam after completing the honours year was tough. Setting clear goals and believing in his success helped him prepare for the exam. “It was an unbelievable feeling to receive my results and to see that all the hard work had paid off. I was extremely happy and proud. I would like to thank all those who supported me throughout the journey, and who continuously believed in me."
The Maties are among the 1 639 first-time candidates to pass the examination, which SAICA says assesses how well a candidate can apply the technical competence acquired through their academic programme to specific scenarios.
This is the first of two professional examinations candidates must pass to obtain their CA(SA) designation. To pass the ITC, candidates must achieve an overall pass of 50% and a minimum of 40% in at least three of the four professional papers. The second examination is the Assessment of Professional Competence.
Prof Pieter von Wielligh, Director of SU's School of Accountancy, says the School is immensely proud of and humbled by this wonderful achievement of its 'Class of 2023'. “The results show that the dedication of our students, their lecturers and the support staff and leadership of the School has paid off. We have a proud and consistent history of excellent pass rates in the ITC over many years, which speaks to the quality of both the students that we attract and our learning-teaching-assessment strategies and practices."
Photo: Rohann Rorich and Ryan Crewe-Brown