A CA can work inter alia:
As an auditor and/or accountant for an auditing firm and is responsible for inter alia:
- Performing statutory audits;
- Supplying of management advice services, tax advice services and advice about information technology.
As an accountant in commerce and industry, (e.g. the financial or mining sector) performing a range of duties including:
- Management information;
- Financial reporting;
- Internal control;
- Tax matters;
- Asset management.
As an independent consultant in areas including management advice, tax advice and advice regarding information technology
As an independent businessman/woman
Multiple career opportunities exist. A chartered accountant is in huge demand, not only in South Africa but worldwide. Auditing firms are some of the major employers of CA's. Some of the bigger auditing firms are Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc.
How to become a CA
A CA uses the designation CA (SA) and is a member of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA). Following the route offered by Stellenbosch University, a student has to register for the BAcc degree (3 years), and then obtain a postgraduate qualification, namely either the Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting (PGDA) (1 year), or the BAccHons degree (1 year). After gaining the required technical knowledge at university, students have to enter into a 3 year contract with a registered auditing firm or other registered training organisation in commerce and industry to gain the required practical experience. In the first year of their traineeship, trainees are allowed to write the first part of SAICA's professional examination known as the Initial Test of Competence (ITC).
Passing the ITC allows a prospective CA to complete a specialism course (not offered by the University of Stellenbosch) and, after completing 20 months of traineeship, he/she is eligible to write the final part of SAICA's professional examination known as the Assessment of Professional Competence. A prospective CA, who has met all these requirements and has completed his/her 3 years of traineeship, is allowed to register as a CA (SA) with SAICA.