Postgraduate Diploma in Management (Accounting Conversion Course)

Further Information

This diploma is an accelerated one-year full-time programme for selected graduates from any discipline, other than accounting, who wish to pursue the Chartered Accountant qualification.

The programme consists of a year of intensive study in undergraduate courses over an extended academic year commencing in January.

 Thereafter successful candidates are eligible to apply for the one-year Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting. On successful completion of both the conversion course and the Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting, candidates may write Part 1 of the Qualifying Examination(QE1).

 It should be noted that a three year training contract with an approved auditing firm (where you will specialize in auditing) or an approved training organization in commerce and industry (where you will specialize in financial management) is a pre requisite of the designation of Chartered Accountant. Training with an approved auditing firm is known as TIPP (training in public practice) while training with an approved training organisation in commerce and industry is known as TOPP (training out of public practice). Candidates must select the appropriate training route depending upon their choice of specialization in either auditing or financial management. After writing QE1 candidates must complete a specialist course in either auditing (for TIPP) or financial management (for TOPP) depending on their chosen specialization.

 After a minimum of 18 months of the three year training contract and after passing QE1 and completing the selected specialist course, candidates may write Part 2 of the Qualifying Examination(QE2) which will be in either auditing (for TIPP) or financial management (for TOPP).

 Since its inception, this course has produced a large number of qualified accountants, and there are many more in the pipeline. Their prior educational backgrounds vary considerably and include students with degrees in pharmacy, medicine, science, arts, social science, agriculture, engineering and so on.

Most graduates in South Africa are unaware of this option. Many are currently dissatisfied with their employment prospects and would benefit greatly from the course.

The goal of all concerned with quality and diversity in the accounting profession and indeed with the manpower needs of South Africa, should be to make sure that information regarding the availability of this unique route to becoming a Chartered Accountant (CA) is placed squarely in the purview of all graduates.