Technical Financial Accounting Diploma (ICB)

Full TimePart Time

Get certified for a successful bookkeeping and accounting career!

Get the knowledge and skills to to succeed in the accounting field as a Financial Accountant. On completion of this programme, you will be qualified as an Accounting Technician and Certified Tax Technician.

You will be able to operate with management in an accounting environment, become a SAIT-recognised tax practitioner, know the ins and outs of accounting, taxation, auditing and business law, and understand how tax works for individuals and companies.

Your job functions will typically be to: perform internal audits, oversee tax payments, monitor and report on accounting irregularities, monitor cash flow, keep track of finances and prepare and file tax returns.

The ICB (Institute of Certified Bookkeepers) is a professional body that offers a range of internationally-recognised qualifications in bookkeeping, accounting and financial management. These qualifications are structured in progressive levels, allowing you to complete more advanced qualifications in your own time, and as you gain experience and expertise.

Career Opportunities

This programme will prepare you for many career opportunities in finance and accounting, including:

  • Financial Accountant
  • Accounting Technician
  • Certified Tax Technician
  • Junior Bookkeeper
  • Senior Bookkeeper
  • SARS Returns Administrator
  • Cost and Management Accounting Clerk
  • Income Tax Administrator
  • Business Law Administrator
  • Auditing Assistant
  • Entrepreneur
  • Debtors Administrator
  • Creditors Administrator
  • Payroll Administrator
Accreditation and Certification

On successful completion of each level, you will receive the:

  • National Certificate: Bookkeeping
  • FET Certificate: Bookkeeping
  • UniCollege Certificate in Pastel Accounting (optional for full-time students only)

On successful completion of all the modules, the ICB applies to FASSET to award you the National Diploma: Technical Financial Accounting (NQF Level 5, SAQA ID 36213).

Successful learners can continue with studies towards the NQF Level 6 National Diploma: Financial Accounting.

Course Outline

Bookkeeping to Trial Balance
An intro to business, bookkeeping and accounting • Value Added Tax and source documents • Recording cash transactions • Recording credit and sundry transactions • Inventory systems • Individual accounts for debtors and creditors, and supplier and general ledger reconciliations • The bank reconciliation process • Drafting financial statements

Payroll and Monthly SARS Returns
Basic bookkeeping and VAT • Plan, organise, implement, monitor and work within the payroll environment • Record and validate input variations on employee records • Basic conditions of employment • Statutory registrations • Complete PAYE documents • Accounting for payroll • Computerised payroll • Monthly SARS returns and eFiling • Ethics and the registered Tax Practitioner

Computerised Bookkeeping
Full-time students study Computerised Bookkeeping + Pastel Accounting (60 hour module)
• Pastel language and navigation • Creating and setting up a company in Pastel Partner • Create and maintain general ledger accounts • Create and maintain supplier accounts • Create and maintain customer accounts • Create and maintain inventory items • Take on balances and journals • Supplier processing • Customer processing • Cash book, petty cash and journal processing • Month end procedures • Year end procedures
Part-time students study Computerised Bookkeeping over 3 Saturday classes (12 hour module)

Business Literacy
The key principles of effective business communication • Working with numbers • Spoken communication • Written communication • Working with fractions and decimal numbers • Percentages, ratios, proportions and equations • Work readiness • Learning styles, study skills and exam preparation • Using interest rates in business • Measure, analyse and communicate workplace data

Financial Statements
Recording business financial transactions • Depreciable assets • Finalisation and interpretation of accounts • Financial statements of the sole proprietorship • Partnerships • Internal reporting for corporate entities • An introduction to IFRS and SMME’s • Statement of cash flows

Cost and Management Accounting
An intro to managerial accounting • Controlling inventory and overhead costs • Accounting for a manufacturing enterprise • Job costing • Budgeting and standard costing • Contract accounting • Process costing • Financial management

Income Tax Returns
Intro to Income tax • Gross income • Exempt income • Allowable deductions • Fringe benefits and allowances • Employees’ tax and provisional tax • Taxation of non-residents • Taxation of business entities • Turnover tax • Completing tax returns • Capital gains tax • Donations tax • Estate duty • SARS and the Tax Practitioner

Business Law and Accounting Control
The unspoken laws of business • The written laws of business • Managing your personal finances • Accounting systems – Internal control concepts • Managing accounting systems • Accounting systems – Inventory control • Accounting systems – Analytical review • Liquidation and executors’ accounts • Core principles of corporate governance

Entrance Requirements
  • Grade 10 or equivalent
  • You are required to pass each level before continuing your studies
  • No prior accounting knowledge is required
Course Factsheet