1.

THE ASSOCIATION

1.1 NAME:
Southern Africa Association of Accountants (SAAA)

1.2 LEGAL STATUS:

SAAA is a company limited by guarantee. It has no share capital.

1.3 BRIEF HISTORY:

Southern Africa Association of Accountants (SAAA) was originally founded in Zimbabwe in 1984 as the
Zimbabwe Association of Accounting Technicians (ZAAT). It had been ascertained that many people in the
financial/accounting field had no formal qualification. The Association’s ZAAT course/curriculum provided
for these practitioners.

The Association has since expanded both in terms of its curriculum and its outlook to suit the regional
perspective and has since opened branches in Botswana and The Republic of South Africa.

The Association’s members are held in high esteem in both the public and private sectors.

The curriculum equips the graduates with the skills, knowledge and attitudes that enable them to practice as
accountants and administrators. SAAA members are involved in the preparation of accounts and other
financial data, in personnel and corporate taxation, the provision of financial and accounting information,
budgeting and costing, financial management accounting, internal audit and credit control. Experienced
members would normally hold senior or supervisory positions with responsibility for planning and monitoring
the work of other staff. The Association’s qualification is therefore appropriate for all financial and accounting
and administration staff.

1.4 VISION AND MISSION

The Association’s Vision
The Association’s Vision is: - “to be a respected regional institution in the development of accounting curricula
and the training and assessment of accounting practitioners.”

The Association’s Mission

The Mission is: - “to develop and assess curricula and impart knowledge and skills that produce high quality
accounting practitioners who are relevant to the markets that they serve.”

1.5 OBJECTIVE
- To provide a recognized qualification and a membership body for persons engaged in accounting or
financial duties in Southern Africa, and to provide an organization for such persons granted such
qualifications and to promote in the public interests the accounting competence of such persons and to
make provision for the exercise of professional supervision over them by members of the Association.
- To give its members and students a corporate identity.
- To do such things as or may be necessary to sustain or raise the status of members.
- To promote and provide opportunities for the exchange of views amongst members and others, and to
encourage and promote the delivery of lectures and the reading and discussion of papers relating to
accountancy work and related interests of members.

1.6 MAIN THRUST OF SAAA QUALIFICATIONS

Holders of the SAAA qualification will be involved in a wide range of accounting/financial functions. These
include the following:-
- Preparation of accounts and other financial data
- Personal and corporate taxation, computations, and consultancy
- Auditing (internal)
- Provision of financial and accounting information
- Budgeting and costing
- Credit control
- Supervisory roles in accounting
- General management and administration

1.7 CAREER PROSPECTS

Graduates hold high positions in both public and private sector organisations, as accountants, internal auditors,
administration managers and analysts.SAAA members in practicing offices will be involved in the preparation
of accounts and other financial data and in personnel and corporate taxation. In commercial organisations and
 in the public sector they may be involved in the provision of financial and accounting information, budgeting
and costing, financial management accounting, internal audit and credit control.
Experienced members would normally hold senior or supervisory positions with responsibility for planning
and monitoring the work of other staff. They may also offer consultancy to members of the public in the
offices in their own practices as non public accountants.

1.8 MEMBERSHIP
Candidates for Membership must produce evidence of practical experience in financial and/or accounting
work. This experience should normally be gained after registration as a SAAA student, but mature students
(i.e. over 25) who already meet the experience requirement, may be admitted to membership at the discretion
of the Council. A minimum of three years full time or the equivalent part-time experience is normally
required after registration as a student and may be obtained consecutively with a part time course or
consecutively to a full-time course of study.

1.8.1 TYPES OF MEMBERSHIP

(a) Individual Membership
Membership demonstrates that the individual is of good character, has acquired the necessary practical
experience and has obtained the relevant educational background.
The categories of membership available to individuals are: -
(1) Associate membership recognized by the award of the designatory letters MSAAA
(2) Fellow membership recognized by the award of the designatory letters FSAAA
(3) Graduate membership recognized by the award of the designatory letters SAAA (Grad)
(4) Honorary membership recognized by the award of the designatory letters HSAAA

(b) Corporate Membership

Corporate Membership is open to appropriate organizations in both the public sectors,
including Ministries, Local authorities and other statutory bodies, companies, firms, co-
operatives and other private sector bodies.
This class of membership will enable these organizations to participate in the affairs of the
Association and actively to support the concept that within the accountancy profession in
Zimbabwe there will be a highly trained group of technicians and Accountants qualified by
both examination and practical experience either to assist public accountants or, in the case
of smaller local authority or business enterprise, to be responsible for all accounting
functions.

1.8.2 MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS

Membership is intended primarily for accounting and financial staff who qualifies by passing the Association’s
examinations or by achieving a similar or higher qualification as determined by the Council. Mature students,
i.e. 25 years or over, may claim exemption from all or part of the post registration experience requirement
specified in 1.8 but must: -
(1) furnish satisfactory evidence that they have obtained a minimum of three years full-time or the equivalent
part-time approved practical experience, and proof of age and
(2) Pay the appropriate fee and subscriptions as determined by Council from time to time.
 Other individuals may exceptionally be admitted to membership on grounds of age and experience at the
discretion of the Council.
 Members in good standing of the Associated Bodies may be admitted to membership. In addition, an
applicant who has gained at least 5 years relevant practical experience at a senior level may be admitted
to Membership as a Fellow.
 Members ceasing employment for a minimum period of at least one year on medical grounds may for a
maximum of 5 years and on the production of medical evidence, enjoy membership at a subscription
equivalent to half the current rate. Application on other grounds may also be considered by Council.
 Applicants for membership are normally required to have been in full-time employment during the 6
months prior to their application.
 Periods of employment of less than 8 months duration are not normally considered to count towards the
practical experience requirement.

1.9 ENTRY REQUIREMENTS AND COURSE DURATION

1.9.1 Diploma(Part 1) (SAAA: 200/G and SAAA: 200/P)
Entry in the SAAA Diploma in Accountancy (Part 1) is through two possible routes. Applicants may
register for the SAAA Diploma if in addition to the Ordinary Level requirements they have successfully
completed the SAAA Certificate in Accountancy. Applicants may also register for the SAAA Diploma
in Accountancy (Part I) if in addition to the Ordinary Level requirements they have passes in at least two
(2) relevant Advanced Level subjects. The course will run for at least one year.
 1.9.2 Diploma (Part 2) (SAAA: 300/G and SAAA: 300/P)
Applicants may register for the SAAA Diploma in Accountancy and SAAA Diploma in Public Sector
Accounting if they have successfully completed the SAAA Diploma in Accountancy (Part 1) and SAAA
Diploma in Public Sector Accounting respectively.The course will run for at least one year.

1.9.3 Diploma in Accountancy(SAAA: 400/G) and Diploma in Public Sector Accounting (SAAA:
400/P)Applicants may register for the SAAA Diploma in Accountancy and SAAA Diploma in Public
Sector Accounting if they have successfully completed the SAAA Diploma in Accountancy (Part 2) and
SAAA Diploma in Public Sector Accountancy respectively.The course will run for at least one year.

1.9.4 Higher Diploma in Accountancy and Higher Diploma in Public Sector Accountancy (SAAA: 500/G) and
(SAAA: 500/P). Applicants may register for the SAAA Higher Diploma in Accountancy and SAAA
Higher Diploma in Public Sector Accounting if they have successfully completed the SAAADiploma in
Accountancy and SAAA Diploma in Public Sector Accountancy respectively.The course will run for at
least one year.

1.10 STUDENTSHIP
1.10.1 REGISTRATION
Students must apply for registration on the appropriate form obtainable from the Secretariat and submit
it with the academic certificates and appropriate registration fee and first annual subscription (see
1.11.2)If the applicant proposes to study by correspondence, or at a private college, he/she is advised to
make sure that he/she hasbeen accepted as a Student by the Association before enrolling for a course of
study.If the applicant proposes to study through a Government College, he/she should in the first instance,
enroll for the relevant course at the institution before seeking registration as a student.

1.10.2 REGISTRATION FEES

Students joining the Association will be required to pay registration feein addition to their first annual
subscription fee. This fee and subscription will be set by Council from time to time.

1.10.3 EXEMPTION POLICY

Exemption from the Association’s Examinations is available on a subject for subject basis to students
who have passed certain examinations, details of which can be obtained from the Secretariat.
Application for exemptions should be submitted at the same time as the application for registration. No
exemptions will be issued for the Higher Diploma in Accountancy or Higher Diploma in Public Sector
Accountancy.

1.10.4 SPECIAL REGISTRATION

Mature Entry
Exceptions may be made for applicants who have attained a requisite standard of general education and
acquired not less than2 years’ appropriate working experience provided that:
- The applicant is aged more than 25 years of age; and
- will normally be expected to have obtained at least 5‘O’ level passes or approved equivalence.

1.10.5 RULES OF STUDENTS AND DISCIPLINE

Students are required to conform to the aims and objects of the Association and so far as applicable to
them, to conform to such codes of conduct, ethics and practice of the Association as prescribed.
Students are entitled to take part in activities organized by the Association. These will normally include
membership of branch or regional organizations of the Association, attending seminars and representation
on appropriate committees.

1.10.6 GENERAL ACADEMIC REGULATIONS FOR STUDENTS

Any student whose annual subscription (including any part of a subscription and any reduced
subscription) shall be in arrears for six months or more shall thereupon cease to be a student unless the
Council otherwise resolves.

1.11 EXAMINATIONS
1.11.1 EXAMINATIONS REGISTRATION
The Association offers its examinations twice a year in June and November. Registration for the
Juneexamination session should be completed by 30thApril and for the November Examinations by 30th
September of each year.

1.11.2 EXAMINATION POLICY

 Examiners shall not ask students to recite what they have read. Application of what has been learnt shall
be examined and questions shall be of practical nature. In financial accounting subjects, students will be
examined on current IFRSs and IASs therefore if the standard has been repealed students are expected to
know the requirements of the new standard.

1.11.3 REGISTRATION FORMS

Entry forms for the Association’s examinations will be sent automatically to all eligible students at least
2 months prior to the examination date and must be returned so as to reach the Secretariat by not later
than the date stipulated therein. Entries must be accommodated within the stipulated timetable.

1.11.4 REGISTRATION FEES

The examination fee and the exemption fee will be determined by Council from time to time

1.11.5 EXAMINATIONS DATES/SESSIONS

The main examinations are in June andNovember details will be obtained from the Secretariat. Other
exams are held as follows: March – Supplementary and September Exams on Demand.

1.12 CURRICULUM DESIGN

The design of the curriculum is summarized in the table below:
Details for each course are given in the individual course structure.

DIPLOMA IN ACCOUNTANCY (PART 1) DIPLOMA IN PUBLIC SECTOR

(SAAA:200/G) ACCOUNTANCY (PART 1) (SAAA:200/P)
Introductory Financial SAAA:201 Introductory Financial SAAA:201
Accounting Accounting
Marketing Management SAAA:202 Marketing Management SAAA:202
General Management SAAA:203 General Management SAAA:203
Business Communication SAAA:204 Business Communication SAAA:204
Human Resources Management SAAA:205 Human Resources Management SAAA:205

DIPLOMA IN ACCOUNTANCY (PART 2) DIPLOMA IN PUBLIC SECTOR

(SAAA:300/G) ACCOUNTANCY (PART 2) (SAAA:300P)
Intermediate Financial SAAA:301 Intermediate Financial SAAA:301
Accounting Accounting
Business Law SAAA:302 Business Law SAAA:302
Information Technology SAAA:303 Information Technology SAAA:303
Cost Accounting SAAA:304 Cost Accounting SAAA:304

DIPLOMA IN ACCOUNTANCY (PART 3) DIPLOMA IN PUBLIC SECTOR

(SAAA:400/G) ACCOUNTANCY (PART 3) (SAAA:400P)
Quantitative Methods SAAA:401 Quantitative Methods SAAA:401
Auditing SAAA:402 Public Sector Auditing SAAA:407
Economics SAAA:403 Public Sector Accounting SAAA:406
Corporate Law SAAA:404 Public Sector Organisation and SAAA:408
Financial Practice
Taxation SAAA:405 Taxation SAAA:405
Students must note the following rules that will apply:
a) All subjects are compulsory within the relevant Group.
b) A student who completes or gains exemptions from all subjects/papers in Part 1 and Part 2 will be issued
with an academic transcript.
c) Astudent who completes or gains exemptions from all subjects in Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 will be issued
with an academic transcript and the SAAA Diploma in Accountancy.
HIGHER DIPLOMA IN ACCOUNTANCY HIGHER DIPLOMA IN PUBLIC SECTOR
SAAA:500/G ACCOUNTANCY SAAA:500/P
Advanced Financial SAAA:501 Advanced Financial Accounting SAAA:501
Accounting
Financial Management SAAA:502 Financial Management SAAA:502
Strategic Management SAAA:503 Strategic Management SAAA:503
Cost & Management SAAA:504 Cost & Management SAAA:504
Accounting Accounting
Corporate Governance & SAAA:505 Corporate Governance & Ethics SAAA:505
Ethics
Research Project SAAA:506 Research Project SAAA:506

SAAA Higher Diploma in Accountancy

a) This is qualification is designed to prepare trainees for employment at Accountant Level.
b) SAAA Diploma in Accountancy graduates can opt to study this course and write examinations for the
SAAA Higher Diploma in Accountancy.
c) The course is designed to equip managerial personnel in the financial sector with financial management
skills. Candidates who study this course should hold a SAAA Diploma in Accountancy or equivalent.
d) On successful completion of this course trainees will be able to demonstrate an ability to apply
accounting techniques in Industry and Commerce as well as in the Public Sector.
e) Graduates will be issued the SAAA Higher Diploma in Accountancy.