What can I do with a Bachelor of Accounting Science degree?

Thinking of pursuing a Bachelor of Accounting Science (BCompt) degree, but wondering what you will do with it once you have one? Read on!

The BCompt degree in accounting science is a gateway to one of the glorified professions. It leads into a career in accounting, which is among the most highly paid worldwide.

IN THIS ARTICLE:

• What will you be able to do once you graduate?
• Options among the many accounting science jobs
  • The corporate world
  • Entrepreneurship
• Professional designations
• How to achieve CA designation
• Endless accounting science job opportunities

What will you be able to do once you graduate?

Congratulations – the sleepless nights of submitting assignments, collaborating with classmates, facilitators, and student support administrators to ensure you have understood the learning material – have finally paid off. You have conquered all the challenges encountered over your learning journey. You have finally acquired your Bachelor of Accounting Science degree from Regenesys Business School, a leading private management school accredited by the Council on Higher Education and registered with the South African Qualifications Authority (Saqa).

Where to from here? 

The world is your oyster, with new doors opening and endless possibilities ahead. You now have the relevant analytical, technical, and systematic skills, as well as a logical approach to solving problems in an accounting science-related environment, all underpinned by the spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical intelligence you developed during your studies – the Regenesys graduate attributes that give you an edge over your competitors in the job market.

Options among the many accounting science jobs

There are many accounting science-related jobs you can consider with your degree, including: 

• Financial analyst
• Financial manager
• Entrepreneur
• Management consultant
• Tax practitioner
• Internal or external auditor
• Academic
• Professional accountant 

The corporate world

You can immediately enter the corporate world, and apply the theoretical knowledge you have acquired from your accounting science qualification. All industries and sectors must deal with numbers, from their finance departments to their procurement, information technology, and human capital departments. 

You could work as a management consultant, helping organisations streamline their cost structures; as a financial analyst, guiding organisations’ investment decisions; or as a tax specialist, advising businesses on how best to structure their tax. 

You can, over time, work your way up to the post of chief financial officer or chief executive officer – one in five FTSE-listed CEOs is a qualified chartered accountant, while more than half have studied finance or worked in financial roles (Sweet, 2019). 

Entrepreneurship

You don’t have to tackle any of these as part of a big organisation – you could set up a practice on your own, or in partnership with colleagues whose specialisms complement your own.

While that is entrepreneurial in its own right, you might spot a gap for a new business and start it up, or as a business rescue practitioner find troubled businesses that you can turn around. Your role there will be to make an economic impact in terms of adding value, increasing shareholders’ wealth and maximising profit. You won’t need to wait for a business to offer you accounting science job opportunities!

Professional designations

While South Africa’s three main professional accounting bodies offer different designations and licensing requirements, all require their members to stay up to date by earning continued professional development (CPD) points.

Saiba, the Southern African Institute for Business Accountants, offers these professional designations:

• Chartered bookkeeper
• Chartered financial administrator
• Business accountant
• Certified business accountant
• Certified financial officer
• Business accountant in practice

Saipa, the Southern African Institute of Professional Accountants, offers these professional designations:

• Accounting technician
• Professional accountant

Aspirant professional accountants must complete a three-year learnership, or have six years’ verifiable experience, in addition to their BCompt, to qualify to sit the Saipa designation exam.

How to achieve CA designation

The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (Saica) offers two professional designations:

• Associate general accountant
• Chartered accountant

Should you opt for the more senior chartered accountant (CA) designation, you need to complete an honours degree or postgraduate diploma to prepare for the Certificate in Theory of Accounting (CTA) exam.

Once you have completed the CTA exam, you will be eligible for a three-year learnership with a registered training office. During this learnership, you must complete two qualifying examinations: the Initial Test of Competence (ITC), and the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC).

Once you have completed the ITC, 20 months of a registered training contract with an accredited training office, and a professional programme with a registered provider, you qualify to take the APC. Once you have passed the ITC and the APC, and have completed your learnership, you will be eligible to register with Saica as a chartered accountant.

Endless accounting science job opportunities

The accounting science job opportunities are endless. The one thing you can be sure of if you have completed your Bachelor of Accounting Science degree: you will be well equipped to make right decision!

References

• Sweet, P. (2019). Finance experts dominate FTSE roles.
• Saiba. (2021). Business accountant in practice.
• Saipa. (nd). Professional accountant (SA).
• Saica. (2023) Chartered accountant (CA)SA.