The democracy in South Africa brought about many changes and new challenges. One such challenge was to transform the Higher Education institutes in South Africa. The National Commission on Higher Education (NCHE) resulted in the proposed National Plan for Higher Education in 2001. This referred to the restructuring of Higher Educational Institutes in South Africa. The National Plan for Higher Education listed priorities within section 6, which deals with the restructuring process. Some of these priorities referred to the reduction of duplications and overlaps in the programmes offered. Prior to 2005, Technikons offered the course National Diploma: Cost and Management Accounting over three years. Former Technikons developed their curricula for Cost and Management Accounting to utilise career orientated training in order to provide students with the necessary knowledge and skills for careers in financial and cost and management accounting as was applied in commerce and industry. Before the transformation and restructuring of the South African higher education institutions, Technikons in South Africa was part of a National system where a National curriculum was developed and implemented by all Technikons in South Africa. Curriculum development took place on a national level. Therefore, the programmes offered at these former Technikons were similar. Some of the former Technikons still offer the National Diploma in Cost and Management Accounting but in a different format. Students registering for this programme, register for a National Higher Certificate (NHC) in Accountancy. The duration of this NHC is two years where after students can complete a third year to graduate with a National Diploma in Cost and Management Accounting. The NHC in Accountancy was also developed on a national level and the curricula are similar at the higher education institutions offering it in South Africa. Since the merger of higher education institutions in South Africa, the responsibility to develop new programmes shifted from a national level to an institutional level. The newly merged institutions carry the responsibility to develop new programmes which suites the specific institution and serves the need of the specific communities. The iv primary objective of this study is to analyse the Cost and Management Accounting curricula in South Africa with the intention to propose a new curriculum for this diploma. To suggest a proposed curriculum, the old curricula of the various South African institutions were considered using qualitative research methods. The four South African institutions and the two Australian institutions were analysed and a balanced curriculum proposed out of this information. The proposed curriculum for the diploma in accounting, combined subjects that have been offered previously and subjects that could further expand graduate employability. Five companies were selected to evaluate the proposed curriculum. After considering the views of all the interviewed employers, a final curriculum was suggested for the Diploma in Accounting. As a result of this study it was clear that in-service training should be added to the Diploma in Accounting. Eighty percent of the interviewed potential employers suggested that practical experience in third year studies would significantly enhance student employability. Cost and Management Accounting has long been used by accountants to help managers understand the different costs of running a business. It is important for managers to identify certain areas of the business process where costs can be cut and the profitability increased. From this study it is clear that the proposed curriculum is acceptable to employers as they found that students will benefit from it.

Traditional cost-accounting approaches have served manufacturers well over a long period, but due to the changing nature of the modern manufacturing environment shortcomings have resulted and are no longer regarded as suitable (Gagne & Discenza 1993: 68). Similarly, Monden and Lee (1993: 22) state that many practitioners and academicians have questioned the effectiveness of standard cost systems, which have been used as the primary cost control measure for the last several decades. Cooper and Slagmulder (1997: 2) point out that in contrast to the conventional cost management techniques, target costing adopts a feed-forward approach. The objective of target costing is to design costs out of products, and not to find ways of eliminating costs after the products enter production. Few firms can afford to ignore such a powerful mechanism to increase profits in today’s highly competitive environment.

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: IMPLEMENTATION OF GENERALLY RECOGNISED ACCOUNTING PRACTICE (GRAP) IN THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT AND PUBLIC WORKS IN THE WESTERN CAPE. The research project was undertaken to explore one of the major obstacles in South Africa’s public sector, namely shifting the basis of accounting from modified cash accounting to accrual accounting. Contrary to cash accounting, which recognises expenditure only when cash is paid and income is received, accrual accounting recognises expenditure when the goods and services are received and income is recognised when services are rendered. Given the condition of financial reporting within departments with no accrual accounting compliant systems, no processes and policies in place to comply with accruals and lack of relevant capacity and skills, the purpose of the study was to determine the capability of the department to implement accrual accounting (mainly Generally Recognised Accounting Practice (GRAP)) in the public sector context. What needed to be determined was the readiness of the department for the implementation and the challenges and conditions that hampered the implementation of accrual accounting. The literature review explores the existing information for correlation with the implementation of GRAP and recommendations are made to departments within the public sector to ensure an approach and conversion plan that would be relevant and practical in the current environment and address all challenges and concerns identified within a reasonable time frame. The importance of the research for the public sector resides in the recognition of the need for better understanding of the implementation of accrual accounting, so that significant risks and challenges of the accrual accounting implementation may be determined within departments in the public sector. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsingsprojek is onderneem om die gereedheid van die Departement van Vervoer en Openbare Werke ten opsigte van die implementering van die toevallingsgrondslag van rekeningkunde (GRAP) in die publieke sektor te bepaal. Ondersoek is ingestel na een van die grootste struikelblokke in Suid-Afrika se publieke sektor, naamlik die verskuiwing vanaf die kontantgrondslag van rekeningkunde na die toevallingsgrondslag van rekeningkunde. Ooreenkomstig die kontantgrondslag van rekeningkunde word transaksies en ander gebeure erken wanneer kontant ontvang of betaal word. Volgens die toevallingsgrondslag van rekeningkunde word transaksies en ander gebeure egter erken wanneer dit aangegaan word en nie wanneer kontant ontvang of betaal word nie. Gegewe die toestand van finansiële verslagdoening binne die departemente, met geen voldoening aan toevallingsgrondslagrekeningkundige stelsels nie, geen prosesse en beleide in plek nie en 'n gebrek aan kapasiteit en vaardighede in die publieke sektor, was die doel van die studie om te bepaal tot watter mate die departement oor die vermoë beskik om toevallingsgrondslagrekeningkunde binne die departemente in die publieke sektor te implementeer en om die gereedheid vir die implementering en die uitdagings en struikelblokke wat die implementering kan belemmer, te identifiseer. ‘n Literatuurstudie is onderneem om die beskikbare inligting met die implementering van toevallingsgrondslagrekeningkunde (GRAP) te gekorreleer en aanbevelings word aan die departemente in die publieke sektor gemaak om te verseker dat die benadering en die omskakelingsplan hiervoor die huidige situasie toepaslik en prakties sal aanspreek en alle uitdagings en probleme binne 'n redelike tydperk die hoof sal bied. Vir die publieke sektor is die belangrikheid van die navorsing daarin geleë dat 'n beter begrip van die toepassing van toevallingsgrondslagrekeningkunde in departemente nodig is sodat die beduidende risiko's en uitdagings wat met die implementering van toevallingsgrondslagrekeningkunde binne departemente in die openbare sektor vasgestel kan word.

Thesis (MAcc)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Human capital efficiency, as measured by Value-Added Human Capital (VAHU), refers to an employee's ability to create value-added for his employer. As a key resource which is not captured by conventional accounting, human capital and its value-creating ability may contribute to the premium to book value at which many companies trade. This study, therefore, sought to investigate trends in the divergence between book value and market value in South Africa, by analysing the median market-to-book ratios of companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange over time. The primary research objectives, however, were to empirically confirm whether corporate financial and market performance in South Africa can be explained as a contemporaneous and future outcome of human capital efficiency, and whether human capital efficiency is improving. In a largely industrialised emerging market, such as South Africa, there is some concern that companies which concentrate on efficient and productive management of their tangible assets may neglect the effective skills development and training of their human capital assets. Time-series cross-sectional multiple regressions were used to analyse the intra-industry and inter-industry relationships between VAHU and financial performance (as measured by return on assets, revenue growth and headline earnings per share) and market performance (as measured by market-to-book ratios and total share return) in companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Of the financial year-ends falling in the period 31 December 2001 to 30 June 2011, 1765 company years were covered, relating to 390 companies listed on the Main Board and ALT-X. Company size, leverage, industry and return on equity were held as control factors. The same financial data was used to assess the median growth in VAHU over the period under review. The market value-book value gap of listed companies in South Africa was found to have increased from 2001 to 2011, while human capital efficiency declined. Human capital efficiency has almost no effect on current or future market performance in South Africa. Higher human capital efficiency has a positive effect on current returns generated by any asset – tangible or intangible. Higher headline earnings per share is concurrently associated with higher human capital efficiency in almost every industry. Higher revenue growth is contemporaneously associated with higher human capital efficiency in all industries, except those which are consumer-driven. In consumer-driven industries, human capital efficiency is not a driver for revenue growth, but is still associated with higher profitability. The longer-term effect of human capital efficiency on corporate performance in South Africa is more unclear than its immediate effect. The findings of the study highlight the commercial implications of the degree of industrial action and poor basic education in South Africa – a working population that is poorly educated, with the paradox of wages that are low in relation to the cost of living, yet which are becoming too high in relation to the level of output the workers produce. The results pose a compelling argument for improving the quality of education in South Africa, as well as for employer-driven skills development and employee training. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Menslike kapitaaldoeltreffendheid, soos gemeet deur Toegevoegde Waarde Menslike Kapitaal (TWMK), verwys na 'n werknemer se vermoë om toegevoegde waarde vir sy werkgewer te skep. As 'n sleutel-hulpbron wat nie deur konvensionele rekeningkunde vasgelê word nie, dra menslike kapitaal en die waardeskeppingsvermoë daarvan, dalk by tot die premie op boekwaarde waarteen baie maatskappye verhandel. Hierdie studie het dus nagestreef om tendense in die afwyking tussen boekwaarde en markwaarde in Suid-Afrika te ondersoek, deur die mediaan mark-tot-boekverhoudings van maatskappye genoteer op die Johannesburgse Effektebeurs met tydverloop, te ontleed. Die hoof-navorsingsdoelwitte was egter om empiries te bevestig of korporatiewe finansiële en markprestasie in Suid-Afrika beskryf kan word as 'n gelyktydige en toekomstige gevolg van menslike kapitaaldoeltreffendheid en of daardie menslike kapitaaldoeltreffendheid verbeter. In 'n grootliks geïndustrialiseerde ontwikkelende mark, soos Suid-Afrika, is daar 'n mate van kommer dat die maatskappye wat konsentreer op die doeltreffende en produktiewe bestuur van hul tasbare bates, die doelmatige ontwikkeling van vaardighede en opleiding van hul menslike kapitaalbates mag verwaarloos. Tydreekse dwarsdeursnee meervoudige regressies is gebruik om die intra-industrie en inter-industrie verhoudings tussen TWMK en finansiële prestasie (soos gemeet deur die opbrengs op bates, inkomstegroei en wesensverdienste per aandeel) en markprestasie (soos gemeet deur mark-tot-boekverhoudings en die totale opbrengs op aandele) in maatskappye wat op die Johannesburgse Effektebeurs genoteer is, te ontleed. Van die finansiële jaareindes in die tydperk 31 Desember 2001 tot 30 Junie 2011, is 1765 maatskappyjare gedek, rakende 390 maatskappye wat op die Hoofbord en Alt-X genoteer is. Die grootte van die maatskappye, hefboomfinansiering, industrie en opbrengs op ekwiteit dien as kontrolefaktore. Dieselfde finansiële data is gebruik om die mediaangroei in TWMK oor die tydperk onder oorsig te bepaal. Dit is bevind dat die markwaarde-boekwaardegaping van genoteerde maatskappye in Suid-Afrika vanaf 2001 tot 2011 toegeneem het, terwyl menslike kapitaaldoeltreffendheid gedaal het. Menslike kapitaaldoeltreffendheid het byna geen effek op die huidige of toekomstige markprestasies in Suid-Afrika nie. Hoër menslike kapitaaldoeltreffendheid het 'n positiewe uitwerking op die huidige opbrengste wat gegenereer word deur enige bate – tasbaar of ontasbaar. Hoër wesensverdienste per aandeel is samelopend met hoër menslike kapitaaldoeltreffendheid in byna elke industrie. Hoër groei in inkomste is gelyktydig geassosieer met hoër menslike kapitaaldoeltreffendheid in alle industrieë, behalwe dié wat verbruiker-gedrewe is. In verbruiker-gedrewe industrieë, is menslike kapitaaldoeltreffendheid nie 'n aandrywer van inkomstegroei nie, maar is nog steeds gelyktydig geassosieer met hoër winsgewendheid. Die langer-termyn uitwerking van menslike kapitaaldoeltreffendheid op korporatiewe prestasie in Suid-Afrika, is meer onduidelik as sy onmiddellike effek. Die bevindinge van die studie beklemtoon die kommersiële implikasies van die omvang van industriële aksie en swak basiese onderwys in Suid-Afrika – 'n werkende bevolking met swak opleiding, tesame met die paradoks van lone wat laag in vergelyking met bestaankoste is, maar wat te hoog styg met betrekking tot die vlak van uitset wat die werkers produseer. Die resultate bied 'n oortuigende argument vir die verbetering van die gehalte van onderwys in Suid-Afrika, sowel as vir werkgewer-gedrewe ontwikkeling van vaardighede en werknemersopleiding.

M.Comm. / The study is an examination of current practices with regard to financial reporting to employees. International developments and disclosure requirements are examined at the outset. Generally Accepted Accounting Practice in South Africa, like in most other countries of the world, does not require disclosure of financial information to employees. The study clearly showed that employees do have a need for financial information and that this need deserves to be addressed, while taking the skills levels of the South African labour force into consideration. The study suggests a reporting framework geared to the specific needs of the employee as one of the many users of financial information. It is suggested that the value-added statement and employment report be part of reporting to the employees of a company. The value-added statement reports on income earned by a widely defined group of people, whereas the income statement reports on income earned for the shareholders. The value-added statement quantifies value added to the organisation by employees of the organisation. The employment report enables employees to measure returns and risks within their employer organisation in order to evaluate expectations regarding years of service, for example. The practical implications of such a reporting framework are considered. Various benefits and disadvantages of the value added statement and employment report are examined. The writer looks at the employee report of Alusaf Limited and evaluates the report given the information needs of employees. South Africa has a huge labour force to utilise and therefore each organisation should strive to meet the reasonable information needs of labour in South Africa. An honest effort to disclose relevant information to employees will be a positive step in creating better relationships with labour considering the volatile labour relations in South Africa during recent years. At the end of the study the writer comes to the following conclusions: • Employees with their specific information needs, as AC 000 defined users of financial statements, should be recognised. • The different competency levels of employees should be considered when publishing an employee report. • There are advantages for both companies and employees when publishing financial information to employees. • The value-added statement and employment report will contribute to the information needs of employees being met. • There are companies in South Africa who are concerned about the information needs of their employees. • It is no longer a matter of acting politically correct, it is essential for companies in South Africa to publish financial information for their employees.

Thesis (M.Com. (Accounting))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, School of Accountancy, 2017 / The Water Trading Entity (WTE) under the Department of Water Affairs and Sanitation in South Africa is mandated by the National Water Act to charge users for raw water supplied, and the tariffs it charges must enable it to fully recover its costs. The entity is concerned that it is not achieving full equity in relation to refining the recovery mechanism to obtain tariffs that represent usage of resources. This research study sought to investigate the possibility of implementing Activity Based Costing (ABC) in order to overcome the deficiencies of using the Traditional Costing system. ABC is a costing tool that measures the cost of activities to provide more accurate cost information for management. This research examines the practicalities of applying ABC in the water sector. WTE supplies raw water to the Water Boards who further supply to Municipalities, which in turn supply to the final consumers. It is possible that due to the limitations of the traditional costing there may be a price distortion throughout the water supply value chain, and if this is corrected consumers may pay a fair price for water. This research paper has revealed that indirect costs are quite significant within the WTE and proposes an ABC model that would be easy to implement to allocate costs more accurately leading to a full recovery of costs. Keywords: Activity Based Costing, Traditional Costing, Indirect Costs, Water Schemes / GR2018

This dissertation examines Earning per share (EPS) as a disclosure requirement for listed companies by investigating firstly, EPS disclosures in annual reports of certain selected JSE listed companies and secondly, the attitudes of the preparers of those annual reports to a number of issues relating to EPS. The three mandatory EPS disclosures - Basic EPS, Diluted EPS and Headline EPS - are discussed with a view to determining their information content and reporting framework. This study also considers whether cash based measures of performance are better than earnings based measures. Due to the reliance placed on reported EPS numbers this study attempts, by an examination of annual reports, to provide evidence as to whether or not South African companies are correctly calculating and disclosing the various EPS measures. By means of a questionnaire survey into the attitudes of the preparers of annual reports, this study also attempts to provide evidence as to the importance of the EPS measures as well as the preparers' perceptions on the appropriateness of the Headline earnings definition. The annual report survey into EPS disclosures revealed that South African companies are correctly calculating and disclosing Basic EPS. Even-though all companies correctly calculate Diluted EPS, most companies do not properly disclose Diluted EPS information. As far as Headline EPS is concerned, the annual report survey revealed that many South African companies make disallowed Headline earnings adjustments with most offenders disclosing higher Headline EPS numbers as a result. The survey into the attitudes of preparers of company reports towards various matters concerning EPS revealed that preparers of annual reports consider Headline EPS to be the most important earnings based measure of performance and the adopted Headline earnings definition as being appropriate. It is therefore important that companies calculate and disclose Headline EPS correctly. / Thesis (M.Acc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2004.

M.Com. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Comm. / The central question addressed by this study is how a Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) for South Africa can be use to measure the impact of fiscal policy on the well being of South Africa's society and therefore assist fiscal policy makers in the making of Fiscal Policy in South Africa. As a starting point, this study will define the concept of poverty and look at income distribution as a measure of welfare. The questions to be raised in this section are: What is the importance of income distribution? How does South Africa compare in an international perspective and how does the different sources of data in South Africa compare with one another? How can inequality be measured? What does a profile of South Africa's poor looks like and what is the burden of poverty that they have to deal with? The second section of this study describes South Africa's Fiscal Policy in order to understand its impact on societies well being. More specifically, it examines: The failures of recent fiscal policy and its lessons for the future; and The government's GEAR (Growth, Employment and Redistribution) policy. Section three investigates possible fiscal policy interventions for attacking poverty. The following questions are addressed: Which programmes can the government implement in order to address poverty? What is the priorities for action? The fourth and final section of the study looks at the Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) as a method for measuring the impact of fiscal policy on the well being of a society. It is discussed from various perspectives in order to arrive at a thorough understanding of its scope and nature, including: o What is a Social Accounting Matrix and does it exists in South Africa? o How can a Social Accounting Matrix assist fiscal policy makers?

M.Com. ( Business Management) / This study wants to express an opinion on the implementation of an activity-based costing system in a service company with specific reference to Telkom SA Ltd. (hereafter Telkom), which has implemented a costing system as a first step towards an activity-based costing system. This studyis seenas a follow-up study on the work doneby Van Dyk(1993), which was also seconded to the Cost Management team within the Financial Management section of Telkom. His research paper was entitled: "Activity-based costing as a managerial control measure in a service organisation". His work in chapter one on the historical overview of accounting, the evolution of cost management systems and the description of the cost accounting system of Telkom must be seen as stepping stones on which this study will build. In chapter two Van Dyk(1993) concentrated on the influence oft he five competitive forces in the formulation of a generic strategy and the role of the value chain concept in order to understand the behaviour of costs. All of this work must be seen as the foundation and complementary to this study.