Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of Master of Technology: Cost and Management Accounting, Durban University of Technology, 2011. / As a result of current business trends, South African companies are being forced to
examine changes in the finance function. The purpose of this research is to establish and
examine the paradigm shift in the finance functions of selected South African companies
in KwaZulu-Natal, and to develop a measuring tool to determine the degree to which
these functions are evolving to be more in line with a value adding paradigm.
A mixed methods approach was used in this study, with qualitative analysis supported
by some quantitative analysis. A case study approach was adopted, and non-probability
sampling using the purposive method was applied to select eleven respondents. The data
was gathered by means of both a questionnaire and follow up interviews. The data has
been analysed using a combination of both descriptive and inferential statistics, and
qualitative analysis.
It was found that the majority of respondents were not measuring the cost of, nor were
they focused on reducing the resources allocated to the finance function. In addition, the
major portion of finance function resources remain focused on the accounting processing
roles of the finance function. However, an increasing emphasis on the decision support
and strategy formulation roles was discovered.
A measuring tool was developed and applied to the finance functions of respondents.
This brought the researcher to the conclusion that the finance functions of respondents
could not be confirmed as value adding business units. It was recommended that finance
function resources be mapped according to the various roles identified. The measuring
tool could then be applied to reveal potential areas of change that would result in the
finance function transforming into a value adding business unit. Future research into an
appropriate finance function performance measurement system, and the impact on the
training of accountants of the changing finance function paradigm, was identified.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:dut/oai:localhost:10321/690 |
| Date | January 2011 |
| Creators | Shewell, Patricia Maureen |
| Contributors | De Beer, Marie, Kharwa, Mohammed Saleem Essep |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 172 p |
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