How do my career interests link with this field?
Accounting sciences may be a good fit if you are interested in working with financial information, numbers, budgeting, bookkeeping, auditing, taxation, financial reporting, business decision-making, financial ethics and helping people or organisations use money responsibly. This field is not only about "doing calculations". Accounting professionals help individuals, businesses, government departments and organisations understand their financial position, manage risk, make decisions, comply with regulations and plan for the future.
Accounting sciences
(Main motivation: financial leadership - empowering others to use financial resources responsibly and ethically)
You may enjoy this field if you are interested in
- working with numbers and financial information.
- budgeting, bookkeeping and financial reporting.
- solving financial problems.
- analysing information carefully.
- helping organisations make responsible financial decisions.
- auditing and checking whether information is accurate.
- taxation and compliance.
- investigating financial irregularities or fraud.
- planning and managing resources.
- advising individuals, businesses or organisations.
- working in structured environments with clear rules and standards.
- ethical decision-making and accountability.
Career fields, possible job titles and work environments
The accounting sciences field offers a range of career possibilities. Some careers require further study, workplace training, professional body registration or professional examinations.
Careers marked with an * are listed on the National List of Occupations in High Demand: 2024.
This information is a starting point for exploring options related to specific career fields. Be sure to expand your research by downloading our Career Research document and exploring additional resources.
Auditing
What is this all about?
Auditing involves checking financial records, systems and controls to determine whether information is accurate, reliable and compliant with relevant standards and regulations. Auditors help organisations identify risk, improve governance and build trust in financial reporting. External auditing is an independent and objective assurance service designed to add value to its clients' businesses. An external auditor identifies risks associated with a business and responds to such risks by designing and performing audit procedures to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence to base the audit opinion on.
Once qualified as a chartered accountant, aspiring candidates may eventually become Registered Auditors and register as such with the Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors (IRBA).
Possible job titles related to auditing
Visit the National Career Advice Portal for more information about these occupations.
- Academic researcher
- Accountant (general) *
- Accounting officer
- Audit and assurance manager
- Chartered accountant (further training required)
- Chief financial officer
- External auditor (further training required) *
- Financial accountant *
- Governance, risk and compliance officer
- Lecturer (university) *
- Registered auditor (further training required)
- Risk and assurance consultant
Possible work environments related to auditing
- Accounting and auditing firms
- Banks and financial institutions
- Companies and private organisations
- Higher education institutions (public and private universities, universities of technology & colleges)
- Insurance companies
- National Treasury
- Partnerships with other chartered accountants
- Public entities and municipalities
- Regulatory and professional bodies
- SARS
- Self-employment (entrepreneur or consultant)
Find out more about careers in this field
Financial accounting
What is this all about?
Financial accounting focuses on bookkeeping and the preparation of financial statements. It provides learning opportunities for aspiring bookkeepers, accounting technicians, professional accountants and chartered accountants (CAs) to either start their own accounting practice, join one of the many established accounting firms or become an accountant in commerce and industry. Most of the qualifications offered are accredited by professional bodies, such as the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) and the South African Institute of Professional Accountants (SAIPA). However, there are further requirements to be fulfilled before these bodies will allow candidates to access the respective professions.
Possible job titles related to financial accounting
Visit the National Career Advice Portal for more information about these occupations.
- Academic researcher
- Accountant (general) *
- Accountant in practice
- Accounts clerk *
- Accounting officer
- Accounting technician
- Bookkeeper *
- Chartered accountant (further training required)
- Chief financial officer
- Compliance officer *
- Corporate treasurer
- Cost clerk *
- Cost estimator
- Credit controller
- Credit manager
- Credit or loans officer *
- Finance manager *
- Financial accountant *
- Financial investment advisor *
- Financial markets practitioner
- Forensic accountant (further training required) *
- Investment analyst
- Investment manager
- Insurance risk manager
- Insurance agent *
- Insurance broker *
- Insurance administrator
- Lecturer (university) *
- Management consultant *
- Payroll clerk *
- Payroll manager
- Professional accountant (further training required)
- Project accountant
Possible work environments related to financial accounting
- Accounting firms
- Banks and financial institutions
- Companies and private organisations
- Government departments
- Higher education institutions (public and private universities, universities of technology & colleges)
- Insurance companies
- National Treasury
- Partnerships with other chartered accountants
- SARS
- Small business
- Self-employment (entrepreneur or consultant)
Find out more about careers in this field
Forensic auditing
What is this all about?
Forensic auditors specialise in white-collar crime, assisting in bringing white-collar criminals to justice. Forensic auditing focuses on investigating financial irregularities, fraud, corruption and white-collar crime. This field combines accounting knowledge with investigation, evidence gathering, reporting and sometimes legal processes. Graduates in financial accounting or internal auditing may specialise through further postgraduate studies to become forensic auditors.
Possible job titles related to forensic auditing
Visit the National Career Advice Portal for more information about these occupations.
- Academic researcher
- Financial crime analyst
- Forensic accountant (further training required) *
- Forensic auditor (further training required)
- Forensic investigator
- Forensic practitioner
- Fraud examiner auditor
- Lecturer (university) *
- Risk and compliance investigator
Possible work environments related to forensic auditing
- Audit and advisory firms
- Banks and financial institutions
- Corporate investigation units
- Higher education institutions (public and private universities, universities of technology & colleges)
- Insurance companies
- Law enforcement agencies (eg Special Investigation Unit, The Hawks, Specialised Commercial Crime Unit of the South African Police, National Prosecuting Authority and The Asset Forfeiture Unit)
- Law firms
- Regulators such as the Financial Services Board and the Financial Intelligence Centre
Find out more about careers in this field
Internal auditing
What is this all about?
Internal auditing focuses on governance structures and compliance with predetermined rules and regulations within businesses. An internal auditor analyses and evaluates all activities, controls, and governance processes concerned with the operations of an organisation; reports to executive management on audit findings; and submits proposals for improvements. Once qualified, graduates will have the opportunity to register as Certified Internal Auditors (CIA) with the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) after completing a traineeship. Internal Auditors may either work in the commerce industry or work for an audit firm that renders internal audit services.
Possible job titles related to internal auditing
Visit the National Career Advice Portal for more information about these occupations.
- Academic researcher
- Audit technician
- Business process analyst
- Certified internal auditor (further training required)
- Controller
- Governance, risk and compliance officer
- Internal audit manager (further training required) *
- Internal auditor (further training required) *
- Lecturer (university) *
- Risk officer
Possible work environments related to internal auditing
- Accounting and audit firms
- Banks and financial institutions
- Companies
- Financial institutions
- Government departments
- Higher education institutions (public and private universities, universities of technology & colleges)
- Insurance companies
- Law firms
- Mining, manufacturing and retail organisations
- Municipalities and public entities
- Statutory bodies
Find out more about careers in this field
Management accounting
What is this all about?
Management accounting focuses on the internal accounting functions within a business, such as operating budgets, capital budgets, internal financial reporting, restructuring of businesses, take-overs, mergers, the valuation of businesses, costing and control, break-even analysis, and project accounting.
The International Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) recognises different exit levels, allowing the top-level exit graduates to be recognised as Chartered Management Accountants (CMA) after fulfilling additional requirements. Qualified management accountants may start their own financial consulting business or join large enterprises as management accountants.
Possible job titles related to management accounting
Visit the National Career Advice Portal for more information about these occupations.
- Academic researcher
- Budget analyst
- Business performance analyst
- Chartered management accountant (further training required)
- Cost accountant
- Cost clerk *
- Cost controller
- Finance manager *
- Financial analyst
- Financial controller
- Financial investment advisor *
- Lecturer (university) *
- Management accountant (further training required) *
- Project analyst
Possible work environments related to management accounting
- Companies and private organisations
- Financial institutions
- Government (local, provincial and national)
- Higher education institutions (public and private universities, universities of technology & colleges)
- Management consultancies
- Public entities
- Retail organisations
- Self-employment or consulting
Find out more about careers in this field
Taxation
What is this all about?
Taxation focuses on the preparation of a variety of tax returns for individuals and businesses. It also focuses on tax case law and the fiscal budget, providing ample opportunities for consulting on taxation matters. Graduates may start their own business as tax consultants, register as tax practitioners with the South African Revenue Services (SARS), and join the South African Institute of Tax Practitioners (SAIT). They may also join large corporations as a tax specialist.
Possible job titles related to taxation
Visit the National Career Advice Portal for more information about these occupations.
- Academic researcher
- Corporate tax advisor
- Payroll tax specialist
- Taxation clerk *
- Tax administrator
- Tax consultant
- Tax practitioner
- Tax professional *
- Tax specialist
- Lecturer (university) *
- VAT specialist
Possible work environments related to taxation
- Accounting and auditing firms
- Companies and corporate tax departments
- Financial institutions
- Government departments
- Higher education institutions (public and private universities, universities of technology & colleges)
- Legal and advisory firms
- SARS
- Self-employment or private practice
- Tax consulting firms
Find out more about careers in this field
Further career information
