How do my career interests link with this field?
Read the statements below and select the statements that apply to you. The more statements that apply, the stronger your interest in this career field.
Accounting sciences
(Main motivation: financial leadership - empowering others to use financial resources responsibly and ethically)
You may enjoy:
- Financial consulting and advice
- Financial planning and control
- Financing large projects
- Working with numbers and figures
- Structuring and valuing organisations
- Taxation
- Working with people and organisations to manage their finances more effectively
Career fields, possible job titles and work environments
The accounting sciences field offers a range of career options. Click on the career fields below to read more about each field, possible job titles and work environments.
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?
Once qualified as a chartered accountant, aspiring candidates may proceed to eventually become Registered Auditors and register as such with the Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors (IRBA). External auditing is an independent and objective assurance service that is designed to add value to the business of its clients. 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.
Possible job titles related to auditing
Visit the National Career Advice Portal for more information about these occupations.
- Accountant (general) *
- Accounting officer
- Audit and assurance manager
- Chartered accountant (further training required)
- Chief financial officer
- External auditor (further training required) *
- Financial accountant *
- Lecturer (university) *
- Registered auditor (further training required)
Possible work environments related to auditing
- Accounting and auditing firms
- Banks and other financial institutions
- Commerce and industry
- Higher education institutions (public and private universities, universities of technology & colleges)
- Insurance companies
- National Treasury
- Partnerships with other chartered accountants
- 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 their respective professions.
Possible job titles related to financial accounting
Visit the National Career Advice Portal for more information about these occupations.
- 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 other financial institutions
- Commerce and industry
- Higher education institutions (public and private universities, universities of technology & colleges)
- Insurance companies
- National Treasury
- Partnerships with other chartered accountants
- SARS
- 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. 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.
- Forensic accountant (further training required) *
- Forensic auditor (further training required)
- Forensic investigator
- Lecturer (university) *
Possible work environments related to forensic auditing
- Audit companies
- Banks
- Expert witnesses in court
- 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.
- Audit technician
- Certified internal auditor (further training required)
- Controller
- Internal audit manager (further training required) *
- Internal auditor (further training required) *
- Lecturer (university) *
Possible work environments related to internal auditing
- Accounting firms
- Banking industry
- Commerce and industry
- Financial institutions
- Government departments
- Higher education institutions (public and private universities, universities of technology & colleges)
- Insurance companies
- Law firms
- Public and government sectors
- 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.
- 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) *
Possible work environments related to management accounting
- Commerce and industry
- Financial institutions
- Government (local, provincial and national)
- Higher education institutions (public and private universities, universities of technology & colleges)
- Management consultancies
- Higher education institutions (public and private universities, universities of technology & colleges)
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 (SA IT). 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.
- Taxation clerk *
- Tax administrator
- Tax consultant
- Tax practitioner
- Tax professional *
- Tax specialist
- Lecturer (university) *
Possible work environments related to taxation
- Accounting and auditing firms
- Financial institutions
- Higher education institutions (public and private universities, universities of technology & colleges)
- SARS
- Self-employed
Find out more about careers in this field
Further career information
