Unbelievable as it may be, you can become an Accountant without Matric. The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) has the following courses that you can study to become an Accountant:
What Matric Subjects Are Needed For Accounting?
You do not need a Matric or any Matric subject to study to become an Accountant. Here are the minimum qualifications that you need to commence your journey into becoming an Accountant:
- Grade 10 or Grade 10 Equivalent Certificate
- Be 16 years or older
- Be able to read, write and understand English
- Be able to study through distance learning
How Do I Study The ICB Financial Accounting Programme?
The courses of the ICB Financial Accounting Programme build on each other. This means that you study the courses in succession. On successful completion of each level, you are certified. Certification means that you can look for employment opportunities at each stage of your journey to become an Accountant.
This means that you will also be gaining experience in the Accounting field at the same time that you are studying.
What Qualifications Do You Need To Become An Accountant?
To start your journey in becoming an Accountant, you can study these ICB Qualifications:
Can I Become An Accountant Without A Degree?
Not only can you be an Accountant without a Degree, but you can also become an Accountant without Matric. The minimum qualification that you need to become an Accountant is proof that you completed and passed Grade 10.
How Do I Start Studying Accounting?
To start studying for the ICB Financial Accounting Qualification, here is what you need to do:
- Register with Matric College
- Register with the ICB
Register With Matric College
To register to study for the ICB Financial Accounting Programme, you will need to register with Matric College first. Here are the four different ways that you can use to register with Matric College:
Register With The ICB
After registering with Matric College, your next step will be to register with the ICB. Here are the steps that you follow in order to register with ICB:
- Click here to register directly with ICB
- Fill in all the relevant details
- Click register
- You will now be redirected to another page where you will fill in all your personal details
- After this, you will now be able to log in with your new login details
How Long Is The ICB Accounting Course?
Your completion of the ICB Financial Accounting Course can depend on how fast or how slow your study pace is. However, the following are the recommended duration of the Courses:
| ICB FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING COURSE | RECOMMENDED DURATION |
| 12 months | |
6 months | |
6 months | |
| 12 months |
Is Being An Accountant A Good Job?
Yes, Financial accounting is a good career, here is why:
- It is a scarce skill – Financial Accounting is a scarce skill. This means that employers are always searching for Financial Accountants. It also means that as soon as you finish your studies, there can be a lot of employment opportunities for you.
- Competitive salaries – Salaries in the Financial Accounting industry are very competitive. This is because Financial Accounting is a scarce skill and there is a high demand for people with these skills.
- Not restricted to any industry – With a Financial Accounting Qualification, you can work in any industry. Remember that every business or organisation needs a Financial Accountant. The government, municipalities, and not-for-profit organisations also require the services of a Financial Accountant.
- No geographical limitations – With a Financial Accounting Qualification, you can work anywhere in the world. The Financial Accounting profession works the same in any part of the globe.
- Work for yourself – You are also able to work for yourself if you have an Accounting Qualification. What this means is that you can perform Financial Accounting activities for a number of businesses and charge the applicable rates that are set by Financial Accounting professional bodies.
Do Accountants Work In Banks?
Yes, Accountants can work in banks. They can work in banks as Financial Managers. This is because Accountants are because Accountants have knowledge of the banking best practices. As a Financial Manager, an Accountant can make informed decisions when analysing the bank’s financial reports and financial statements.
Is Accounting In Demand In South Africa?
Yes, Accountants are in demand in South Africa. What this means is that employers are always actively looking for Accounting skills.
Can I Teach Myself Accounting?
Yes, you can teach yourself Accounting, but you may struggle. However, When you study through distance learning with Matric College, you can study alone in the comfort of your home. You will be assisted by our tutors. There will also be the provision of textbooks and expertly written study notes. Here is why you should study through distance learning:
- Tuition fees are affordable
- You can study and learn at the same time
- You can cut costs:
- No commuting to classes
- No buying of textbooks
- Avoid contraction of COVID-19
- There is flexibility:
- Study at your own time
- Study at your own pace
- Study anywhere
What Are The Duties Of An Accountant?
Here are some of the duties of an Accountant:
- Managing cash coming in and going out of the business
- Preparing budgets
- Preparing financial statements
- Calculating taxes
- Preparing financial reports
- Auditing financial transactions
- Making sure that the business remains in a healthy financial position
- Managing staff in the finance department
What Skills Do You Need To Be An Accountant?
Here are some of the skills that are necessary for a Financial Accountant:
- Communication – To be an effective Financial Accountant, you must be able to communicate well both within the organisation and outside the organisation. You should be able to communicate well both orally and in writing. It is important that you communicate well because issues of finance are critical such that they need to be managed well.
- Leadership – As a leader, you must be able to lead from the front. This means that you can demonstrate to your staff members that, what you are asking of them to do, you can do just as well or even better. For example, if they are supposed to manage time well, be the example of how time can be managed.
- Analytical – To be effective in your duties, you will need to analyse your financial reports and statements and come up with winning strategies.
- Time management – To be effective as a Financial Accountant, you will need to manage your time well. Deadlines, as well as appointments, must be fulfilled every time.
- Critical thinking – Where business finance issues are concerned, critical thinking becomes important. Critical thinking can determine whether you will be successful in your profession as a Financial Accountant.
What Does An Accountant Earn In South Africa?
In South Africa, an Entry Level Accountant with less than three years of experience can expect to earn an average salary of R 17 000 gross per month. An intermediate level Accountant with 4-9 years of experience earns an average salary of R 20 000 per month, while a Senior Accountant with 10-20 years of experience makes on average R 27 500 per month. Accountants with more than 20 years of experience may earn more than R 42 000 per month.
Is Accounting Hard To Study?
Financial Accounting is not hard. Here are a few tips that you can use:
- Draft a study timetable
- Make sure that there are no distractions at the place where you study
- Read widely
- Interact with your tutor
- Ask your tutor questions on areas that you are finding difficult
- Prepare thoroughly for your examinations
Author: Collin Wilbesi
Editor: Connor Bergsma
Date Published: June 30, 2022