ICB Business Management Courses

Our ICB Business Management Courses can be completed with a Grade 11 or Equivalent Certificate. These courses are perfect for business-orientated students.

Our Business Management Courses

ICB Small Business Management

Small Business Financial Management: ICB National Certificate

A Small Business Financial Management: ICB National Certificate course equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge to start their own small business.
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ICB Business Management

Office Administration – Business Management: ICB Higher Certificate

The Office Administration - Business Management: ICB Higher Certificate course gives students the opportunity to gain Business and Administration skills.
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Financial Accounting - Business Management: ICB National Diploma

Financial Accounting – Business Management: ICB National Diploma

The Financial Accounting - Business Management: ICB National Diploma course gives you the opportunity to gain a broad understanding of Financial Accounting.
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NATED Business Management

Business Management: NATED N6 National Certificate

The Business Management: NATED N6 National Certificate is the last course in our Business Programme. It provides students with the basic skills of Business.
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NATED Business Management

Business Management: NATED N5 National Certificate

The Business Management NATED N5 course will equip you with the skills and knowledge to run a business. It is a scarce skill course and ...
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NATED Business Management

Business Management: NATED N4 National Certificate

The Business Management NATED N4 course will equip you with the skills and knowledge to run a business. It is a scarce skill course and ...
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NATED Business Management

Business Management NATED N6 National Diploma

The Business Management: NATED N6 National Diploma at Matric College is a qualification that equips you with skills and knowledge of quality standard.
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ICB Business Management Courses are courses that are recognised by employers all over the world. If you are considering studying a Business Management Course then you should consider choosing ICB because these courses will not only provide employment opportunities in South Africa but also in the United Kingdom (UK). These courses mainly focus on business studies but are not only limited to business studies, and they are accredited by:

What Are Business Management Courses?

Business Management Courses are courses that allow students to become Business Managers or allow them to become business owners. These courses can range from Short Courses to Degree Courses. The type of course or courses you choose as a student should be determined by:

  1. Your interests
  2. Your abilities
  3. What you can afford
  4. The type of education you prefer
  5. Whether the course is accredited or non-accredited
  6. What you would like to do after completing the course (whether it be to start your own business or work in a business environment)

ICB Business Management Courses

All of our ICB Programmes have (3) three to (4) four courses per programme. These courses build on to the next course. This means that students have to start with the first course of the programme to continue with the next course in the programme.

Small Business Financial Management: ICB National Certificate

SAQA ID: 48736
Course Credits: 120
NQF Level: 4
Qualification Title: Small Business Financial Management
Qualification Type: ICB National Certificate
Course Duration: 9 – 12 months

Entry Requirements

  • To apply for this course, you must have completed Grade 11 in High School or you can complete our ICB Bridging Course (Junior Bookkeeping: ICB National Certificate)
  • Be 16 years or older
  • Study through distance learning
  • Understand, read and write in English

Course Subjects

You only need to pass these (3) three subjects to get your Small Business Financial Management: ICB National Certificate:

  • Bookkeeping to Trial Balance – learn the basics of bookkeeping in this subject
  • Business Literacy – learn the basics of business-related topics
  • Business Management 1 – learn the basics of business management

Office Administration – Business Management ICB National Certificate

SAQA ID: 23619
Course Credits: 240
NQF Level: 5
Qualification Title: Office Administration – Business Management
Qualification Type: ICB Higher Certificate
Course Duration: 9 – 15 months

Entry Requirements

Course Subjects:

You only need to pass these (5) five subjects to get your Office Administration – Business Management: ICB Higher Certificate:

  • Business Management 2 – Learn more about business management
  • Financial Statements – Learn the basics of how to deal with financial statements
  • Human Resource Management and Labour Relations – Learn the basics of human resources as well as basic labour laws
  • Marketing Management and Public Relations – Learn more about marketing products and services, as well as how they can be branded and promoted. Also, learn about how to build a business brand.
  • Office and Legal Practice – Learn how an office environment should be managed and how practices in a business should be presented

Financial Accounting – Business Management: ICB National Diploma

SAQA ID: 20366
Course Credits: 280
NQF Level: 6
Qualification Title: Financial Accounting – Business Management
Qualification Type: ICB National Diploma
Course Duration: 12 – 36 months

Entry Requirements

Course Subjects

You only need to pass these (4) four subjects to get your Financial Accounting – Business Management: ICB National Diploma:

  • Business Management 3 – Learn advanced skills in business management
  • Financial Management and Control – Learn how to manage financial information
  • Financial Reporting and Regulatory Frameworks – Learn how to record and present financial information
  • Research Theory and Practice (A short dissertation and the topic should be “Business Management”) – Here you will use all your knowledge about business management and think of a topic that you will research and present through written work
How ICB Courses Are Assessed

How Long Does It Take To Do An ICB Business Management Course?

It can take between 9 and 12 months to complete an ICB Business Management Course. This depends on how fast you are as a learner. The quicker you submit and pass your PoE and open-book tests, the quicker you can apply for the ICB exams and then continue with the next course

What Subjects Are Required For Business Management?

The subjects required for Business Management in High School are as follows:

  • Accounting
  • Business Studies
  • Economics
  • English
  • Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy

Remember that each university or college has its own entry requirements, therefore you should always research the institution before applying. The subjects required are also determined by the type of Business Management Course that you complete. Whether it be a Degree Course, Certificate Course, or a Short Course.

NOTE:

You can apply for any of our ICB Business Management Courses without having the above-mentioned courses. In fact, you can apply with a Grade 11 Certificate or with a Matric Certificate that has any High School subjects, any APS Score and any Matric Pass Level.

No, you do not require Maths to do a Business Management course. This subject does however assist you when you do apply for a Business Management Course because you will have subjects that require you to do some Maths. These subjects include:

  • Bookkeeping to Trial Balance
  • Financial Statements
  • Financial Management and Control
  • Financial Reporting and Regulatory Frameworks

After completing an ICB Course, you can study:

You can study another ICB Programme we also offer these (2) two ICB Programmes:

    1. ICB Financial Accounting
    2. ICB Office Administration

You can study any of our NATED Programmes with any Matric Pass Level. These courses are both practical and theoretical, which makes you work-ready.  Here are all the NATED Programmes that we offer:

  1. Business Management Courses 
  2. Educare Courses
  3. Financial Management Courses
  4. Human Resource Management Courses
  5. Legal Secretary Courses
  6. Management Assistant Courses
  7. Marketing Assistant Courses

NOTE:

All of our NATED Programmes are provided through our partnership with Bellview Institute of distance learning.

Yes, ICB Courses are accredited by the following professional bodies:
  • The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB)
  • The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET)
    • Training providers are required to be registered with the DHET or ICB
  • The Quality Council of Trades and Occupations (QCTO)

Yes, ICB is recognised in the UK. Here are all the international bodies that ICB is recognised with:

  • ACCA – Association of Chartered Certified Accountants – UK
  • CIMA – Chartered Institute of Management Accountants – UK
  • IAB – International Association of Bookkeepers – UK
  • IAAP – International Association of Accounting Professionals – UK

No, ICB is not recognised in New Zealand. There is however a place named the Institute of certified New Zealand Bookkeepers (ICNZB). This is not to be confused with the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers.

ICB is recognised in the UK and in South Africa, which makes it nationally and internationally recognised.

After you have completed an ICB Qualification, you can:

You register for our ICB Courses by following our simple-to-follow 3-step application process:

Step 1: Contact us online, via landline, or WhatsApp

In this step, you can contact us, or we will contact you. Here are the different contact methods:

Calling Hours

Step 2: Get in contact with a Course Expert

In the second step, a Course Expert will make contact with you. This allows you to decide on the course that you would like to choose. Here you will learn more about yourself and whether the course you have in mind is the perfect match for you. After you have made your decision, you will go through the registration process.

Step 3: Become an ICB student

This is the final step. In this step, you will officially become a student. We will send you the necessary study material through courier delivery after (5 to 7 working days). You may go through the study material and once you feel comfortable starting your studies you can go onto the ICB Portal and apply for your PoE. ICB will send you the PoE that you need to pass to qualify for the exams.

You can register with Macci once you have registered with a training provider first. Then you can register with the ICB Portal. After those two steps, you can register with Macci. Once you have registered for the final exams successfully, your PoE will be available on Macci. You can register with Macci on the ICB Portal. There is a tab that says “Macci Registration”.

ICB Training or ICB Education is the act or process of study through ICB. The “training” received includes business and management training. Students, who complete these courses, are guaranteed employment because the training is:

The best business course to study is one that best suits your needs as a student. If you are looking to study a course, that is:

  • Accredited
  • and Recognised by employees
  • If you are interested in distance education or contact education
  • What you can afford
  • How long you would like to study for

Our distance learning business management courses that are recognised and accredited. They are also more affordable than contact learning courses, and the time frame varies from course to course. Here are all of our courses with the duration for each:

The best stream for Business Management depends on your interests as a student. Here are the different streams of business:

  • Arts
  • Commerce
  • Science

Yes, Business Management is a good career. This field of study is a good career choice for students because of the following reasons:

  • Business Management skills are in demand. This means employees are looking for people with business skills.
  • Business Management skills are transferable. You can use the skills learned and apply them to any industry you decide to go into.
  • You can start your own business. Furthermore, you can become self-employed because you will gain skills on how a business works.
  • You can use business skills in your everyday life. You will not only learn about the business environment, but you will also learn more about how to present yourself professionally.

No, you cannot study directly through ICB. You have to apply to a training provider like Matric College to study with ICB. This is because ICB only provides the PoE and determines where the exams will be written. Here is what Matric College provides:

  • Exam schedules
  • Study material
  • Support 

*All the above-mentioned are not provided by ICB.

No, business is not hard in college. If you are passionate about your studies, and you enjoyed Business Studies as a subject at school and want to further pursue your studies in business, then it will not be hard for you to complete in college.

You also have to keep in mind that with any new change, there will be challenges, but these challenges only motivate you to do better. For example, Primary School is different from High School. This applies to college as well. High School is different from College.

No, Business Management is not a hard course to complete. Here are some factors that will determine whether you would enjoy a Business Management Course:

  1. You like working with people
  2. If you have great leadership skills
  3. If you can motivate a team
  4. If you can pursue potential clients
  5. If you have a basic understanding of finances 
  6. If you are always thinking of new ways to start a business or promote a product or service

If you can relate to at least (3) three of the above-mentioned factors, then you should complete a Business Management Course.

All Management Courses are in demand because they are scarce skill qualifications. However, Business Management Courses are the most in-demand Management Courses. Here is a list of all the Management Courses that we offer at Matric College:

  1. Business Management Courses
  2. Financial Management Courses
  3. Human Resource Management Courses
  4. Management Assistant Courses
  5. Marketing Management Courses

Here are the differences between these two courses:

Bookkeeper

Accountant

Usually works for smaller companies.Usually works for large firms.
You can enter this industry without a Matric Certificate.You have to enter this industry with a Diploma or Degree Qualification.
Records and manages financial transactions of a company. Then gives the report to an Accountant.Uses the reports given by the Bookkeeper to analyse and present the information.

Yes, a Bookkeeping Certificate is worth it. Here are the reasons why it is worth it:

  • It is a scarce skill qualification
  • You can use the skills learned and apply them to any other industry
  • You will be more knowledgeable about your own finances
  • You will earn a decent amount of money every month
  • You do not have to complete this course with a Matric Qualification

No, Business Management does not have a board exam. These are industries or fields of study that do have board exams:

  • Psychologists
  • Teachers
  • Lawyers
  • Medical professionals

There are many sectors within the Business Management field. Here are some of the paths you can pursue:

The highest paying Business Degree is an MBA. This stands for Masters of Business Administration. This Degree allows you to work abroad as well as gain higher-level managerial positions such as:

  • Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
  • Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Here is what you can earn per month:

R 65 447 per month

The average salary for a chief executive officer is R 65 447 per month in South Africa.

The highest paying jobs in Business are:

  • Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
  • Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
  • Group Treasury Manager

Our Accreditation

All of our ICB Business Management Courses are accredited. Here is how our accreditation works.

SAQA

The South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) oversees the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) system. This means that they ensure that all the Qualifications that are on the NQF system are following the required standards. A Qualification is determined by its SAQA ID Number. You can search for any of our ICB Business Qualifications on the SAQA Search engine. Here are our qualifications with their SAQA ID Numbers:

  1. Small Business Financial Management: ICB National Certificate (48736)
  2. Office Administration – Business Management ICB Higher Certificate (23619)
  3. Financial Accounting – Business Management ICB National Diploma (20366)

If you click on the SAQA ID number, you will see that it is identified on the SAQA site. This ensures that our courses are accredited.

DHET

Training Provided that offer ICB Courses should be registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) or The Institution of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) to offer these courses. We are accredited by ICB themselves, which allows us to offer ICB Courses. Our Adult Matric and Matric Upgrade final exams are administered by the DHET.

ICB

As mentioned above, we are accredited by ICB directly, which allows us to provide their ICB Business Management Courses to our students. Our accreditation reference number is 301290.

QCTO

All of our ICB Courses are accredited by the Quality Council of Trades and Occupations (QCTO). The QCTO is one of the Quality Councils that ensure that skills and trades courses meet certain standards.

Why Choose To Study ICB Business Management Courses Via Distance Learning

You should choose to study ICB Business Management Courses via distance learning because you can manage your own time. Here are some of the reasons you should study through distance learning:

  1. Register any time of the year
  2. Choose a COVID-19 friendly option
  3. Work and study
  4. Study with or without Matric
  5. Make your own schedule for studying

Register Any Time Of The Year

Distance learning education allows you to apply whenever you are ready to study. This means that you can apply today, tomorrow, next week, next month or even next year. This makes you in charge of your studies, which gives you time to save money without feeling like you have made a rushed decision.

Choose A COVID-19 Friendly Option

If you are concerned about COVID-19 and getting into contact with students or lecturers, then distance learning is the option for you. With distance learning, you will not interact with any students or lecturers because everything is done online. From the registration process to the final exams. Yes, the final exam can also be completed online with ICB, but you can also write the exam in person, the option is yours.

Work And Study

This is one of the best benefits of studying through distance learning because you do not have to quit your job to study. You can work and study, this is especially beneficial if you are working in your field of study because you can apply the theoretical knowledge to the practical experience you can at work.

Study With Or Without Matric

At Matric College, we offer distance learning courses that you can study with and without Matric. All of our ICB Business Management Courses can be completed with the following entry requirements:

Make Your Own Schedule For Studying

We do not have any due dates for the assignments that you need to submit. All you have to do is complete your PoE before the final exam. Once you are ready, you can apply for the PoE on the ICB Portal. ICB has at least (3) to (4) exam sittings per year, which give you the chance to write the exams when you are ready.

Career Opportunities With An ICB Business Management Qualification

Here are the different career paths that you can get into after completing our ICB Business Management Courses:

Here are (2) two of the career paths you can follow after completing your Financial Accounting – Business Management: ICB National Diploma:

  • Business Advisor – R 15 000 per month
  • Business Manager – R 30 000 per month

People in these positions generally do what their title says and that is giving people advice on business, but are not only limited to giving advice. Find out what the other responsibilities include.

Responsibilities 

  • Business Advisors may work for themselves or for companies and focus on the business profits
  • They will give advice on finances and projects
  • They will predict if a business plan may be successful based on economic factors
  • They also give advice on Marketing strategies
  • Business Advisors will also prepare budgets and business plans

These professionals focus on managing a business or managing their own business. Here are more responsibilities that a Business Manager usually has.

Responsibilities 

  • Business Managers will manage a team of people or a team of managers
  • Business Managers delegate responsibilities amongst staff
  • They will think of new ways to promote services or products
  • They will prepare meetings and presentations about the progress of a project
  • Business Managers will meet up with potential customers and business associates for networking purposes

Here are (2) two of the career paths you can follow after completing your Office Administration – Business Management: ICB Higher Certificate:

  • Sales Manager – R 25 000 per month
  • Senior Office Administrator – R 25 000 per month

If you like any sales environment, then you should consider applying for a Sales Management position. Here are some of the responsibilities that come with a Sales Management position.

Responsibilities 

  • Think of new ways to promote services and products
  • Delegating a team of people
  • Hire staff
  • Train staff or get senior staff to train new employees
  • Make sure the team meets the daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly targets

If you enjoy office environments and not interacting with customers, then this might be the position for you. Here are some of the responsibilities that a Senior Office Administrator has.

Responsibilities 

  • Attending to all administrative duties
  • Ensuring that Junior Office Administrators are completing their work
  • Checking Junior Office Administrators’ work
  • Making sure that the office has all the necessary supplies, from furniture to pens and books etc.
  • Hiring and training new staff

Here are (2) two of the career paths you can follow after completing your Small Business Financial Management: ICB National Certificate

  • Customer Service Manager – R 25 000 per month
  • Office Manager – R 17 000 per month

These managers mainly focus on customer service. This means that these managers ensure that all staff members ensure that customers are receiving the best services and products. Here are some of the main responsibilities of a Customer Service Manager.

Responsibilities 

  • Hire and train new staff
  • Ensure that customers and staff are treated fairly
  • Ensure that customers get the best services or products
  • Resolve any complaints from customers or employees
  • Think of new ways to give customers the best experience

Professionals within this position are similar to that of an Office Administrator. However, Office Managers have more responsibilities.

Responsibilities 

  • Manage the entire office 
  • Hire and train new employees
  • Make decisions based on their own ideas
  • Ensure that the key performance indicators are completed
  • Ensure that the office environment is safe for both employers and employees

Benefits Of Studying At Matric College

There are many benefits to studying an ICB Business Management Course at Matric College. Here are some of the benefits you can expect from Matric College:

  • We send your study material at no additional cost. This means your study material will be included in your course fees. No surprises, we are open and honest.
  • We have designed study guides that will assist you along the way. These notes will give you the opportunity to understand the work better than how it is portrayed in the textbooks.
  • We also offer tutor assistance to students. If you need extra assistance, you can contact our tutors for assistance.
  • We offer unique payment options. This means that you can pay with what suits your pocket. Here are some of the payment options:
    • Advanced Payments
    • Split Payments
    • Monthly Payments
    • Unique Payments

To get more information about our payment options, you can contact our Course Experts.

  • Speak to someone that can assist you in your Home Language. Our Course Experts combined can speak 11 languages in total. Here are some of the languages that they speak:
    • Afrikaans
    • Dutch
    • English
    • IsiXhosa
    • IsiZulu
    • Ndebele
    • Northern and Southern Sotho
    • Sepedi
    • Swati
    • Tsonga
    • Tswana

Frequently Asked Questions

Students have the following questions about Business Management Courses:

  1. How do I start my own bookkeeping business?
  2. Is business a worthless degree?
  3. Is business a respected degree?
  4. Can I complete an ICB Business Management Course online?
  5. What is the highest NQF Level in Business Management?
  6. Can a Bookkeeper do payroll?
  7. Do Bookkeepers do tax returns?
  8. Can a Bookkeeper be called an Accountant?
  9. Can Accountants do Bookkeeping?
  10. What can I study to gain accounting skills?

You can start your own Bookkeeping Business by following these simple steps:

Step 1: Get A Qualification

The first step you should take is to gain a qualification. You can do so by completing any of our Bookkeeping Courses:

These courses will give you more insight into how the bookkeeping industry works. Gaining these skills will be beneficial to your business.

Step 2: Gain Work Experience 

The second step that you should take is to gain some work experience. You can gain work experience by applying for the following work experience:

  • Entry-level job opportunities
  • Learnerships
  • Internships
  • Full-time employment

Gaining the experience will give you an idea of how you should run your own business. Gain more experience by asking questions and volunteering for extra training. You can also do some networking, this way you gain get support from the business relationships that you have made.

Step 3: Start Your Own Bookkeeping Business

This is the final step of the process of starting your own business. In this step, you will get the necessary capital, venue, and materials to start your business. Each business has its own challenges, but through hard work and dedication, you can become a successful business owner.

No, Business is not a worthless Degree. A Business Degree is a scarce skill qualification, which means that the skills you gain are required by most if not all businesses. You can start your career by completing any of our Business Management Courses.

Yes, Business is a respected degree because many employers need people with these skills and when applied they can do good. For example, opening up a charitable organisation or promoting services and products that are good for the planet.

Yes, you can complete an ICB Business Management Course online. All of our courses are distance learning courses which are completed online. You do not attend any classes, you submit all of your assignments online as well as write the exams online.

The highest NQF Level in Business Management is a Doctorate, which is an NQF Level 10.

Yes, a Bookkeeper can do payroll.

No, Bookkeepers do not commonly do tax returns, but if they have some training or work experience then they can do tax returns. This also depends on the size of the business. Smaller companies allow their Bookkeepers to do their tax returns.

No, a Bookkeeper cannot be called an Accountant. However, small businesses do call their Bookkeepers their Accountants because they manage, record and report most if not all the financial transactions of the company.

Yes, Accountants can do Bookkeeping. However, Bookkeepers usually do not have a comprehensive understanding of the duties of an Accountant. This does not mean that is it impossible for a Bookkeeper to complete the duties of an Accountant. With enough training, a Bookkeeper can complete the duties of an Accountant.

No, Unisa does not recognise ICB Qualifications. Although they used to recognise ICB Qualifications, they do still look at the type of qualifications that you have from ICB and compare them with the qualifications that they offer. This determines whether they will accept your ICB Qualifications or not. 

This ultimately means that you should do your own research before applying for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) at any institution. 

ICB However does apply RPL to the following:

  • Full exemption
  • Conditional exemption

Full Exemption

This is when most or all of your subjects are recognised by ICB. This usually occurs when students go from one ICB Programme to another. For example, from the ICB Business Management Programme to the ICB Office Administration Programme.

Conditional Exemption

This occurs when students do not have evidence to prove that they are knowledgeable on a topic, but they have experience. ICB will then allow students to submit a Portfolio of Evidence (PoE) where they assess the student’s knowledge.

Author: Jesmé Africa
Editor: Amy Venter
Date Published: May 19, 2022

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