Value creation chain

Inputs

Business activities

Outputs leading to outcomes

Total Result
Competency area
A1 - Governance model
A2 - Business strategy
A3 - Aligning the business model with the business strategy
A4 - Finance strategy
A5 - Tax strategy
B1 - Reporting fundamentals
B2 - Business systems and processes
B3 - Risk management and control

C1 - Performance measurement for management and other internal users of financial information
C2 - Financing decisions
C3 - Investment decisions
C4 - Use of derivatives
C5 - Business valuation
C6 - Performance management systems
C7 - Financially troubled business
C8 - Tax law implications

D1 - Performance measurement for external users of general purpose financial statements

E1 - Tax governance
E2 - Laws and regulations
F1 - Concepts and principles of assurance engagements
F2 - Audits of historical financial statements
F3 - Other assurance services
F4 - Other related services
 (empty)

of financial information

ncial statements
 Technical competencies the trainee will ga
Task to be performed
Number
Task 1 1

110

192

193

Task 2 1

70
 Technical competencies the trainee will gain experience in First PDS
period
Learning outcome
tracked
a) Use different worldviews and theoretical underpinnings to interpret key stakeholder roles and
2
responsibilities (agency theory, shareholder/stakeholder theory, Ubuntu)
a) Evaluate governance structures and practices of the organisation in terms of King IV (and
3
successors) and relevant laws (e.g., Companies Act, 2008,) and regulations
b) Evaluate possible sources of funding available to the organisation taking into consideration its
size and stage of development (e.g., crowd sourcing for start-up businesses) and identify the most
appropriate sources of funding to achieve its business strategies and objectives, including value 4
creation for stakeholders
a) Explain the expectation gap with reference to the implications thereof and identifying ways to
overcome this gap
b) Explain the role of professional auditors in assurance engagements from a public interest
perspective
a) Use different worldviews and theoretical underpinnings to interpret key stakeholder roles and
responsibilities (agency theory, shareholder/stakeholder theory, Ubuntu)
d) Evaluate the design of internal controls for an organisation’s transactional business processes
(including digital technologies) to reduce business risks (relating to completeness, accuracy, validity
and integrity of information) to an acceptable level:
(i) Financial internal controls
(ii) Non-financial (e.g. operational and compliance) internal controls
 Expected exposure
PDS PDS PDS PDS PDS PDS
1 2 3 4 5 6
- Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

- - Yes Yes Yes Yes

- - - Yes Yes Yes

- - - - - -

- - - - - -

- - - - - -

- - - - - -
Competency types Competency area Competency
a)
1 Personal ethics
b)

a)

b)
c)

2 Business ethics

Ethics, values and

I
attitudes

d)
a)

3 Professional ethics

Professional values b)
and attitudes
a)
1 Personal citizenship
b)

a)

b)
Citizenship, values
II c)
and attitudes 2 Corporate citizenship
d)

e)

a)
3 Professional citizenship b)

a)
1 Self-development
b)
Lifelong learning,
III
values and attitudes a)
2 Adaptive mind set and agility
 Lifelong learning,
III
values and attitudes
2 Adaptive mind set and agility
b)

a)

b)

c)
1 Business internal environment d)

e)

a)
Z Business acumen
b)

2 Business external environment

c)

a)

b)
3 Innovation and creativity
c)

a)

b)
1 Critical thinking
c)

a)

2 Integrated thinking
b)

a)
Decision-making 3 Problem solving b)
Y
acumen
a)

b)

4 Judgement and decision-making

c)
 a)
Professional scepticism
5
a)

b)

1 Communication skills c)

d)

e)
a)
b)
2 Leadership skills
c)

d)
a)
b)
c)
3 People skills
d)

e)
a)
X Relational acumen 4 Relationship-building skills
b)
Enabling
competencies a)
b)

c)

d)
5 Teamwork

e)

a)
b)
6 Self-management

a)
7 Emotional intelligence
b)

a)
b)
c)
1 Computational thinking
 1 Computational thinking
d)

e)
a)

b)
c)
d)

e)
2 Data knowledge and strategy

f)

g)

a)

b)
W Digital acumen
3 Data analytics
c)

d)

a)
4 Automation
b)
a)
New developments and protocols (e.g. artificial
5 intelligence (AI), blockchain, Internet of Things
etc.) b)

a)
6 Cyber security
a)

b)
c)
7 User competencies
d)

e)
f)
 Learning outcome
Act honestly and demonstrate personal integrity, accountability and trustworthiness including while
interacting with others
Carry out work in a manner that protects public interest, the client, employer and other relevant
stakeholders, and put these before your own interest
Evaluate the impact of ethics within a specific business environment (a client or your training office)
and how ethics is managed in that context
Demonstrate how you contributed to the ethical culture of your business environment
Use an ethical reasoning process (based on professional values and attitudes and the code of
professional conduct) to -
(i) Identify threats to ethical principles,
(ii) Analyse all courses of potentially unethical action as well as the consequences of each,
(iii) Choose the appropriate course of action to solve the dilemma, and
(iv) Report ethical issues to higher levels of management, SAICA, legal or regulatory authorities, or
others when necessary
(v) in the context of ethical dilemmas that arise relating to organisational ethics and corporate
culture and when rendering professional services

Display ethical behaviour whilst interacting with the organisation’s stakeholders

Apply the following fundamental ethical principles when rendering services:
(i) integrity, and
(ii) objectivity, and
(iii) professional competence and due care, and
(iv) confidentiality and
(v) professional behaviour (including personal branding, business etiquette and use of
communication channels such as social media and the ability to control and express emotions
appropriately).

By way of general conduct, demonstrate a commitment to the ethical values upheld by the
profession
Demonstrate a responsive, valuing and tolerant approach to cultural diversity (local or global) and
individual differences
Evaluate, for a specific course of action, its impact on the community in which you live and work,
and on the local environment
Identify relevant stakeholders in your business environment (for either a client or your training office)

Weigh up short-term financial benefits against the long-term strategic and/or societal impact of a
decision
Evaluate the extent to which a business demonstrates a responsive, valuing and tolerant approach
to cultural diversity and individual differences
Evaluate an organisation’s strategy and business model in the context of how it aligns with SDGs

Contribute to the community at large through, for example, acts of philanthropy, social responsibility
and environmental stewardship
Perform work in a manner that protects the public interest
Evaluate, the impact of an action taken by a professional individual (yourself or someone else) on
public interest, the profession and on society
Demonstrate life-long learning by staying abreast of current trends and emerging issues including in
relation to digital developments
Demonstrate responsibility for your own development needs and opportunities and set and monitor
personal learning and development objectives
Acquire new knowledge, skills and experiences to remain relevant and find opportunities to
empower others by transferring this knowledge, skills and experience to others
Work in an agile way by adapting and responding to changing practices, roles and work contexts

Evaluate whether the business model of a client or your training office is primarily driven by
business success (e.g. profitability, cash flow and market orientation) or by value creation (with
reference
Distinguishtobetween
the six capitals)
different types of entities (profit, non-profit and public sector) and the roles they
play in society
Evaluate how an organisation creates value through the business model
Evaluate an organisation’s business model taking cognisance of its various capital resources used
to optimise value creation for stakeholders (e.g. customers (provide revenue by buying products),
shareholders (provide capital), employees (provide talents and skills) and suppliers (provide
products and services)
Use a holistic perspective to analyse an organisation’s business processes (including how it serves
stakeholders such as customers, employees, surrounding community and investors)
Evaluate the effect of local and global influences (including stakeholder relationships and the SDGs)
on measures of business success and value creation
Evaluate the influence of the external environment (political, economic, tax policy, social,
technological, legal, and environmental) on an organisation’s strategy, business model or processes

Use a broad perspective (taking into account, for example, competitive advantage and threats,
industry trends, emerging technology/industry disruptors, market opportunities, stakeholder focus)
together with an organisation’s mission/strategy, to evaluate an organisation’s business model

Recognise the need to address a problem or situation from a fresh perspective and challenge
existing paradigms and ways of doing business
Describe an innovative solution you came up with to address a business problem and how you
implemented this solution
Empower and develop others by acting as a role model and by providing advice, support and
mentorship
Select and manage information (quantitative as well as qualitative) from multiple sources and
perspectives through research, analysis, synthesis and integration
Identify, and question/challenge information or assumptions and potential bias behind received and
discovered information to interpret the results or analysis
Use critical analysis and reasoning strategies or techniques to uncover key and/or underlying
issues, and identify connections or patterns across diverse situations
Synthesise and make sense of ideas and information from a variety of sources to create a design,
formulate a plan, arrive at a viable solution to a problem, obtain a broader understanding of an issue
etc.
Use the above in the interpretation, analysis and evaluation of financial and non-financial
information for decision-making
Use a questioning mind-set during problem identification, analysis and resolution.
Seek assistance from experts/specialists to expedite problem-solving, decision-making and/ or
reaching conclusions
Only exercise judgement and make decisions based on sound and logical reasoning in collaboration
with affected stakeholders
Determine for each alternative course of action:
(i) likely outcome
(ii) apparent effectiveness of addressing the root causes of problems
(iii) feasibility of effective implementation
(iv) stakeholder support for effective implementation
(v) ranking in relation to the other identified courses of action

Use evidence, experience and technical competencies to solve problems or make insightful
decisions through an interrelated process
Apply a diligent and impartial mind-set when making decisions, making enquiries or questioning
others
Apply effective listening, interviewing and discussion techniques to obtain and clarify relevant
information
Communicate (verbally and non-verbally) using clear and concise messaging, in a professional
manner, appropriate to the audience and situation
Present information appropriately to improve your audience’s processing and digesting of that
information
Prepare written correspondence following due processes considering any legal, ethical, regulatory
and business requirements
Display awareness of language differences in all cross-cultural communication
Motivate and facilitate others’ efforts to excel
Proactively/pre-emptively take the lead to influence others to work towards organisational goals,
and to challenge them to deliver quality work that meets high standards
Empower and develop others by acting as a role model and by providing training, advice, support
and/or mentorship
Treat others respectfully, courteously and equitably
Display personal influence and negotiation skills to persuade others and build consensus
Display conflict resolution skills to minimise the impact of or resolve conflict
Consult with others to obtain information, solve problems and/or maximise benefits from
opportunities
Display self-management skills to work independently, and to manage time and work pressure and
its impact on others
Adapt to the different management and leadership styles and cultures of an environment
Seek opportunities to build strategic professional relationships (also cross-functional business
partnerships) to achieve common goals
Identify and apply strategies to proactively build relationships that extend professional networks and
alliances
Work effectively with others as a resourceful and trustworthy team member
Share knowledge and demonstrate cooperation and collaboration to achieve team goals (including
interactions within and between multi-functional, multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary groups)

Cooperate and delegate to manage teams and projects effectively, thus ensuring timeous and
quality outcomes
Manage conflict between individuals and across teams:
(i) Recognise constructive versus destructive conflict and manage conflict between individuals and
across the team
(ii) Assume shared responsibility
(iii) Value individual contributions by team members
(iv) Provide constructive feedback

Oversee team members’ progress and performance in the context of tasks, plans, projects or
operational activities
Work independently, diligently and with persistence
Display time management techniques to allocate resources and to develop, organise and prioritise
tasks (recognising their resource constraints) so as to achieve professional commitments/outcomes

Display the ability to understand, use, and manage your own emotions in positive ways to
communicate effectively, empathise with others, overcome challenges and defuse conflict.
Display persistence, resilience and balance in pursuing goals despite obstacles and setbacks

Decompose a problem into smaller sub-problems

Find patterns (similarities, shared characteristics) among the sub-problems
Determine relevant characteristics and discard irrelevant characteristics
Write a basic algorithm to solve a problem, using any programming language (such as Microsoft
VBA, Python)
Evaluate the appropriateness of a presented algorithm to solve a problem
Interpret underlying characteristics of basic data concepts (such as data structures, data files,
databases, normalisation of data and metadata), taking cognizance of how these influence and
interact with one another
Identify and evaluate sources of data (financial and non-financial, structured and unstructured)
Access and store data (e.g., own location, service provider, cloud, etc.)
Evaluate the risks compliance requirements and consequences associated with the specific
environments in which data is stored (including geographical legal restrictions in some areas (e.g.,
POPI in SA , GDPR)
Identify and distinguish between the ways in which access to data should be controlled (data
classification), and determine the consequent risks if the necessary controls are not implemented

Identify and distinguish between the ways in which local data and data-in-transit should be
controlled (including data in transit between systems, and the interfaces involved in the process),
and determine the risks (including not reaching a business objective) if the necessary controls are
not implemented
Apply/evaluate data strategies that deal with data protection, privacy, intellectual property rights and
ethical issues in data management and/or in relation to these matters evaluate policies and test
processes.
Identify the practical challenges of data analytics (e.g., data volume and quality, and privacy,
regulatory and ethical issues)
Use processes of inspection, extraction, transformation, loading and modelling data (as discussed
below) to discover information able to enhance problem solving and decision-making

Use data analytic software tools to analyse data (e.g., ACL, IDEA, advanced Excel™ functions)

Interpret the results to solve a defined business or audit problem and suggest further steps to be
taken
Identify processes that lend themselves to automation and modernisation including the benefits and
risks associated with the automation of processes
Evaluate the need for cognitive computing systems in the automation process
Use new developments and protocols (e.g., identify opportunities to address accounting and
business problems, limitations, risks, etc.)
Apply, in a non-complex simulation with semi-structured information general, application and data
controls to selected new developments and protocols in order to mitigate risks
Apply cybersecurity processes, tool and techniques to mitigate cyber risks on the organisation

Apply word processing software skills in a manner relevant to an accounting/business context, to

enhance communication (e.g., letters, memorandums, reports, working papers, and other written
correspondence), so as to meet all legal, ethical, regulatory and business requirements

Use presentation software in an accounting/business context

Use spreadsheet software in an accounting/business context (e.g., working papers; data analytics
using advanced techniques, and knowledge of effective utilization (including short cut keys, macros,
pivot tables and other advanced excel functions)
Communicate and collaborate with others using a wide range of digital devices, technologies and
platforms
Apply visualisation techniques and tools to develop simple dashboards
Secure and safeguard information technology resources such as organisational IT infrastructure,
laptops (and other portable devices), software, cloud (and other) storage, and data
SAICA required PDS PDS PDS PDS PDS PDS
level 1 2 3 4 5 6

3
3

3
3

2
3

3
3

3
3

2
3

3
3

3
3
2

2
3
3
3

3
3

2
3

3
3

3
3
3
3
3
3

2
2
2

2
2

3
3

3
3