It takes a minimum of seven years to qualify as a chartered accountant (CA(SA)),and for SAICA,last year's results represents the culmination of a high quality qualification process that continues to deliver high calibre, competent individuals to the profession as well as to the economy of South Africa.
This year, SAICA’s APC Honours Roll recognises seven candidates who performed exceptionally well in the case study and showed the greatest insight in the way they completed the tasks. They are Michele Coppola, Jashine Dheda, Darryl Margolis, Marco Pinheiro, Justin Shein, Graham Starkey and Megan Thomas
The APC assesses a candidate’s ability to use and apply their technical knowledge in a real world context by setting tasks that can be expected of entry level CAs(SA). The assessment, which takes the form of a written examination, places emphasis on pervasive skills (ethics, personal attributes and professional skills) and seeks to assess whether a candidate can demonstrate their competence both through their behaviour during the case study period, as well as through the application of their acquired skills and technical knowledge to a realistic multi-disciplinary case study.
For the first time, candidates who wrote the 2015 APC were also able to complete their assessment using a laptop (with secure software to lock down access). This further emphasises the nature of the assessment as one that simulates the real world. 283 candidates took part in this e-Writing pilot.
Due to the success of this e-Writing pilot candidates may, going forward, elect to write the APC electronically for the next two years. By 2018, it will be compulsory for all candidates to complete the assessment electronically.
