Three former students from the North-West University (NWU) again underlined why the School of Accounting Sciences is an institute par excellence. 

Louise de Kramer, Ronet Jordaan and GJ Richter were all named on the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants’ (SAICA’s) Honours Roll, a list that signifies exceptional performance and reserved for only a select few.

This followed the completion of the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) exam, which is the second part of the SAICA qualifying examination, and is written after at least 20 months of training in the accounting profession. The exam assesses professional competence and, to be eligible, candidates must have passed the Initial Test of Competence (ITC) exam as well as have a registered training contract and have successfully completed an accredited professional programme.

The exam entailed an integrated case study with seven tasks that had to be executed. In as far as exams are concerned, this is the ultimate test of an entry-level chartered accountant’s skills.  

There are 14 SAICA-accredited universities in the country and these former students are on an elite list of only 13 individuals.

“In the past we have had one former student at the most who has passed a SAICA exam with honours in a particular year. This year we have three, which is a first for us,” explains Professor Nico van der Merwe, chartered accountancy programme leader at the School of Accounting Sciences who was named winner of the academic category in SAICA’s Top 35 under 35 accounting professionals last year.

“The last few years has seen a new examination process that focuses more on the assessment of professional competence. To have three former students on the honours roll is testament to the fact that the University not only focuses on the academic and technical aspects of students’ education, but also guides them to be professional in their conduct,” says Van der Merwe.

Louise de Kramer		Ronet Jordaan		GJ Richter