Online Reporter
Business Reporter
The Southern Africa Association of Accountants (SAAA) in Zimbabwe has unveiled a new accounting qualification designed to equip finance professionals with the digital and ethical skills required for a rapidly changing business environment.
Speaking at the launch event in Harare, SAAA chief executive Cleophas Chakabuda described the Accounting Technician Qualification for Africa (ATQA) as “our new baby” – a fully developed programme intended to strengthen the continent’s finance profession.
“ATQA is an accounting qualification that is designed to measure the accounting technician of today,” Mr Chakabuda said. “To move abreast with the changing business environment in terms of professional competence, digital awareness, as well as corporate governance ethos.”
The programme is built on three core principles: relevance, accessibility and integrity. Mr Chakabuda explained that the qualification offers a “strategic fit” between modern accounting and evolving business laws, taxation rules, corporate governance ethics, and the adoption of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS).
On accessibility, he confirmed that tuition would be delivered through both in-person classes and virtual learning via the internet, adding: “This programme is designed in a way that it will leave no man and no place behind when it comes to tuition.”
The integrity pillar, he said, would promote ethical values including professionalism, confidentiality, care and objectivity.
“With this nutshell information that I have given you about ATQA, I believe you are all in agreement with me that today we are building Africa’s finance backbone,” Mr Chakabuda told attendees.
The launch marks a significant expansion of SAAA’s educational offerings in the region. Further details on enrolment dates and tuition fees are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
