What is a Small Business Financial Manager?

A Small Business Financial Manager is primarily responsible for, amongst other functions:

• The Assistant Financial Manager function,
• Any Managerial function that requires basic finance skills,
• All the skills and knowledge to work in the corporate environment as an assistant to the Financial Manager,
• All the financial skills to manage the finances of a small or medium-sized business, and,
• Basic accounting, reporting skills, basic finance skills and basic costing skills.

Why should I study Small Business Financial Management?

This course is ideal if you would like to work in the following types of jobs:

• Assistant Financial Manager
• Any Managerial position
• Small Business Financial Manager

What careers you will be able to do with this qualification:

• Assistant Financial Manager,
• Any managerial role requiring basic financial skills.

With this qualification, you will be able to manage the finances of a small or medium-sized business, using your basic skills in accounting, reporting, and finance and costing.

National Certificate: Small Business Financial Manager is also the perfect course for you if you wish to improve your current skills and knowledge even if you are already employed in one of these types of jobs.

National Certificate: Small Business Financial Manager - Course Structure

In order to complete the National Certificate: Small Business Financial Manager, students will have to complete the following Modules:

• Tactics for Winning
  This is the first module that all students have to complete once they have registered with College SA. This module is designed to introduce students to the College. In this module, you will learn more about how Distance Learning works and what the best ways are to study and to prepare for assessments.
  
  
• Business Literacy
• Essential Business Finance
• Computerised Bookkeeping

Course Duration

This course should take you between 10 and 14 months to complete.

Entrance Requirements

• Grade 11

OR

• NQF level 3 Qualification

AND

• An equivalent

AND

• Read & write in English

AND

• Access to a computer

The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) – More about Them

The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) is a Professional Institute and a Quality Assurance Partner (QAP) of the Finance and Accounting Sector Education and Training Authoring (Fasset).

The ICB was established in 1931 with the objective of promoting quality training and qualifications for Bookkeeping, Accounting, Office Administration and Financial Management in South Africa.


All the ICB qualifications are South African-based and are registered on the South African National Qualifications Framework (NQF) and the outcomes are relevant to the South African market.

For MORE INFORMATION about the ICB, please click HERE

Did you know?

Once you have successfully completed the National Certificate: Small Business Financial Manager, then you will have done two of the four subjects that are needed for the Junior Bookkeeping qualification- Business Literacy and Computerised Bookkeeping.

The other two subjects that are needed for the Junior Bookkeeping qualification are Bookkeeping to Trial Balance and Payroll and Monthly SARS Returns

Because of this, you can UPGRADE to the Junior Bookkeeping qualification by:

• First applying for an exemption for the two subjects (Business Literacy and Computerised Bookkeeping). You can only apply for exemptions for these two subjects if you have already written the exams and passed the subjects.
• Registering for the two other subjects (Bookkeeping to Trial Balance and Payroll and Monthly SARS Returns). When you register for these two other subjects, you will have to submit proof of your exemptions with your enrolment form.
• Once you have successfully completed these two subjects, you will be able to obtain the National Certificate: Junior Bookkeeping.
  
  

Registration with the ICB and Assessment Entry

As soon as learners have registered with College SA to study one of the ICB courses, learners need to immediately submit various Forms and fees to the ICB.

Learners must ensure that they are registered with the ICB. Membership Forms for the ICB are available on our website - click HERE to go to these forms.

You can choose to pay for your Membership Fee on your own, or this fee will be included with your College SA fees if you choose the All-Inclusive Fee option.

"All-Inclusive" Option

If you want your Tuition fee with the college to include all your exam fees and your membership fees, you can choose our "all inclusive" package. This is a little more expensive, but then we take care of all membership and exam fees, and alert you to fill in the membership and exam forms.

If you choose this option, you can pay all your study costs in a single in-advance payment, or in monthly payments. This means that you do not have to worry about being able to afford future exam fees and membership fees, since the college will take care of it on your behalf.

Note that the All-Inclusive option gives you membership and subscription for one year. And that the college will pay for one exam per subject. If you fail an exam, you will have to make additional payments to re-write the exam.



In addition to your Membership Fee, you will also have to pay a small Assessment Fee to write the examinations with the ICB. Learners intending to be assessed by the ICB are required to submit an Assessment Entry Form.  

All the ICB Forms are available on our website, click HERE to go to them.   This Assessment Entry Form must be accompanied by the payment of your fees.

Assessments take place in February, May, August and November.

Assessment and Award

The ICB have prescribed compulsory assignments for this course. The assessment is based on the submission of a Portfolio of Evidence (PoE) to the ICB which will comprise of 3 formative activities, 2 formative evaluations and one summative assessment.

What is a Portfolio of Evidence (PoE)?

PoE assessment comprises formative / interim assessment of activities (assignments) and evaluations (tests) that count 30% towards the total mark. A Summative Assessment (final exam) contributes to the remaining 70% of your marks. The PoE is basically a file containing all the evidence necessary for a learner to be declared competent against the relevant outcomes.

Important Portfolio of Evidence (PoE) Information:

To successfully complete the PoE, you must first work through all the study material and assignments. So if you register for the exam, without allowing enough time to work through all the course material, you will not be able to successfully complete the PoE. (And for that matter, you will also not be well prepared to pass the exam).

The point being that a well-prepared student will be able to complete and pass both the PoE and exam in time. But if you do not prepare, then you will struggle with both the PoE and the exam.



Is this the right course for you – QUESTIONNAIRE

Do this questionnaire to find out if this is the right qualification for you. Answer Yes or No.

• Do you wish to register for a course that is endorsed by a Professional Institute?
• Do you wish to register for a course that will give you skills in Small Business Financial Management?
• Are you thinking about becoming one of the following: an Office Assistant, a Receptionist, an Office Administrator, a Marketing Administrator, or a Public Relations Officer?
• Would you like to increase your knowledge and skills of Office Administration without having to attend any classes or seminars?
• Would you like to be awarded with a National Certificate?
• Would you like to take the first step towards becoming a Certified Office Manager?
• Are you a small business owner?
• Are you thinking about opening a small business?
• Are  you the kind of person who wants to be on top of their finances?
• Do you want to understand how finances influence a company's success?

If you answered YES to more than four of these questions, then this the right programme of study for you. We recommend that you register for this course right away!

If you did not answer YES to more than five of the questions, perhaps you should consider registering for one of our other career skills courses.

Other Career Skills Courses You May Be Interested In

• College SA Certificate in Small Business Management
• College SA Certificate in Junior Management – Finance
• Computerised Bookkeeping – Pastel.

If you are interested in one of these courses, please contact one of our Student Registrars and ask them for more information. They will be happy to help you.

Interested? Want to find out more?

If you would like to find out more about the National Certificate: Small Business Financial Manager, please fill in this short form and one of our friendly Student Registrars will respond to your questions and provide you with all the information you need.

Frequently Asked Questions