ATSWA REGULATIONS SYLLABUS - ICAN

1 ASSOCIATION OF ACCOUNTANCY BODIES IN WEST AFRICA (ABWA) & THE INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS OF NIGERIA (ICAN) ACCOUNTING TECHNICIANS SCHEME, WEST AFRICA ATSWA REGULATIONS & SYLLABUS EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 2017 PARTICIPATING MEMBER INSTITUTES ICAN ICAG LICPA ICASL ONECCA NIGERIA GHANA LIBERIA SIERRIA LEONE CAMEROON CONTENTS PAGES Foreword .. 2 Introduction .. 3 Philosophy of the New 3 Objectives of the 3 Potential Beneficiaries of the Scheme .. 4 Benefits of the Scheme .. 4 Entry 4 Registration for Student 5 Privileges of 5 Practical 5 5 Progression to the Professional 5 Examination.

2 5 - 6 Publications .. 6 6 Structure of the SYLLABUS .. 7 Examination Ti me 7 Absence fro m an Examination .. 7 Misconduct in an Examination .. 8 Examination Results .. 8 Exemption Guidelines .. 8-9 1 PAPER PART I Pages 1. Basic Accounting P rocesses and 10 - 13 2. 14 -18 3. Business 19 - 21 4. Communication 22 - 23 PART II 5. Principles and Prac tice of F inancial Accounting .. 24 - 26 6. Public S ector 27 - 34 7. Quantitat ive Analysis .. 35 - 43 8. Informat ion T 44 - 47 PART III 9. Principles of 48 50 10. Cost A ccounting .. 51 - 54 11. Preparing Tax Computations and 55 - 58 12.

3 59 - 62 2 FOREWORD At the 34th Council meeting of the Council of the Assoc iation of Accountanc y Bodies in West Africa (ABWA) held in Accra Ghana on 16 and 17 January 1997, it was decided that there was need for the for mation of Accounting Technicians Scheme for West African sub- region to serve as ve hicle for pr oviding a regionally recognised and accept ed professional qualifications for the supporting staff of Professional Accountants within the sub-region. This sylla bus is the produc t of the Council s decision. The ATSWA fulfils a di re need to pr oduce a cadre of middle leve l manpower within the sub-region required to give effective support and assistance to the pr ofessionally qualified Accountant so as to maximize the latter s efforts.

4 The sche me was conceived as a means pr imarily of upgrading the skill and competenc e of the numerous middle-level and potential lower grade worke rs in an accounting of fice who require such highe r skills both to do their work more competently and to enhanc e their career potential while giving them status. The wisdom and foresight of ABWA Council in de ve loping this sche me is borne out of the tremendous pa tronage which the similar schemes of some individual member bodies has received in their respective c ountries. The sylla bus atte mpts to meet the dual goa ls of the sche me through the subject structure and coverage. It ha s also been aligned with the respective syllabi of the member bodies within ABWA cur rently conducting such examination.

5 The 12-subject-3- leve l structure examination combines subjects which address purely the knowledge-skill needs of the potential ATSWA graduate (to be known as (AATWA) working in an of fice with others which are mainly of a theoretical or conceptual na ture and therefore serve a s a foundation for the highe r l eve ls of the Professional Examinations. In dr awing up this SYLLABUS , the ABWA Council was mindful of reciproc ity with other major accounting bodies in the UK, America, Cana da, etc. The overall objective in this regard is tha t ultimately, graduates of the sche me would be able to compare favourably with their counterparts elsewhe re a nd thus enjoy reciprocal recognition. 3 1. INTRODUCTION The Professional Accountant plays pivotal managerial, advisory and eva luative roles in today s modern business environment.)

6 Users of accounting services expect prof essional accountants to operate to the highe st standards of competence, probi ty and expe rtise. The job of Professional Accountants has become more c ha lle nging in the face o f globalisation, regional integration and advanc ed technology. In pe rfor ming these functions, the Professional Accountant requires the a ssistance of t rained and able accounting technicians. 2. PHILOSOPHY OF THE NEW SYLLABUS The Sylla bus ha s in some significant ways, str eng thene d the education and training requirements necessary to produce t echnicians: (i) who will play supporting role to the P rofessional Accountants; (ii) whose pr imary duty will be to maintain the accounting system already de signe d by Professional Accountants; (iii) who may sometimes wor k independently without supervision; (iv) who can adequately meet the needs of the: - Public sector (inc luding L ocal Government and Inland Reve nue) - Industry, Commerce, and Audit practice; and (v) who will be well equipped to advanc e to the Professional Examination level.

7 3. OBJECTIVES OF THE SCHEME The Accounting Technicians Sche me West Africa (ABWA) has the following objectives: (i) to pr ovide a recognized qualification for the accounting and auditing staff employed in the public sector, industry, commerce a nd in the o ffices of practic ing Accountants. (ii) to he lp meet the technicians staffing needs of the economy especially those of va rious governments and parastatals in accounting areas. (iii) to give status to Accounting Technicians. (iv) to pr ovide opportunity for the Accounting Technicians to pr ogress towards full qualification as Professional Accountants. 4 4. POTENTIAL BENEFICIARIES OF THE SCHEME It is belie ve d that the entire economy will be ne fit from the increased pr oductivity of a well- trained and disciplined work- force.

8 The individual Technician as well as the Organization he /she wor ks for will also benefit. Specifically, the following a re some of the bene ficiaries: (i) Those holding supervisory a ccounting positions in Government, Commerce a nd Industry, Financ e a nd Reve nue D epartments. (ii) Accounts Clerks or supervisors in Government -owne d companies a nd parastatals. (iii) Office mana gers and audit clerks in practic ing firms. 5. BENEFITS OF THE SCHEME The be ne fits of the scheme to the Accounting Technicians include the following: (i) Ability to work and move in all type s of business or ganizations and services within the sub-region (ii) Possession of a recognized accounting qualification (iii) Career development opportunities for those who are already in employment (iv) Exemption from some of the Professional Examination Pape rs of member bodies Institutes and those of othe r prof essional bodies.

9 6. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Entry requirements va ry from country to country and each country specific requirements are available on the respective website as well as ABWA websites. Kindly visit the webs ite of ABWA and/or the country you are interested in. You may please pe ruse the website addresses as listed below: S/N COUNTRY WEBSITE 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) The Institute of Chartered Accountants (Gha na) ( ICAG) Liberia Institute of Certi fied Public Accountants (LICPA) The Institute of C hartered Accountants of Sierra Leone (ICASL) The Gambia Institute of Chartered Accountants (GICA) Ordre National Res Experts Comptables du Cameroun (ONECCA) 5 7. REGISTRATION FOR STUDENT MEMBERSHIP Candidates who wish to write the ATSWA examina tions must first regist er as students under the sche me.

10 Application for registration may be made on-line or on the pr escribed for m of the member-body in order to qualify for eligibility to enter for the subsequent examinations. The annual subscription for successful applicants becomes payable immediately upon registration for year of registration and thereafter on 1st January of each year of registered Studentship. 8. PRIVILEGES OF STUDENTS Students may use the Students Library located at the Secretariats of the member body. Students may take pa rt in activities such as lectures and seminars or symposia or ganized by the local accountancy body. 9. PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE Students are expected to gain pr actical expe rience either in a pr ofessional practic ing firm or in the accounting department of any recognized orga nization in industry, commerce and public sector.