SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Prepare ledger balances and an initial trial balance 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
12990  Prepare ledger balances and an initial trial balance 
ORIGINATOR
SGB HET Accountancy and Financial Management 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
FASSET - Financial and Accounting Services SETA 
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies Finance, Economics and Accounting 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  10 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
People credited with this unit standard are generally found within the accounting technician field. On successful completion of the unit standard, people will be able to balance bank transactions, prepare ledger balance and control accounts, and draft an initial trial balance. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Unit standards for Bookkeeping at NQF level 4. 

UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
A person may exhibit this competence in the private and/ or the public sector. 

Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
Balance bank transactions. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. Details from the relevant primary documentation are recorded in the cashbook. 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
Credit transfer and standing order schedules
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. Totals and balances of receipts and payments are correctly calculated. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
3. Individual items on the bank statement and in the cashbook are compared for accuracy. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
4. Discrepancies are identified and referred to the appropriate person. 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
Uncertainty in coding, Differences identified by matching process
 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
Prepare ledger balances and control accounts. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. Relevant accounts are totaled accurately. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. Control accounts are reconciled with the totals of the balance in the subsidiary ledger, where appropriate. 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
Main ledger, Subsidiary ledger, Integrated ledger
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
3. Authorised adjustments are correctly processed and documented. 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
To correct errors, To write off bad debts
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
4. Discrepancies arising from the reconciliation of control accounts are either resolved or referred to the appropriate person. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
5. Documentation is stored securely and in line with the organisation's confidentiality requirements. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
Draft an initial trial balance. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. Information required for the initial trial balance is identified and obtained from the relevant sources. 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
Sources - Colleagues, Computer system, Files, Manager, Accountant, Ledger
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. Relevant people are asked for advice when the necessary information is not available. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
3. The draft trial balance is prepared in line with the organisation's policies and procedures. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
4. Discrepancies are identified in the balancing process ad referred to the appropriate person. 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
Incorrect double entries, Missing entries, Incorrect calculations
 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
Demonstrate an understanding of the business and accounting environment. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. The business environment is defined in relation to generally accepted accounting practice/ GRAP. 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
Types of business transactions and documents involved, General bank services and operation of bank clearing system, Function and form of banking documentation
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. Accounting methods are identified and described in line with organisational requirements and GAAP/ GRAP. 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
Operation of accounting systems (manual and computerised), Error identification, Relationship between accounting system and ledger, Posting methods (primary records to ledger accounts), Inter-relationship of accounts (double entry system), Use of journals, Closing off ledger accounts methods, Reconciling control accounts with memorandum accounts, Trial balance function and form
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
3. Organisational policies and procedures related to accounting and administrative systems are explained in GAAP/ GRAP terms. 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
Business transactions, Source information filing
 


UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
Accreditation for this unit standard shall be obtained from the relevant Education and Training Quality Assurance Body, through summative assessment by a registered assessor.

Moderation Option: Moderation activity comments by SGB`s, organisations and individuals may be forwarded to NSB03. 

UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
A demonstrated understanding of:
  • The business environment
  • Accounting methods
  • The organisation
  • Creditors and debtors
  • Ledgers and Trial balance
  • Unit Standard Number: usa027

    Terminology:
  • GAAP - Generally Accepted Accounting Practice
  • GRAP - Generally Recognised Accounting Practice 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems in which responses display that responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking have been made. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation and community. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage oneself and one`s activities responsibly and effectively. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, organise and critically evaluate information. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and language skills in the modes of oral and written presentations. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically (showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others). 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING 
    Be culturally and aesthetically sensitive across a range of social contexts. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    N/A 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  36213   National Diploma: Technical Financial Accounting  Level 5  NQF Level 05  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  FASSET 
    Elective  50017   National Diploma: Club Professional Golfing  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Registered"     		 2008-11-30  Was CATHSSETA until Last Date for Achievement 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.