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: 

Identify and apply the responsibilities, functions and qualities of the auditor 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
13061  Identify and apply the responsibilities, functions and qualities of the auditor 
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 6  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6  5 
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 
A person credited with this unit standard is able to describe the audit processes, the ethics governing the work of an auditor, the rights and duties covered by statute, and apply auditing to practical situations. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Unit standard, Contribute to the implementation of auditing procedures, NQF level 5. 

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 
Describe the background information pertaining to the audit profession. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. The nature and criteria for the profession is explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. The history and development of the profession is explained in the light of current and past practices and legal developments. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
3. The historical evolution of auditing objectives and the audit is explained in the light of current and past practices and legal developments. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
4. The fundamental principles of auditing theory are explained in line with the accepted auditing principles. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
5. The structure of the profession in South Africa is explained in terms of auditing practice and regulations. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
6. Current audit developments are identified and explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
7. The distinction between statutory audits in both the private and public sector, non-statutory audits and related service engagements are explained and applied per the relevant legislation and professional practice standards. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8 
8. The process for developing and issuing generally accepted auditing standards is explained per the principles of auditing. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 9 
9. The nature and rationale for professional ethics are identified and explained in line with generally accepted accounting practice. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
Apply the concepts and principles relevant to the audit function. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. An overview of the audit process is given in line with generally accepted auditing standards. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. The objectives of the audit are explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
3. The interrelationship between the various stages of the audit process is explained as per accepted auditing standards. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
4. Financial statement assertions are identified. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
5. The nature of the assertions are explained and applied with reference to particular financial statement line items. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
6. The relevance of the assertions to the auditor are explained and applied in line with the principles of auditing. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
Describe the registration and function of the audit firm. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. The requirements for the registration and practise as and auditor is explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. The quality control policies and procedures at both the level of the audit firm and on individual audits are explained and applied in accordance with predetermined standards. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
3. The professional ethics governing the work of the auditor is explained. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
Determine and apply the legal rights and responsibilities of the auditor. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
1. The rights and duties of the auditor covered by relevant legislation and code of conduct are applied. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
2. The different responsibilities of auditors and management are explained. 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
Including in terms of the objectives and general principles governing an audit of financial statements, according to the terms for audit engagements for appointments, resignation and removal, for implementing quality control policies and procedures to ensure all audits are conducted in accordance with the statements of South African Auditing Standards, for documenting the audit procedures performed, the results thereof, and conclusions drawn, to give consideration to the laws and regulations governing an audit of financial statements, in relation to fraud and error incorporating material irregularities) in line with accepted auditing regulations
 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
3. The legal liability of the auditor is explained and applied. 
ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
Including in relation to clients, third parties and in relation to employer) in line with the relevant legislation
 


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 activity comments by SGB's, organisations and individuals may be forwarded to NSB03 

UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
A demonstrated understanding of:
  • Audit regulations and standard setting, professional and business ethics, statutory requirements, duties of the auditor, current audit practice, conduct audits

    Legal Requirements:
  • The Companies Act
  • The Close Corporations Act
  • IFAC Auditing Standards
  • PAA Act
  • Public sector legislation
  • PFMA (Public Finance Management Act)
  • Treasury regulations
  • Municipal Finance Act (once promulgated)
  • Auditor General Act
  • Audit Arrangement Act
  • SAAS 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Solve problems 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as a member of a team/group 

    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, mathematics and language skills in the modes of oral and written presentations 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically 

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

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING 
    Contribute to the full personal development of each learner and the social and economic development of society at large 

    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 
    Definition:
    Implied in the term "auditor" is internal and external auditor 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  59989   National Certificate: Resolving of Crime  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2016-06-30  SAS SETA 


    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.