CA(SA) is a business leadership designation beyond audit

Patricia Stock CA(SA) | CEO | The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) | mail me |

Recent commentary has created confusion around professional qualifications, regulatory designations and pathways into the Registered Auditor (RA) profession. As such, we wish to clarify the distinction between the Chartered Accountant (SA) [CA(SA)] designation, the registration of auditors by the Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors (IRBA) and other qualifications with professional bodies.

CA(SA) is a comprehensive, internationally recognised professional designation. It produces responsible business leaders who can create sustainable value across the economy. CA(SA) is a business leadership designation that extends beyond audit and technical accounting.

How is the CA(SA) designation unique?

The CA(SA) designation is distinct from other designations that may provide a pathway to the RA. However, these designations do not meet the substantial equivalence of the CA(SA) designation.

A rigorous process underpins the CA(SA) designation. This process includes NQF level 7 and 8 qualifications, a formal period of work experience through a recognised learnership, completion of a professional programme and two professional assessments.

Multiple professional bodies may provide pathways into the RA profession. However, such recognition relates specifically to IRBA’s regulatory requirements. It does not equate the underlying qualifications and professional eligibility requirements.

Importantly, not all CAs(SA) become RAs. The CA(SA) qualification extends significantly beyond the RA pathway. Therefore, CAs(SA) are not limited to the audit profession. CA(SA) is a business leadership designation, and many graduates pursue diverse leadership and commercial roles.

Furthermore, under the Chartered Accountants Designation (Private) Act, only SAICA members may use “Chartered Accountants” and the “CA(SA)” designation. They must complete the rigorous route to become designated. This legislation restricts the use of the Chartered Accountant and CA(SA) designation. It also ensures the designation remains subject to SAICA’s rigorous education, training, and professional standards.

Enabling acumens

Our integrated CA of the Future Competency Framework underpins the CA(SA) designation. This framework intentionally develops leaders who drive value creation across industries. In this context, CA(SA) is a business leadership designation grounded in integrated competency development.

CAs(SA) must integrate three interdependent competency types:

• Professional values and attitudes.
• Enabling competencies (acumens).
• Technical competencies in the value creation process.

These competencies are not developed or assessed in isolation.

At their intersection, integrated thinking emerges. This integration enables CAs(SA) to design solutions, evaluate alternatives and influence decisions responsibly. These include decision-making, business, digital and relational acumen. These skills influence how CAs(SA) think, operate and lead across sectors. Acumen enables discernment and sound judgement, which are essential in complex environments.

Technical competencies

Technical competencies are structured around six value-creation areas:

• Strategy and governance.
• Stewardship of capital.
• Decision-making.
• Reporting.
• Compliance.
• Audit and assurance.

Audit and assurance is one of six technical areas that IRBA requires in its competency framework. It is not the central or defining competency of the CA(SA).

To illustrate why this architecture enables CAs(SA) to operate across business, the public sector, entrepreneurship, governance, academia, and audit, our Qualification Policy and Process continues to produce approximately 3,500 new trainee accountants annually. The CA of the Future Competency Framework underpins this process.

Upon qualification, a significant proportion of CAs(SA) pursue careers beyond audit public practice. This outcome reflects the breadth and diversity of the CA(SA) qualification.

Further data on the intake can be found in the IRBA Annual Report.

Demand and supply of audit trainee candidates

Although the lower number of registered auditors who are currently all our members, these figures demonstrate sustained demand and supply of audit trainee candidates by audit firms, strong throughput and the continued attractiveness and accessibility of the CA(SA) designation.

The majority of our members serve in business, commerce and leadership roles across sectors. They contribute meaningfully to South Africa’s economic development. This contribution signifies the profession’s economic and social relevance and reinforces that CA(SA) is a business leadership designation.

Beyond throughput numbers, we continue to drive meaningful transformation across the profession through structured pipeline interventions. Through the Thuthuka Education Upliftment Fund (TEUF), with support from various donors, we have contributed to a significant shift in representation within the profession. In 2002, African and Coloured members represented just 3% of our membership.

Sustained progress depends on expanding access to quality education and support, strengthening throughput, and ensuring pathways into the profession remain credible, inclusive, and responsive to changing skills needs.

Global context – attractiveness and reform

To situate South Africa’s experience within the broader global landscape, it is useful to reflect on emerging insights from international bodies and local research institutions examining the future of the audit profession.

These themes align with global work led by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). IFAC focuses on strengthening sustainability and attractiveness across the profession. Moreover, our education and training model aligns with IFAC principles, including the requirement that professional bodies ensure candidates admitted into programmes have a reasonable chance of success.

Clear distinctions between qualifications and professional designations remain essential to maintaining public trust. The CA(SA) designation remains the most trusted designation in the world, as reflected in independent research by Edelman in both 2023 and 2025.

Chartered accountants trained through our rigorous qualification process are equipped to serve society as ethical leaders. They can drive sustainable value creation across business, the public sector and civil society. Audit remains a critical component of the profession, but it is one element within a broader leadership framework that equips CAs(SA) to serve society in multiple capacities.