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University of Cape Town: Public Sector Financial Reporting

Gain an in-depth understanding of the specialized frameworks underpinning public sector financial reporting.

Gain an in-depth understanding of the specialized frameworks underpinning public sector financial reporting.

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This course is offered by , an edX partner
12 weeks
12–13 hours per week
Starts May 12, 2025
Enroll by May 18, 2025
Instructor-paced
Instructor-led on a course schedule

Get more information

Want to know more? Enter your information to learn more about this course from GetSmarter (an edX partner).

Get more information

Want to know more? Enter your information to learn more about this course from GetSmarter (an edX partner).

12 weeks
12–13 hours per week
Starts May 12, 2025
Enroll by May 18, 2025
Instructor-paced
Instructor-led on a course schedule

About this Course

Rising concerns around global government spending has led to public demand for accurate and transparent financial reports, setting higher standards for treasury management. To meet these requirements, it’s imperative that professionals in this field use the Generally Recognised Accounting Practice (GRAP) frameworks that underpin financial reporting in the public sector. In doing so, they can create a credible record that communicates high-quality expenditure information, which informs policy and decision making, and in turn drives the better use of public resources.

The Public Sector Financial Reporting online short course from the University of Cape Town (UCT) is based on the Postgraduate Diploma in Public Sector Accounting offered by UCT. Part of this course has been developed into smaller online short courses that allow professionals to study specific areas of public sector structures, governance, accounting, and finance, in order to bolster their skills in this important and relevant field.

This online short course covers specialized and highly technical concepts to help you accurately recognize, measure, and report on current and non-current assets within the public finance sector. Over 12 weeks, you’ll gain expert tools and insights from UCT faculty, as you learn to draft in-depth financial statements for public sector entities.

This highly intensive course is aimed at private or public sector professionals looking to enable career growth in the public finance sector. It’s valuable to those who are starting their career and would like to prepare for a future role in public sector finance within South Africa, as well as other countries in Africa. Established balance sheet custodians, accounting consultants, and financial managers who are interested in formalizing and augmenting their knowledge within the specialized field of public sector accounting will also benefit from the tangible outcomes and analytical toolkit delivered throughout this 12-week course.

Course curriculum

Skip Course curriculum

Explore the core concepts and frameworks underpinning public financial reporting as you work through the weekly modules of this online short course.

Orientation module: Welcome to your Online Campus

Module 1: Reporting environment for public sector entities

Module 2: Conceptual framework for public sector financial reporting

Module 3: Preparing financial statements for public sector entities

Module 4: Accounting for revenue: Exchange transactions

Module 5: Accounting for revenue: Non-Exchange transactions

Module 6: Accounting for non-current assets: Property, Plant, Equipment (PPE), and investment property

Module 7: Accounting for non-current assets: Intangible, heritage, and living and non-living assets

Module 8: Accounting for non-current assets: Impairment of assets

Module 9: Accounting for liabilities, provisions, contingent liabilities, and contingent assets

Module 10: Disclosures for liabilities, provisions, contingent liabilities, and contingent assets

Module 11: Accounting for construction contracts and working capital

Module 12: Modified cash basis

About the certificate

Acquire the knowledge and skills to use a range of GRAP frameworks to create public sector financial statements and earn an official certificate of completion from the University of Cape Town.

Assessment is continuous and based on a series of practical assignments completed online. In order to be issued with a digital certificate, you’ll need to meet the requirements outlined in the course handbook. The handbook will be made available to you as soon as you begin the course.

Your certificate will be issued in your legal name and sent to you digitally upon successful completion of the program, as per the stipulated requirements. Please note, due to additional administrative requirements, at times UCT course certificate delivery may be delayed by several weeks/months.

Some facts about the subject

R800 billion

The minimum amount needed to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on the South African economy as projected by its finance minister.

PwC (2020).

R3 billion

The additional amount allocated by the South African government to recapitalise the state-owned Land Bank in 2020.

National Treasury (2020).

Why choose GetSmarter?

GetSmarter, an edX partner, delivers career-relevant, fully supported, and expert-led online courses from the world's leading universities and institutions. As an online learning expert with over 15 years' experience, GetSmarter leverages long-standing expertise in market research, data analysis, and business insights to ensure that you gain the skills critical to career growth.