New Zealand Diploma in Business (Accounting) (Level 5)

Gain the accounting technical knowledge you need 

If you want to contribute at a more senior level within your work environment, you need to have a sound understanding of the technical components of accounting.  You will learn how to record and process a wide range of financial transactions and apply the correct accounting standards when preparing financial statements and reports.

Learn how to minimise business risk

Having the right knowledge to minimise business risk is essential when operating within a leadership role. This expertise is even more important when it applies to the financial area of a business. You need to understand the internal and external controls and processes that are required within a business to minimise risk as well as full knowledge of legal and professional requirements.

Discover how to make informed decisions that enhance business performance

Effective, informed and accurate decision making is a core requirement. You need to be able to analyse and interpret financial information accurately and with confidence to make informed decisions, prepare budgets and monitor performance.  The right knowledge will give you that confidence.

Learn about the accounting professions code of ethics

Trusted roles within a business generally have a professional body that oversees member behaviour and practice. The code of Ethics provides an important and informed guide about what is and what isn’t acceptable business behaviour.  

Become ready to take on a variety of careers with the skills and knowledge to be employed in a variety of business entities in roles like finance administrator or inventory controller. 

Applicants under 20 years old

• A minimum of 14 numeracy credits at Level 1 or higher in Mathematics on the Directory of Assessment Standards, and
• 50 credits at Level 2 or above with at least 12 credits in each of three subjects including a minimum of 8 literacy credits at Level 2 or higher in English or Te Reo M¯aori (4 credits must be in reading and 4 credits in writing) 
• The literacy credits will be selected from a schedule of approved achievement standards and unit standards found on the NZQA website at Literacy Requirements for University Entrance.
• OR equivalent to the above.

Applicants 20 years or over

• No minimum academic entry requirements.
• However, you need to provide your CV detailing any relevant work experience and academic achievements.
• If English is not your first language, you must provide:
  • New Zealand University Entrance OR
  • Overall Academic IELTS 5.5 with no individual band score lower than 5.0 (achieved in one test completed in the last two years), OR
  • Acceptable alternative evidence of the required IELTS (see here for NZQA proficiency table and here for list of recognised proficiency tests).

If you need to improve your English Language skills, we offer a wide range of English programmes.

Special entry 

In exceptional circumstances, an applicant under the age of 20 who does not meet the academic entry requirements may be granted entry where they supply evidence to satisfy the relevant Academic Committee of their ability to succeed in the programme.   

As this programme is delivered fully online, you do not need to provide us with a My Vaccine Pass.

• You will need to provide us with a valid My Vaccine Pass if you want to visit an Otago Polytechnic site for any reason while you are studying with us (e.g. meetings, events, presentations) or attend graduation in person at the end of this programme.
• You do not need to provide a valid My Vaccine Pass if you are attending on campus health services (e.g. student health, Kowhai Centre).
• In exceptional circumstances, exemptions may be granted to this. You can find out more about this in our vaccination policy. If you think you have grounds to be exempt from our vaccination requirements, please email Covid-19@op.ac.nz    

You can find more information about our vaccination requirements here. And, if you still have further questions, please visit our FAQs page which you can find here.

This qualification may build on from:

• New Zealand Certificate in Business (Accounting Support Services) (Level 4)
• New Zealand Certificate in Business (Small Business) (Level 4) 

This programme is made up of eight courses with a total of 1200 learning hours. This breaks down to approximately 33 hours per week if you're studying full-time and 16.5 hours per week if you're studying part-time.   

Depending on your previous academic online experience this may vary a little.

1. Organisations in a New Zealand Context

2. Business Functions

Apply knowledge of core business functions for operational efficiency and effectiveness.

Learning Outcomes:

• Apply the principles and practices of accounting, and operations to make decisions supporting business efficiency and effectiveness
• Understand and apply practices of Human Resource Management, Sales and Marketing to support business efficiency and effectiveness
• Demonstrate skills for managing own and others learning and performance within an operational context

3. Business Environments

To analyse environmental influences on a business entity.

Learning Outcomes:

• Apply a range of legal and economic principles to internal and external business environments
• Analyse the potential impacts of a range of internal and external environmental influences on business entities
• Identify and utilise relevant internal and external environmental data to plan the management of risk and performance in a business entity.

4. Understanding Change

To contribute to innovation and change in organisations

Learning Outcomes:

• Identify and demonstrate how innovation and organisation change can contribute to enhanced business performance
• Explain and assess the impact and importance of sustainability to business entities
• Research and recommend solutions for improving performance of a business entity

5. Introduction to Accounting and Taxation

To apply accounting concepts and standards to prepare financial statements for a business entity and apply tax rules.

Learning Outcomes:

• Process end of period/balance day adjustments.
• Apply accounting concepts and standards to prepare financial statements.
• Apply tax rules for individuals and small businesses.

6. Applied Accounting

To apply accounting concepts and standards to prepare financial statements for a business entity and apply tax rules.

Learning Outcomes:

• Process a wide range of transactions to Trial Balance.
• Record accounting processes for a GST registered business using accounting software.
• Apply the accounting profession’s Code of Ethics to given situations.
• Research and communicate on technical issues of a business.

7. Analysis of Financial Information

To calculate, analyse and interpret financial information to inform decision making for a business entity and evaluate debtor risk.

Learning Outcomes:

• Calculate ratios and analyse financial performance for a business entity.
• Analyse and interpret financial information to inform decision‐making for a business entity.
• Evaluate debtor risk and apply relevant actions to mitigate these risks.

8. Budgets for Planning and Control

To prepare budgets and use budgets to monitor business performance for a business entity and determine internal controls to minimise financial risk for a business entity.

Learning Outcomes:

• Prepare budgets and monitor performance against budgets for a GST registered person
• Prepare budgets and use budgets to monitor performance for a business
• Determine internal controls to minimise financial risk for a business entity.

Upon successful completion of this programme, you may choose to further your learning and progress to other strands of the New Zealand Diploma in Business such as Leadership and Management, or Administration and Technology, or other business qualifications at degree level. Alternatively, you may choose to pursue relevant industry or professional qualifications at Level 6 or above. We offer the Leadership and Management strand on campus in Dunedin.     

Full-time domestic students of this programme are eligible for student loans and allowances (dependent on age and financial circumstances.) Please contact Studylink for additional information. Phone 0800 88 99 00 or visit www.studylink.govt.nz

If you already have extensive knowledge and skills gained from practical experience in this area, enquire about our recognition of prior learning process at Capable NZ. You may have already gained credits towards this qualification in the course of your life. Visit www.capablenz.ac.nz