DIPLOMA IFRS

Since the formation of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) in 2001, the harmonization of financial reporting has become an important driving force for accounting, economic and political reform in many parts of the world.
Convergence of financial reporting standards has considerable benefits to preparers of accounts, for listed companies, investors, multinational business and the global economy.
Reducing the barriers to multinational investing and promoting a more efficient and transparent capital market requires the adoption of a robust set of principles based financial reporting standards, broadly accepted and supported by the wider international accounting and investing community.
Since 2005 all listed companies in the European Union (EU) have been required to prepare consolidated company accounts in compliance with international financial reporting standards (IFRS). In many other parts of the world there is an increased acceleration towards adoption of IFRS or for the harmonization of national accounting standards with IFRS.  Furthermore IFRS is the basis for the accounting treatments prescribed within the IFRS for Small, Medium Entities. 
Finance professionals not already familiar with the principles of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) will be faced with the challenge of developing a working knowledge of IFRS as quickly as possible.
The Diploma in International Financial Reporting (DipIFR) is designed to develop your knowledge of IFRS - providing an understanding of the concepts and principles which underpin them, and their application in the international marketplace.
DipIFR is a qualification which is flexible to your timetable, enabling you to fit your studies around your work and social commitments, and can be completed in three to six months.
DURATION: 12 weeks

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Professional accountants and auditors, working in practice and industry, who are qualified in accordance with national accounting standards, are eligible to take the qualification. Official documentation is required.
Practitioners who may not yet be qualified, but who can verify the following, are also eligible:

• A relevant degree plus two years' work experience
• Three years' work experience
• Completed and passed all ACCA exams
• ACCA Certificate in International Financial Reporting plus two years' work experience

PROCEDURE FOR ENROLLMENT

Complete an online application form at www.accaglobal.com or contact us for ACCA registration form.
Complete a separate Spectrium registration form

HOW TO REGISTER

You can apply to register for the Diploma in International Financial Reporting (DipIFR) at any time, however in order to sit exams at a specific session, we will need to receive your registration form and all your supporting documentation by the following closing dates:
For the June exams
Register by 15 April
For the December exams
Register by 15 October
The same dates apply for requests to change exam sessions and centres.
We advise that you to check with your local postal delivery service in the first instance to find out about postal delivery times to the UK or view the postal delivery times listed below for guidance. The timings shown are indicative and for guidance purposes only in certain markets. ACCA cannot take responsibility for delays in the postal system.
View the postal delivery times by country

REGISTER ONLINE

The quickest way to register as a DipIFR student is to go online, however your supporting documentation is still required to finalise your application. In order to sit exams at a specific session these will need to be received by ACCA by the closing dates above.
Register as a DipIFR student
REGISTER BY POST
You can also apply by completing the application form in the related documents section, and sending it to us along with your supporting documentation. In order to sit exams at a specific session these will need to be received by ACCA by the closing dates above.
SPECIAL CENTRES
It is possible to arrange exams at centres other than those listed in the exam centre database. These are referred to as special centres. Requests for special centres should be sent in writing, together with your application form and supporting documentation by the following dates:
15 March for the June exams
15 September for the December exams
If you wish to sit your exams at a special centre then you should ensure that ACCA receives your application and supporting documentation by the above closing dates and remember to allow time for postal delivery.

WHO SHOULD ENROL FOR THE PROGRAMME

• Accounts Clerks, bookkeepers
• Cost and Management Accountants
• Financial Managers
• Portfolio Managers
• Financial Planners
• Accountants
• Auditors
• Anyone interested in pursuing a career in Financial Accounting

DipIFR SYLLABUS

The key topic area headings are as follows:

• International sources of authority
• Elements of financial statements
• Presentation of accounts and additional disclosures
• Preparation of external reports for combined entities and joint ventures.

ASSESSMENT/CERTIFICATION/AWARDING BODY

The DipIFR will be assessed by a single three-hour closed book written exam, which is held twice a year on June and December at ACCA's exam centres. The pass mark is 50%.
The exam is a three hour paper in two sections. It contains a mix of computational and discursive elements. Some questions adopt a scenario/case study approach. Section A includes a mainly computational question and Section B contains a mix of computational and discursive questions.
No of marks
Section A: One group accounting question    40
Section B: Three compulsory questions (20 marks each)    60
----
100
==
All questions are compulsory to ensure each candidate is examined on all the main syllabus areas. The paper will be:
One compulsory 40 mark question covering group accounting and individual company adjustments, and
Three compulsory 20 mark questions covering a variety of accounting standards.
The exam format is new from June 2011, as such all past exam papers (December 2010 exam session and earlier are based on an old exam format).  These questions  continue provide good question practice where the topic area has not been updated by a revision or new accounting standard
From June 2011, IFRICs and SICs will no longer be listed as examinable documents.
There are no changes to the study guide other than those required to reflect the above.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

ACCA has an annual cut off rule when deciding what comprises an examinable document which could be used as part of an exam paper. An examinable document is legislation, standards, regulation or guidance and may be examinable even if the effective date is in the future. In most regions, the cut off date is 30 September. Therefore any document listed as examinable issued prior to this date is potentially examinable within the exam sessions in the following calendar year.
For further details including any exceptions to this rule please refer to the syllabus and examinable documents.
Learners are required to write Examinations per module. The Certification body for the qualification is the Association Certified Chattered Accountants (ACCA)-UK.
EXAMINATION DATE: To book your exam contact us on (011) 339 1746 
EXAM INFORMATION
The exam for the Diploma in International Financial Reporting will be held on the following dates in 2011:
09 December 2011
09 June 2012
The exams are held concurrently in five different timezones.
Starting times in each of these timezones will be:
Zone 1    08:00
Zone 2    10:00
Zone 3    14:00
Zone 4    15:00
Zone 5    17:00

Local starting times will be set falling out from these base start times for every centre. Details of local start times can be found against each centre on the exam centre list accompanying your exam entry form (when this is sent to you).
To find an exam centre near you please visit the exam centres database.

EXAM RESULTS

The quickest way to receive your exam results is via e-mail. You will need to register for this service through myACCA and keep your e-mail address up to date.
For more information on your exam results go to Exam Results.
PASS RATES

Dec 2010    Jun 2010    Dec 2009    Jun 2009    Dec 2008    Jun 2008    Dec 2007    Jun 2007    Dec 2006    Jun 2006    Jun 2005
39    55    45    50    55    48    67    52    56    72    68

DIPIFR AND CPD

If you are an ACCA member, studying for another qualification can count towards your continuing professional development (CPD) as long as the qualification is relevant to your learning and development needs. One hour of learning equates to one hour of CPD. We’d suggest that you use this as a guide when allocating yourself CPD units.
It is anticipated that on average it will take 30 hours to work through the DipIFR course, and a further 12 hours to successfully complete the assessment. If you have exceeded your CPD requirements for this year you can carry forward up to 21 verifiable units to the following year.
For more information on ACCA’s CPD programme go to managing your CPD.
THE TUITION/STUDENT SUPPORT CENTRE   
Spectrium is a leader in preparing professional accountants and auditors for the ACCA diploma in International Financial Reporting Standards in South Africa. Support lectures are run by Spectrium’s Faculty of Finance and Accounting, located in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. Spectrium is a recognized and listed ACCA Student Support Centre.

BENEFITS TO YOU

• Immediate employment
• Professional recognition
• National and International recognition
• Well sought after qualification across all industries.
• Hands on Experience in business accounting
• Qualification Recognized by nationally and globally
• NQF Aligned

BENEFITS TO THE ORGANISATION

• Effective KPA management by employees
• Excellent Job performance
• Better and quality service delivery
• Better understanding of job descriptions
• Clarity of Roles and Responsibilities

STUDY OPTIONS

Full Time – Monday - Friday
Part Time – Mondays - Saturdays - (8:00 – 14:30). Evenings:  17:30 – 20:00.                                                                               
In-house: All Certificate modules and master course can be delivered in-house. SAVE money by using this option
Distant Learning
Learnership Options also available!
Revision Package

CAREER PROGRESSION

Upon successful completion of this programme learners can move on to do the ACCA Professional Scheme.

OUR UNIQUE TEACHING MODEL

Career-centered and solutions-driven learning, small classes, very qualified and experienced lecturers, individual attention, affordable prices/payment terms, access to study facilities, safe parking, free booster sessions to registered students just to name a few.
PROGRAMME STARTING DATES
All Full and Part Time Certificate courses start first week of the following months:
February; May; August; November
Distant Learning can start at anytime
Learnership can start at any time
Revision Courses: See Timetable
Call us to enroll today on: Tel: 011 339 1746

Diploma in International Financial Reporting Standards is endorsed by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.