Milpark’s BCom in Accounting: Developing Future Leaders

Although SAICA’s competency framework has acknowledged the value of ethical judgement, critical thinking and emotional intelligence for some time, these human capabilities aren’t easily assessed. They were rarely prioritised in traditional accounting degrees.

Milpark’s recently launched BCom in Accounting has been developed from the outset to align with SAICA’s evolving CA of the Future framework, with leadership, ethics and communication embedded into the curriculum from the first year.

In Milpark’s BCom in Accounting, leadership isn’t just an add-on or elective – it’s a core theme, with four purpose-built modules:

• Strategy and Leadership in Value Creation
• Strategy and Leadership for Growth
• Strategy and Leadership for Stakeholder Engagement
• Responsible Business Leadership

Each of these leadership modules builds real-world capabilities in critical thinking, collaboration and communication – human-centred skills that most CAs only begin learning on the job.

Learn more in this article featuring Milpark lecturer Deidre Jooste CA(SA), part of the BCom development team: The Bold Journey – Crafting a New Era in BCom Accounting.

Learning to lead with Milpark is hands-on and immersive, says Dr Terblanche: “Every module in our BCom in Accounting aligns with our desired graduate attributes, not just technical competence.”

Standout features of the strategy and leadership theme include five weeks engaging with content and exercises developed by a professional coach, where students reflect on personal values and roleplay high-stakes conversations, including performance reviews and ethical decision-making scenarios.

Students also complete a ten-week capstone module that tackles real-world business challenges and ethical dilemmas, giving them practical experience of leading within an organisation.

“To take South Africa forward, we need accountants who can think independently, work collaboratively, build relationships with internal and external stakeholders and consider the impact of decisions.”

And while some students were initially sceptical about the value of the leadership modules, their ongoing feedback indicates many are already applying what they have learned at work, particularly in navigating interpersonal dynamics.

Concerned that the leadership modules may add to your workload? Don’t worry - Milpark’s BCom in Accounting has been designed to teach what matters, without the clutter. “We don’t teach to tick boxes. We’ve removed filler content to intentionally focus on what counts - critical thinking, curiosity, essential human-centred skills and core technical competence.”

“No accountant knows every accounting or auditing standard or legislation in depth. What matters more is understanding how to assess risk, identify what’s relevant, ask the right questions and find accurate information when you need it.”

Furthermore, Milpark’s flexible, fully online approach and our half-workload option make studying convenient and more accessible, even when you’re working full-time or managing other commitments.

When Milpark’s first BCom in Accounting cohort graduates in 2026 and moves into postgraduate study and articles, they’ll bring real-world experience in stakeholder engagement, responsible decision-making and coaching as a framework for performance management and leading teams.

According to Dr Terblanche, accounting is no longer just a ‘numbers’ job: “Today’s professional accountants must understand how values, strategy and accountability intersect with financial decisions. Our graduates will know how to navigate complexity with purpose, becoming confident, conscientious, competent contributors to the South African economy.”

Read more: Milpark's Innovative BCom in Accounting.

Accounting has evolved beyond numbers — it’s now about accountability and impact. At Milpark, the journey to becoming a CA of the future begins at the undergraduate level. The BCom in Accounting integrates leadership as a core focus, not an optional extra, with ethical decision-making woven directly into strategic thinking. This isn’t business as usual; it’s business with intent.

Milpark’s programme doesn’t just prepare students to be technically sound — it equips them to be socially aware and ready to lead. For graduates looking to advance, Milpark’s School of Professional Accounting (which includes CA Connect) offers fully online, SAICA-endorsed postgraduate options toward qualifying as a CA(SA).