SAICA Finalist Pursues Accounting Qualification with Milpark

Milpark Education’s (Milpark) School of Professional Accounting (incorporating CA Connect) and the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) – South Africa’s globally recognised premier accountancy body – are committed to developing future-fit Chartered Accountants (CA(SA)) and accounting professionals equipped to meet the evolving needs of business in a rapidly changing world.

Talha Farouk Valjee, currently studying online towards Milpark’s SAICA-accredited Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting / Certificate in the Theory of Accounting (PGDA/CTA), is emerging as the kind of enterprising accounting graduate ready to make an impact in today’s competitive economy.

Talha chose Milpark’s PGDA/CTA because it provides a strong foundation for both further postgraduate accounting studies and becoming a qualified Chartered Accountant (CA(SA)).

Milpark was also Talha’s first-choice South African institution, as its flexible online accounting programme allows him to continue working at the leading tax and accounting advisory firm SNG Grant Thornton and make time for his fiancé and family.

Having completed a Bachelor of Accounting Sciences (NQF level 7), Talha met the minimum admission requirements for Milpark’s PGDA/CTA and, by June 2025, was registered for the programme.

Anyone who thinks accounting students are dull, obsessed only with numbers, and buried in spreadsheets clearly hasn’t met Talha.

A creative thinker, avid reader, and entrepreneurial innovator, Talha demonstrates how his postgraduate accounting studies at Milpark are not only deepening his accounting knowledge but also building real-world problem-solving skills.

Talha’s pioneering project, Accountopedia, which reflects this approach, recently received top honours from SAICA, earning him a place among the top five finalists in SAICA’s 2025 Student Leadership Awards.

Accountopedia is a Wikipedia-style online resource for South African tax practitioners – many of whom are Chartered Accountants. It offers reliable, real-time guidance and expert insights from experienced professionals – resources hard to find elsewhere online.

Talha is the only Milpark student to have ever reached the final stage of SAICA’s prestigious annual student competition.

Learn More: See how Milpark’s PGDA/CTA can launch your accounting career.

After the SAICA finalist announcement, Talha returned to his disciplined routine of work, online accounting study, and family time.

Milpark’s PGDA/CTA is a one-year, full-time postgraduate accounting qualification with four compulsory learning modules:

• Management Accounting and Finance
• Corporate Governance and Auditing
• Financial Reporting
• Taxation

Milpark also offers a half-workload option, spreading the four learning modules and tuition fees over two years – a perfect fit for Talha.

From the get-go, Talha knew his online accounting studies would demand considerable time, as well as personal and financial sacrifices. What he did not expect was an email from Milpark recognising his SAICA achievement – and granting him a 50% bursary toward his studies.

“When I received the news, I was sitting with my fiancée. We were overjoyed. I felt honoured and deeply grateful," Talha shares. "The bursary motivates me to keep going with my online accounting studies at Milpark and never give up."

When he graduates with his PGDA/CTA in June 2027, Talha will be able to study further at a postgraduate level and be able to write SAICA’s Initial Assessment of Competence (IAC) as part of the process of becoming a CA(SA).

WATCH Now: Milpark’s School of Professional Accounting (incorporating CA Connect) in celebrating Talha’s SAICA success.

Milpark’s PGDA/CTA follows a structured weekly learning journey with easy-to-follow schedules. Students study online, in their own time. Says Talha, “The programme lets you take small steps, master key accounting disciplines, and move forward at your own pace. Each learning unit is manageable, and, with practice, I’ve become more efficient and ready to pass.”

Collaboration with fellow PGDA/CTA students and personalised guidance from experienced lecturers in Milpark’s School of Professional Accounting make learning interactive and engaging – even in an online environment.

Talha often teams up with a fellow student. "We sit together every day, work through Milpark’s accounting topics, make notes, plan the next day, and encourage each other to keep going," he says. The PGDA/CTA is powered by Milpark’s Immersive Online (IO) Learning platform.

Talha has always had a knack for spotting entrepreneurial opportunities. His award-winning brainchild, Accountopedia, was born out of his struggle to find reliable, accessible tax information online. Today, Accountopedia connects over 1,200 tax practitioners. Taxation is also a core module in Milpark’s PGDA/CTA.

Talha even sold his car to fund an online grocery project. Though it didn’t survive Covid-19, it showed his ability to spot high-potential business ventures. “Failures taught me to fail forward and tackle bigger goals,” he reflects.

He also founded the Kit Kat Super League, a local soccer club that grew to 350 players and attracted corporate sponsors. For now, Milpark’s PGDA/CTA is his focus, helping him deepen accounting knowledge and strengthen both his employability and entrepreneurial skills.

Read More: Milpark's PGDA mentorship programme for future CAs

Talha’s advice to fellow PGDA/CTA students is to stay disciplined, grounded, and focused. “Consistency and effective time management are key to success,” he says. “Never fear failure – you only fail if you quit.”

Balancing online study, work, and life can be super stressful, he admits, but adds with a smile: “There’s no gain without pain. A diamond earns its sparkle from pressure underground over time – no pressure, no diamonds.”

If you’ve graduated with a commerce degree and want to take your accounting career further or qualify for SAICA’s IAC, Milpark’s Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting and Certificate in the Theory of Accounting will help you get there.

The PGDA/CTA programme has two intakes each year – in February and July.

Start your PGDA/CTA journey with Milpark and find out how to apply today.