Who Falls Under the CA Sector Code
The CA Sector Code applies broadly across the profession: Registered Auditors, Audit firms, Financial industry training offices, Financial industry accredited higher education institutions in the CA field, SAICA, and any organisation involved in the education and training of Chartered Accountants.
The Thresholds Are the Easy Part
Unlike the Legal Sector, Property Sector, or Tourism Sector, the CA Sector doesn’t set its own turnover thresholds. Its thresholds align with the Generic Codes, meaning EME, QSE, and Generic classifications work exactly as they would for any standard business. If you already understand how these turnover thresholds apply elsewhere, you won’t need to relearn anything here.
That’s not a loophole though, it just means the real story of this sector code lies elsewhere on the scorecard.
A Scorecard Built Around One Clear Goal
The CA Sector Code exists to address a specific, well-documented challenge: the shortage of Black Chartered Accountants in South Africa, and the even greater shortage of Black women in the profession.
As a result, Skills Development carries significant weight within the CA scorecard, far more than a typical business would encounter under the Generic Codes. The focus isn’t generic upskilling or broad-based training initiatives. It’s specifically aimed at growing the pipeline of Black CAs, from candidacy through to qualification and beyond.
For audit firms and training offices, this means the CA Sector Code rewards firms that are actively mentoring, training, and creating pathways for Black trainees, and particularly Black women, into and through the profession. A scorecard approach built around generic training spend, without this focus, won’t reflect the sector’s intent, and may leave firms underscoring on one of the most heavily weighted elements available to them.
Why This Matters for Audit Firms and Training Offices
Because the thresholds are so familiar, it can be tempting to assume the rest of your B-BBEE approach can be equally standard. The CA Sector Code is one of the clearest examples of a scorecard built entirely around a single transformation priority. Firms that recognise this early, and structure their Skills Development spend and programmes accordingly, are in a far stronger position than those treating it as a generic compliance exercise.
If your firm plays any role in training or educating the next generation of CAs, whether through candidacy programmes, mentorship, or academic partnerships, this is the element to get right.
Need Help Structuring Your Skills Development Approach?
Elevate Advisory Partners can help you assess your current Skills Development programmes against the CA Sector Code’s requirements, and make sure your investment in developing Black CAs, and Black women CAs specifically, is reflected properly on your scorecard. Contact us at info@elevateadvisory.co.za or visit www.elevateadvisory.co.za to get started.
This post focuses on the CA Sector Codes. If you’d like to see how B-BBEE plays out across every industry we cover, including MAC, ICT, Tourism, Property, Construction, Financial, Agricultural, Defence, and Transport, download our complete ebook, “B-BBEE Industry Thresholds Explained,” here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the CA Sector Code use different turnover thresholds to the Generic Codes?
No. The CA Sector’s turnover thresholds align with the Generic Codes, so EME, QSE, and Generic classifications work the same way they would for any other business.
Who does the CA Sector Code apply to?
Registered Auditors, Audit firms, Financial Industry Training offices, Financial Industry Accredited higher education institutions, SAICA, and organisations involved in the education and training of Chartered Accountants.
Why does Skills Development carry so much weight in this sector code?
Because the scorecard is built specifically around growing the pipeline of Black Chartered Accountants, with a particular focus on increasing the number of Black women entering and progressing in the profession.
Is generic training spend enough to score well under the CA Sector Code?
Not necessarily. The sector’s intent is focused specifically on developing Black CAs, so training and development programmes aligned to that goal are likely to reflect more favourably than broad-based, unrelated training initiatives.
What kind of firms should pay closest attention to this sector code?
Any firm involved in training, mentoring, or educating future CAs, particularly audit firms and training offices, since Skills Development is where the CA scorecard places its greatest emphasis.