Masters Degrees (School of Accountancy)

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Cloud computing : COBIT-mapped benefits, risks and controls for consumer enterprises
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2012-03) Enslin, Zacharias; Lamprecht, Christiaan; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Accountancy.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Cloud computing has emerged as one of the most hyped information technology topics of the decade. Accordingly, many information technology service offerings are now termed as cloud offerings. Cloud computing has attracted, and continues to attract, extensive technical research attention. However, little guidance is given to prospective consumers of the cloud computing services who may not possess technical knowledge, or be interested in the in-depth technical aspects aimed at information technology specialists. Yet these consumers need to make sense of the possible advantages that may be gained from utilising cloud services, as well as the possible incremental risks it may expose an enterprise to. The aim of this study is to inform enterprise managers, who possess business knowledge and may also be knowledgeable on the main aspects of COBIT, on the topic of cloud computing. The study focuses on the significant benefits which the utilisation of cloud computing services may bring to a prospective consumer enterprise, as well as the significant incremental risks this new technological advancement may expose the enterprise to. Proposals of possible controls that the prospective consumer enterprise can implement to mitigate the incremental risks of cloud computing are also presented.
The development of an integrated framework in order to implement information technology governance principles at a strategic and operational level for medium-to-large sized South African business
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2012-03) Goosen, Riana; Rudman, Riaan J.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Accountancy.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In today's technologically advanced business environments, Information Technology (IT) has become the centre of most, if not all businesses' strategic and operational activities. It is for this reason that the King III report has dedicated a chapter to IT governance principles, in effect making the board of directors and senior management responsible for implementing such principles. King III's guidance on these principles is only described in broad terms and lack sufficient detail as how to implement these principles. Though various guidelines, in the form of IT control frameworks, -models and -standards exist, it remains highly theoretical in nature and companies tend to view these control frameworks, -models and -standards on an individual basis, implementing them in an ad hoc manner, resulting in the implementation of an inefficient IT governance system, that does not address the key strategic areas and risks in a business. The purpose of this study is to develop an IT best practices integrated framework which can assist management in implementing an effective IT governance system at both a strategic and operational level. The integrated framework was developed by performing a detailed literature review of a best practice control framework, -model and -standard, including its underlying processes. By combining and aligning the relevant processes of the control framework, -model and -standard to the business' imperatives, a framework was developed to implement IT governance principles at a strategic level. The integrated framework is extended to provide guidance on how to implement good IT controls at an operational level. The control techniques, of the applicable processes identified at a strategic level, are implemented as well as the controls around a company's various access paths, which are affected by a company's business imperatives. These access paths are controlled through the implementation of applicable configuration controls. By making use of the integrated framework which was developed, an effective and efficient IT governance system can be implemented, addressing all applicable IT risks relevant to the key focus areas of a business.
Die inkomstebelastinggevolge van winste verdien uit beursverhandelde enkel-aandeeltermynkontrakte
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2012-03) Engelbrecht, Bruwer Christo; Van Schalkwyk, Christiaan Jacobus; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Accountancy.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The use of derivative instruments, including single-stock futures, experienced unprecedented growth over the last twenty years. South Africa, like the rest of the world, is still experiencing extraordinary growth in the trading of these instruments. The taxation of these transactions, therefore, are of increasing practical importance. Despite this unprecedented growth, the South African tax policy makers have neglected the tax treatment of these instruments to a large extent. Due to the lack of specific legislative provisions regulating the tax aspects of these instruments, the general principles of the South African income tax law have to be applied. This gives rise to conflicting opinions regarding the tax treatment of these instruments, primarily as a result of the fact that these principles were developed long before the widespread use of derivative instruments. The lack of relevant case law in this regard is also problematic. This results in great uncertainty surrounding the tax treatment of profits from single stock futures. This research paper applies the general principles of the South African income tax law in order to determine when these profits accrue to the taxpayer and to determine the nature thereof. The introduction of capital gains tax has added yet a further dimension to the taxation of these instruments and is also considered. This research paper also considers the income tax treatment of similar instruments in Australia in order to identify useful principles that may be applied within a South African context. In light of the increasing volume and value of derivative transactions, it is imperative that clarity regarding the taxation of these transactions be obtained as soon as possible. Any reform and revised tax rules need to provide certainty to the taxpayer while remaining flexible enough to ensure that future changes in the ever-changing financial instruments environment are accommodated.
‘n Kritiese ontleding van die inkomstebelastinghantering van voortydige beeindigingsboetes ingevolge huurooreenkomste
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2012-03) Badenhorst, David Frederick; Willemse, L. C.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Accouncy.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Leases are common phenomena in the South African and international business arena. Leasing is a popular and often cheaper method to obtain the use of property without the property being acquired. Included in property is immovable, movable, tangible and intangible property. The premature termination of lease agreements are also a common phenomenon in the South African and international business arena. When a lease is terminated prematurely, it is currently the practice that the person who terminates the lease agreement has to pay a termination penalty to the other party of the lease agreement. A lease agreement can however be terminated by either the lessee or the lessor. When both the paying and receiving parties assess their income tax liabilities, they may be confronted with the issue of how the payment or receipt of the termination penalty should be treated for income tax purposes. In practice there currently exists uncertainty whether the penalty should be treated as revenue- or capital in nature. The nature of this penalty depends on the background facts and must be judged individually on the basis of the guidelines approved by the courts laid down with respect to the issue of income versus capital. For this issue to be satisfactorily answered, the income tax treatments of lease termination penalties in Australia, Canada and the United States of America are investigated. The purpose of this study is to find guidelines, tools and principles to be used in a South African context, which may lead to the efficient and careful handling of lease termination penalties for South African tax purposes. The treatment of a lease termination penalty under current South African tax legislation is also studied.
A study of a feebate policy to reduce CO₂ emissions in the South African automotive industry
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2012-03) Du Plooy, Johann Leroux; Nel, Rudie; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Accountancy.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Globally, climate change is probably the biggest environmental challenge facing the world this century. To accommodate change, the South African government introduced a vehicle emission tax on 1 September 2010. However, the design of the vehicle emission tax focuses on consumers and it might not be most effective in reducing CO2 emissions to the desired level. Therefore, alternative initiatives need to be identified and implemented to address increasing CO2 emissions. A “feebate” policy is considered as a possible alternative to reduce CO2 emissions. A literature review was performed on the topic of “feebate” policies and current tax legislation that could encourage vehicle manufacturers to invest in energy-efficient technology aimed at reducing CO2 emissions. Based on the literature review, a qualitative empirical study was conducted by means of a questionnaire, which was distributed to nine vehicle manufacturers in South Africa. The study specifically focused on vehicle manufacturers as they have the opportunity to design, develop and introduce energy-efficient technology, which could reduce CO2 emissions. Results suggest that a “feebate” policy that leads to costs savings should be considered by government to encourage vehicle manufacturers to invest in energy-efficient technology in order to lower CO2 emissions. It was also noted that, in general, the provisions of the current Income Tax Act No. 58 of 1962 provides little incentive to encourage vehicle manufacturers to invest in energy-efficient technologies to reduce CO₂ emissions.
Die uitreik van aandele ten einde verpligtinge na te kom : onkoste werklik aangegaan vir inkomstebelastingdoeleindes of nie
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2012-03) De Kock, Arno; Van Wyk, Ellane; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Accounancy.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study explores the question whether a company that issues shares in exchange for assets or services incurs expenditure for purposes of the Income Tax Act No 58 of 1962. It is concluded that a company may, in terms of the Companies Act No 61 of 1973 and the Companies Act No 71 of 2008, only issue shares once it has received consideration for those shares. Unissued shares have no value and are not considered to be assets of the company. Die ordinary meaning of the word expenditure requires the action of spending an amount of money, funds or other resources. In light of this meaning it is further concluded that the issue of shares does not qualify as expenditure actually incurred by the company. It is further concluded that the principles of what expenditure entails for income tax purposes, laid down in CSARS v Labat Africa Limited, are accurate and should form the basis whenever it is necessary to consider whether expenditure was actually incurred.

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Browsing Masters Degrees (School of Accountancy) by Subject "Accounting"

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