The department of accounting provides major inputs into the Bachelor of Accountancy programme.

The undergraduate programme is designed for those who wish to become professional accountants. It is a four- year programme and it attracts substantial exemptions from the Chartered Institute in Management Accountants and the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants. Most of our graduates continue their studies after graduation with one of the professional bodies until they gain their professional membership. All practicing accountants are required to register with the Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants.

The core competencies and personal qualities required of a good accountant can be summarised as follows: - The first re-requisite is competence at Mathematics and English. Accountants are required to be good communicators and they need to be highly numerate. Personal qualities include a high standard of integrity coupled with a capacity for detailed and systematic work. The ability to work long hours and to demanding time schedules are also useful in the work of an accountant.

The main aim of the accounting degree is to develop students with high academic and technical skills, and also to provide the depth of understanding that is an essential requisite for a successful career in accounting. The degree aims to provide students with a thorough understanding of accounting and management.

The department endeavours to staff its courses with a mix of academic and practitioner personnel. This is important in a practical discipline such as accounting. The department also fosters research and consultancy among its full-time staff. These areas include forensic accounting, corporate governance, financial management, electronic commerce and the development of the accountancy profession. The department is fortunate that through the generosity of the Bank of Zambia, it has a funded Chair in Accountancy.

Accounting as a system and organised discipline dates from the Sixteenth Century but the accountancy profession came into being in the later half of the Nineteenth Century in the British Isle. Today, there are institutes of accountants in most countries. In Zambia the profession is organised by the Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants. Accountancy is a high status profession and accountants are employed in all major commercial, industrial and governmental organisations. In addition accountants offer their services to the public through firms in public practice. Accountants offer a wide range of services including auditing, taxation, accounting and management consultancy.