PDA Managing Finances SCQF level 8

The PDA in Managing Finances at SCQF level 8:

•  is nationally recognised
• can be achieved at work
• has no formal entry requirements
• provides recognition of managing finances
• enables progression within the Management SVQ framework
• enhances career prospects

The PDA in Managing Finances has been created to meet the needs of those who wish to develop as managers through their own experience in the workplace and who wish to follow a work-based path to management qualification.

The PDA has been designed to enable candidates to develop and achieve competence in financial management, particularly in the areas of preparing, developing and managing budgets.

The unit-based structure aids flexibility with candidates generating the required evidence naturally through their current management job role.

This PDA provides progression routes to further study, training and professional qualifications (see Progression).

SQA and CMI have joined forces to help build careers in Management. CMI now offers one year free studying membership for those undertaking an SQA generic Management qualification. For further information please visit: http://www.managers.org.uk/sqa.

Who does the qualification suit?

The PDA in Managing Finances is for people who are currently employed in first line management, team leader and middle management level posts.

The PDA consists of SVQ units, which are workplace units. To be eligible for these units, candidates must have current occupational experience in a management role and be able to generate the relevant evidence.

Access

Whilst entry to the PDA in Managing Finances is at the discretion of the centre, to be eligible, candidates must have current occupational experience in a management role and be able to generate the relevant evidence

The PDAs in Management are based on SVQ Management units. In line with the Assessment Strategy developed for SVQs in Management, access to the PDAs in Management is open only to those who currently occupy a management role which enables them to display competence at the level of the standards which make up the award. The nature and level of the management role may vary, depending on the level of PDA involved.

Candidates can build on this PDA by progressing to other qualifications in the suite of PDAs in Management, particularly ones which concentrate on a specific aspect of management competence such as the PDA in Leadership at SCQF level 8 or the PDA in Managing Projects and Business Processes at SCQF level 9.

Progression between the PDAs in Management is dependent on the managerial position that candidates occupy.

Candidates who complete this PDA will have gained two of the optional units in the full SVQ in Management at SCQF level 7 and one of the optional units in the full SVQ in Management at SCQF level 9

Candidates achieving this PDA are also eligible for studying membership of CMI, which means that they can become part of the professional community of managers and can benefit from development opportunities that this can bring.

Centres with devolved authority for approval should use their own internal approval process.

Centres without devolved authority must come forward for approval and should contact SQA's Business Development Team for guidance.

Assessors and verifiers must be able to meet SQA's general requirements for technical/occupational competence as outlined in the Systems and Qualification Approval Guide.

As this PDA is made up of SVQ units, the assessment is governed by the Assessment Strategy for PDAs in Leadership and Management 

Candidates gather evidence of their performance through normal workplace activity, in line with the requirements of the PDA. This evidence will be assessed using usual workplace assessment methods, such as use of portfolios/e-portfolios; observation; examining of work products; testimonial evidence from witnesses; personal statements; accreditation of prior learning, etc.