The purpose of the FETC Municipal Finance and Administration Qualification at Level 4 is to provide a structured programme for municipal officials that work with senior management officials so as to provide support to strategic leadership and management needed to transform all spheres of government. The need for well-qualified efficient, client-oriented public officials is therefore identified as a priority in all the three spheres of government. The FETC: Municipal Finance and Administration is aimed at practitioners working in or wishing to work in the Municipal sector. It is a Qualification in a career pathway towards an accomplished municipal financial management specialist.

The FETC in Municipal Finance and Administration, consists of exit level learning outcomes, covering municipal accounting, administration, budgeting, computing, quantitative calculations, human resource management and legislative framework for the public sector. The competencies covered in the proposed unit standards encapsulate the competencies required by public officials working at the operational level (technical support staff in municipalities).

The Qualification will therefore enhance the ability of the qualifying learner as a municipal finance official to perform the necessary financial administration tasks. In this way, the Qualification enhances transferability of skills within different spheres of the public sector. At the same time, a learner will gain a firm foundation required for studies leading to Qualifications registered at NQF levels 5 (diploma), 6 and 7. All these enhance transferability of skills between the private and public sector.