See full profile: Brakpan Accountant - Laetitia Hattingh
Were you always planning to be an accountant and why?
Since the first time I did accountancy at school I knew I wanted to become and Accountant. Accounting is more than just bookkeeping, it helps entrepreneurs grow into successful business', it helps business's grow and succeed. This gives me the job satisfaction in knowing that I am helping other to grow and succeed their business.
When meeting with clients do they mostly come to your own premises or do you mostly go their theirs?
I mostly go to my clients
What is your preferred mode of communication with your clients?
Email, Phone, Face to Face, Skype
Have you ever done an online video call with a client?
Yes
What do you love most about accounting?
Being able to help client to organize, prepare and analyze their business finances, being there from the start and to see the clients business grow and succeed.
Would you recommend accounting as a career for school-leavers, and why?
If you really have a interest in accounting it can be a very rewarding career.
What qualities should South African business people be looking for in their accountant?
Honesty, Integrity, Trustworthy, Knowledge
What is the biggest challenge facing accountants today?
Regulations from SARS, that prevents Accountants from helping clients. Keeping up to date with Continued Professional Developments
What aspects of accounting do you focus on most?
Management of your business, if your systems and procedures for your different aspects aren't sufficient your business will not grow. We help from start to finish. Capturing data to Tax submissions.
Describe your average client:
Our clients are mostly entrepreneurs who's business's have grown and they cannot manage to do the work in their business and do the accounting. As well as established business, which we have helped to organise their Accounts to help their business operate smoothly.
How far away from your premises is your furthest client?
We have clients locally, national and international. We embark on using all of the latest technologies available to us. We have clients in provinces of South Africa, Neighboring countries, like Mozambique as well as New Zealand.
From your accounting experience, if you could cite one of the biggest reasons SME's in SA fail, what would it be?
SME's fail due to insufficient management of their business, stock and debtors management and improper bookkeeping.
What accounting software do you like best?
Sage pastel partner or Sage pastel online, as these packages have the best understanding of how bookkeeping should be done.
What other software, online services or apps do you use?
Sage pastel online, Sage pastel partner, evulotion. Sage pastel payroll, Quickbooks and other packages used by clients
Do you think the coming wave of automation in the next few years will steal some accounting jobs and why/why not?
Some of the work that the traditional bookkeeper does can now be done by clients with help of the automation and technologies available. However the involvement of accountant in the business has changed. Accountants need to be actively involved with the business and knowledge that accountants bring to the business management procedures can be invaluable to a business's success.
What is your opinion on Bitcoin?
Like all things in society today, the internet and virtual technologies do become more popular and will become the world of the future.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
In my spare time I spend time with my family as you never know what tomorrow will hold.
What is the most interesting thing on your bucket list?
I would love to visit Holland as this is where my family comes from, Greece and Thailand for the sheer beauty of these countries.
What has your experience been on FindanAccountant?
This is a great platform for accountants.
See how our other local South African accountants have answered the above questions.
