See full profile: Royal Ascot Accountant - Luke Hahn
Were you always planning to be an accountant and why?
In school, I loved accounting as a subject and in about grade 10 decided that it was what I wanted to do.
When meeting with clients, do they mostly come to your own premises or do you mostly go to theirs?
I mostly go to my clients
What is your preferred mode of communication with your clients?
Email, Phone, Face to Face, Skype, WhatsApp
Have you ever done an online video call with a client?
Yes
What do you love most about accounting?
I just love matching debits and credits and making accounting simple for my clients.
Would you recommend accounting as a career for school-leavers, and why?
Yes, I would. It is a profession that enables you to learn so much about so many different businesses and industries.
What qualities should South African business people be looking for in their accountant?
Someone who is trustworthy and honourable and will do the right thing. An accountant needs to be ethical and transparent with their clients.
What is the biggest challenge facing accountants today?
I think in South Africa it would be working with SARS. They are not always consistent in their approach and getting assistance can be extremely tough.
What aspects of accounting do you focus on most?
I focus on offering the full package with a focus on drafting of financial statements and ensuring tax compliance.
Describe your average client:
Small to medium business that requires the full accounting function from monthly reporting to annual financial statements.
How far away from your premises is your furthest client?
500km. My current furthest client is based in George.
What accounting software do you like best?
Xero | Sage Business | Paster (Sage) | Cloud Accounting | QuickBooks
What other software, online services or apps do you use?
Trello
Do you think the coming wave of automation in the next few years will steal some accounting jobs and why/why not?
I think yes and no. Potentially some of the more manual jobs like data processing etc. However, accountants will still be needed to interpret the data and understand it. Further to this, accountants will be needed for tax structuring and dealings with SARS.
What is your opinion on Bitcoin?
I think it has value, as do cryptocurrencies as a whole. I come from a previous job which involved the trading of cryptocurrency. Bitcoin is, in my view, a good long-term investment. For me other cryptocurrencies, like Stablecoin, do have long-term utility from a transactional point of view. They are much more efficient and quick than the traditional banking system.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Golf, running and watching any sport!
What is the most interesting thing on your bucket list?
I really want to go and watch the Ryder Cup in Europe!
What has your experience been on FindanAccountant?
So far I have received a client which has been amazing having only been on the system for a month!
See how our other local South African accountants have answered the above questions.
