See full profile: Port Shepstone Accountant - Thokozile Mkize
Were you always planning to be an accountant and why?
From high school I developed a love for accounting . Due to a shortage of accountants in South Africa I decided to be an accountant .And I also love the fact that Accountant is among the top - ranked profession on the list.
When meeting with clients do they mostly come to your own premises or do you mostly go to them?
My clients come to my office, I mostly go to my clients
What is your preferred mode of communication with your clients?
Email, Phone, Face to Face, WhatsApp
Have you ever done an online video call with a client?
Yes
What do you love most about accounting?
You always learn new things in different client's industries
Would you recommend accounting as a career for school-leavers, and why?
Accountants are in demand. Accounting is not only a career but a skill as well, which is needed to uplift our economy, through advising business people.
What qualities should South African business people be looking for in their accountant?
Offering business advisory services to clients, not focusing on numbers only.
What is the biggest challenge facing accountants today?
Identifying their core business area to focus on.
What aspects of accounting do you focus on most?
Financial Statements, Taxation & Audit Review
Describe your average client:
Key personnel
How far away from your premises is your furthest client?
80 km
From your accounting experience, if you could cite one of the biggest reasons SME's in SA fail, what would it be?
Poor cash flow management, lack in identifying core business area, no financial goals in place, lack in generating business strategies.
What accounting software do you like best?
Sage
What other software, online services or apps do you use?
Excel
Do you think the coming wave of automation in the next few years will steal some accounting jobs and why/why not?
Yes most accounting jobs will be stolen because accountants are only focusing on numbers which can also be done by software/automation, other than being creative on how they can add more value to a clients.
What is your opinion on Bitcoin?
World is changing, 4th IR has arrived, Bitcoins are part of the change, so as human beings we need to adapt to a changing environment.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Reading books
What is the most interesting thing on your bucket list?
Reading books
See how our other local South African accountants have answered the above questions
