See full profile: Tshwane Accountant - Thulisiwe Thwala
Were you always planning to be an accountant and why?
I was not aware of the industry until late in high school. After reading an article, I got curious and interested in becoming an accountant
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, Online
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?
I love how numbers can tell a story about a business, and I also love to educate business owners about the numbers too.
Would you recommend accounting as a career for school-leavers, and why?
Yes, if you have passion for numbers, there will always be a space for you in the industry
What qualities should South African business people be looking for in their accountant?
Well, your accountant should be a member of a professional body first. And the accountant should have a good knowledge of your industry or able to understand it. Also, the accountant should be driven by quality and be a person of integrity and honesty.
What is the biggest challenge facing accountants today?
Automation in the industry - accountants who will not embrace automation may soon find themselves irrelevant in the industry.
Marketing - old ways are also proving to be outdated now and accountants should embrace new ways of marketing.
Competition - with the increase of accountants and automation coming into play, the market will soon be saturated
What aspects of accounting do you focus on most?
Bookkeeping - that managing accounts receivables, managing accounts payables, bank reconciliations, recording expenses, fixed assets and monthly reporting
Accounting - mainly preparations of annual financial statements
Describe your average client:
Its Small, Micro and Medium Entities (SMMEs)
How far away from your premises is your furthest client?
+/- 60 km
From your accounting experience, if you could cite one of the biggest reasons SME's in SA fail, what would it be?
1. Poor record keeping - not understanding the impact of not having all your documents in order.
2. Lack of understanding finances in their businesses.
3. Lack of cash flow due to non-collection of debtors and also lack of expansion.
4. Lack of understanding non-compliance with statutory laws which may lead to fines and penalties
What accounting software do you like best?
QuickBooks, WaveApps
What other software, online services or apps do you use?
Hubdoc
Do you think the coming wave of automation in the next few years will steal some accounting jobs and why/why not?
It may not affect accountants per se, but data entry clerks may soon be replaced by automation
What is your opinion on Bitcoin?
Well, the majority of people still rely on banks and cash. Bitcoin has its place but I am not sure if it may replace the traditional banking method.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Always learning something.
What is the most interesting thing on your bucket list?
Always learning something.
See how our other local South African accountants have answered the above questions.
