See full profile: Lynnwood Accountant - Corne Etsebeth
Were you always planning to be an accountant and why?
No, I was a professional dancer and accounting found me after an injury
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, WhatsApp
Have you ever done an online video call with a client?
Yes
What do you love most about accounting?
Seeing the story the numbers tell you and helping company owners to understand the story and to help them grow.
Would you recommend accounting as a career for school-leavers, and why?
Yes, we need more accountants. There currently is a global shortage for accounting professionals.
What qualities should South African business people be looking for in their accountants?
An accountant is not only a number cruncher but also a business partner and advisor. You should be able to trust your accountant as they hold the keys to your business in their hands.
What is the biggest challenge facing accountants today?
Business Owners trying to do their own accounting work instead of trusting a professional to assist them and then asking you to correct their accounts where it could have been done correctly from the start.
What aspects of accounting do you focus on most?
Management Accounting - analysing, planning and forecasting
Describe your average client:
My clients are the ones with problems in their companies that needs a creative solution. This is not only financial but could be operational as well. Everything eventually links back to the financial side of the business
How far away from your premises is your furthest client?
From Pretoria to Cape Town... Lots of Km's
From your accounting experience, if you could cite one of the biggest reasons SME's in SA fail, what would it be?
Lack of planning (budgeting, business plans, costing, etc) and the lack of a structured plan.
What accounting software do you like best?
QuickBooks
What other software, online services or apps do you use?
Xero, Sage, Draftworx, Senta CRM
Do you think the coming wave of automation in the next few years will steal some accounting jobs and why/why not?
No. Automation will open your time so you can shift your focus to adding value to a client/business. The role of an accountant will be changing from processing to business partnering and will not make accounting obsolete. Automation cannot interpret, analyse or advise.
What is your opinion on Bitcoin?
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Playing piano, reading, painting, chasing my Border Collie around till she is tired...
What is the most interesting thing on your bucket list?
To create a bucket list. When I want to do something I get it done and do not add it to a list.
What has your experience been on FindanAccountant?
Good
See how our other local South African accountants have answered the above questions.
