See full profile: Brits Accountant - Jaco du Plessis
Were you always planning to be an accountant and why?
Accounting was my best subject in school therefore, it was an easy decision. That along with my interests in business helped me in my decision.
When meeting with clients do they mostly come to your own premises or do you mostly go their theirs?
I prefer to travel to my clients, being in their environment always gives me a better perspective of their operations.
What is your preferred mode of communication with your clients?
Email, Phone, Face to Face
Have you ever done an online video call with a client?
Yes
What do you love most about accounting?
Being able to provide a value-added service. Helping my clients to understand their financials and lastly helping my clients to achieve their financial goals.
Would you recommend accounting as a career for school-leavers, and why?
Accounting is a very stable career in the sense of job security, the world will always needs accountants. No matter if it is for taxes, finance applications or simply financial planning/reporting. It also provides you with the necessary skills to manage your own business properly.
What qualities should South African business people be looking for in their accountant?
Trustworthy and high ethical standards are key. If you put your trust in someone with your financial information they must be trustworthy.
What is the biggest challenge facing accountants today?
Trustworthy and high ethical standards are key. If you put your trust in someone with your financial information they must be trustworthy.
What aspects of accounting do you focus on most?
Mostly tax planning as well as compiling and interpreting financial and management statements, this enables me to provide my clients with the advice they need.
Describe your average client:
Mostly SMEs and a few larger businesses that vary over many industries.
How far away from your premises is your furthest client?
I have clients all over SA, technology enables us to render our services without being physically present all the time.
From your accounting experience, if you could cite one of the biggest reasons SME's in SA fail, what would it be?
Lack of understanding the importance of financial and tax planning. This along with the absence of financial goal setting.
What accounting software do you like best?
For bookkeeping I mainly use sage online, for financial reporting I use Draftworx and for payroll I mainly use SimplePay.
What other software, online services or apps do you use?
The above software are my preferences but I am not limited to them, I have clients that use Xero, Quickbooks, Pastel Evolution, VIP, Pastel Payroll etc.
Do you think the coming wave of automation in the next few years will steal some accounting jobs and why/why not?
It's surely possible, especially in some areas like data capturing and companies might go in that direction. But I firmly believe that companies would prefer a person who they trust to deal with their financial and tax affairs. Therefore, when it comes to the end product like the compilation of annual financial statements and the interpretation thereof, companies would still prefer someone they can talk to and help them understand the information.
What is your opinion on Bitcoin?
Bitcoin might just be the crypto version of gold...
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Spending time with my family, hunting, reading and sports.
What has your experience been on FindanAccountant?
Positive
See how our other local South African accountants have answered the above questions.
