Get to know your fellow ICBA Members
How much might you have in common with your fellow ICBA members? Get to know your colleagues through ICBA member stories and find out! If you are inspired, why not share your story here too.
Success = Loving What you Do – Lize Botha
It all started when I studied junior bookkeeping in 2014 and joined the ICBA.
Then, while I was a Financial Manager at INT, in 2016 I bought my own franchise of Organizit Party Styling that I have been managing since June 2016.
My life changed drastically since April 2016 when negotiations started to buy the franchise, I have since I left INT and I am very blessed to work for myself and be the owner of the Organizit Centurion branch.
What’s been tough is the hard work and very long hours. It’s very labour intensive to own a business, especially when doing it all, from marketing to styling and bookkeeping alone.
That said, it is more rewarding than words can describe to build up a business from nothing and to be in charge and be working all hours for the love of what you do and your clients. I am living my dream!
My ambition is to grow my business to more successfull. What would I say to someone thinking of starting their own business? Take the chance even if you are scared, “if not now”, when? If not me, who?”
Malitlhare’s Aspirations for Expansion
My name is Malitlhare Lisene I am a practicing accountant and tax practitioner based in Vanderbijlpark.
I have always wanted to work independently but I only started focussing on this goal from around the middle of 2015.
While searching for strategies that could help me to achieve my dream I came across an online article by ICBA entitled “How to start your own bookkeeping or accounting practice.” Following the steps outlined in that article contributed a lot to my journey and to where I am today.
In 2016 I applied for ICBA membership and received a Certified Financial Accountant designation, which enabled me to apply for membership with the SAIT and become a tax practitioner. In 2017, I was approved by SAIT and have been granted the Master Tax Practitioner designation.
Financing a newly established business and getting clients in order to get the business running has been a challenge but taught me to have patience, be focused and always have the bigger picture in mind even though the business is not “there” yet.
My aspiration is to have offices in all three towns in the Vaal, namely Vanderbijl Park, Vereeniging and Sasolburg.
The most important tool that I need now is marketing because bringing in more clients means growth for the business which will enable us to expand and serve clients more effectively.
Some advice for aspiring entrepreneurs? Education is very important and only you can pursue your dream because it’s your dream and nobody else’s.
I identified a need and made it my niche – Losha Ramdin
Two years ago I decided to make a bold move by registering my own accounting practice, I identified a need for this skill within the entertainment and social sector specifically and decided to make it my niche. I work with artist, performers, event companies, film, media and production companies and the Department of Art and Culture. I have a successful company with various client throughout the country and abroad.
I needed more than a pay check so I decided to register with SAIT to become a General Tax Practitioner and the ICBA which looks extremely impressive on my business profile.
There is always that element of fear when you are starting out, fortunately, I have good clients who always honour my invoices. It’s rewarding knowing that I can now pick, choose and refuse, knowing that I can prioritise my family and myself and that all my hard work will pay off.
Ultimately, I would like to do my MBA. If I could give any advice it would be to always have a strategy plan, be positive, put the work in and have faith, the rewards will come!
Gaining recognition transformed my career – Tinashe Gwativenga
In 2014 I started a PhD in Managerial Accounting at Tshwane University of Technology and in 2015, I started my own business as a consultant. I also have a Certified Financial Accountant designation from the ICBA.
The ICBA membership has transformed my career in a number of ways. I started using the ICBA logo on my letterhead since becoming a member and this earned me a good reputation with my clients, potential clients and investors.
It’s tough getting recognition as a new business but this became easier after I joined a leading professional accounting body, the ICBA. Now, people recognise me as a real professional in my line of business which has been rewarding. I would like to grow my consulting business to greater heights. ICBA membership helps a lot so I am going to make sure that I renew every year and continue to use the ICBA benefits.
To others in the accounting and consulting fields, I urge them to join the ICBA as a professional body member because of the high recognition you receive in South Africa and the world over. As a certified professional, one really does get noticed a whole lot more. Just try it and see for yourself!
Big Business Dreams – Bethuel Boitshoko Modise
I have always had a desire to start something of my own and eventually, after 22 years as a management accountant at Telkom, I quit in May 2016 and registered a business consulting entity called, B&RKP Business Services and Consulting.
The concept was conceived while I was still employed and I decided to enroll for the ICB courses, starting from foundation phase through to the Certified Technical Financial Accountant, where I am currently with 2 more modules to go!
The ICB qualifications boosted my confidence as an entrepreneur, in that every morning, I step into my office with one thing in my mind, to continually grow in my knowledge to improve the value I give to my clients.
The ICBA helped me change my career and my life, as the first professional body I ever belonged to. It boosted my confidence and integrity. I am in business and live the dream of being up there with the best in the field. The ICBA membership has really opened doors, of which I am busy exploring, as well as memberships to other credible professional bodies like SAIT and SAIBA.
Being a new entrant in the cut-throat business world and with the associated fear of failure, one gets to be despondent but I got into the habit of attending business seminars like the NSBC and the SME Toolkit SA and while mingling with like-minded people, the fear gradually waned. Most of the people I have met in these seminars were also involved in start-up businesses and the networking gradually became rewarding.
I have established a respectable business consulting entity which is associated with professionalism, most of which is attributable to memberships with professional bodies like the ICBA. The number of referrals is also increasing.
My ambition is best addressed by my vision statement: To grow exponentially through value adding, customer centrism and excellent service to clients.
My advice to others is to learn to circumvent the fear to fail and believe in yourself. There are many opportunities out there waiting to be discovered!
Hope, Hard work and After Hours Studies – Liz Zielinski
In 2011, I qualified as a CTFA (NQF 5) and what a relief it was for me to have achieved this. Going back a bit in history I was a single parent raising my son and having no second income. It was “desperate days” and I focused on improving my status more than going to a lawyer to sue for maintenance. A challenge…..yes it was, hard work many tears and after hours studies as I was and am working full time. To add credit, to where it is due, my employer, InstructAbility and the ICBA had all encouraged and helped me in this process.
Today 12 years later and still working for the same company I have not just grown in knowledge but in myself as well. It has given me a sense of worth and confidence within the work place and outside of it.
I approach my work with dedication and integrity and keeping my status up by attending monthly seminars to make sure my CPD points are up to date and my mind focused on updates of what takes place in the Accounting world daily.
My new approach for 2017 is to complete my NQF 6 in order for me to just add to what I love doing and that is working and motivating myself and others, as my co-worker Kagiso said to me….It Is Doable!
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