Lindani Dhlamini is the founding chief executive officer of financial services firm Xabiso Chartered Accountants, which has more than 60 employees.
But accounting was not the career she initially wanted to pursue.
It was while she was working as a computer programmer reporting to a chartered accountant at a Cape Town-based life insurance company that she developed a love for the profession.
It motivated her to study for accountancy and in 1999 she became a qualified chartered accountant. Four years later, she co-founded the firm, with just two employees.
Today Dhlamini runs a fully-fledged accounting outfit that offers a range of services such as auditing, consulting, financial management and corporate finance.
Her company, based in Woodmead, north of Johannesburg, is a 100% black, women-owned entity with level one black economic empowerment status.
Dhlamini has held directorship positions in various entities, including the Industrial Development Corporation in 2008 and the Nuclear Energy Corporation from 2002 to 2004.
She won the Black Business Quarterly’s New Entrepreneur Award in 2006 and was a finalist in the finance category of the Passing the Torch Award presented by the Gauteng Department of Economic Development to honour contributions made by women to the growth and development of the province’s economy.
Why did you become a chartered accountant?
I realised I had love for the profession soon after entering the
corporate world as an IT programmer reporting to a chartered accountant.
My boss at the time made the career look far more fascinating than computer programming. He looked like he was having fun and I had a particular interest in numbers anyway.
Briefly explain the functions of a chartered accountant?
A chartered accountant (CA) is someone who has been trained extensively in analysing, interpreting and advising on all financial aspects of a business.
Because of this extensive training, CAs work in diverse industries and often occupy very important and strategic positions in the companies in which they work.
What does a typical day entail?
It is quite diverse, depending on the industry the CA is operating in.
In our industry it varies from providing professional assurance to developing risk-management policies, and financial strategies for clients and much more, involving a great deal of client interaction and little time in the office.
What subjects should learners take at school if they want to enter the career?
The core subject required for admission is maths. It helps in developing analytical skills and logical thinking to succeed in the profession.
Which schools did you attend?
I matriculated at Adams College in KwaZulu-Natal and received my tertiary education from the University of Cape Town (UCT), where I
studied for a BSc, a BCom and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Accounting.
What subjects did you choose in grade 10?
Maths, science, English, Zulu, accounting and biology
What are your highest qualifications and where did you study?
Chartered Accounting (SA) at UCT.
Would you encourage young people to choose your career and if so, why?
Yes. It is an internationally recognised qualification with above-average financial rewards.
There are lots of career opportunities, especially for females, who remain under-represented in the profession.
What sort of marks do you need to get into university?
You have to be committed to your studies as tertiary institutions will not consider anyone who achieves below a C average. Of course, they all have different point systems and other admission criteria.
What should you study at undergraduate level?
A BCom (CA stream) or BCompt.
What are the job opportunities like locally?
There is a shortage of chartered accountants in the country, but the career opportunities for qualified chartered accountants are vast.
Which universities offer a CA qualification?
All the universities that are accredited by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (Saica) offer the undergraduate and postgraduate degrees required to pursue the CA qualification.
The list of these universities can be obtained from the Saica website, which is: www.saica.co.za.
What are the job and study opportunities like overseas?
The CA qualification is an internationally recognised qualification, therefore, the sky’s the limit.