Babalwa Dlabati is one of South Africa’s boldest new voices in SME accounting. A former tech trainer turned compliance crusader, she’s helping small businesses ditch the chaos, embrace cloud tools, and build the kind of structure that scales. Her mission? To make financial literacy simple, compliance valuable, and accounting a catalyst for impact.

Riekie Wolmarans never needed a title to make an impact. From intern to trusted SME advisor in just five years, she’s built a career on quiet grit, mentorship, and a deep love for the profession. At VDM Chartered Accountants, she’s proving that dedication beats credentials, and that young voices in accounting matter more than ever.

William Kannapathi isn’t your typical accountant. From studying part-time to fund his BCom to guiding startups into thriving businesses, he’s built a career on service, strategy, and soul. With a firm that’s fully online and future-facing, William is mentoring peers, serving communities, and showing what it means to lead with faith and purpose in practice.

Ida Sonnekus, founder of Accountables FACT (Pty) Ltd, brings heart and strategy to the world of SME accounting. With over a decade of experience and a passion for empowering business owners, she’s built a firm where clients feel informed, supported, and part of the family. Her story reflects the power of purpose-driven practice, and the difference it makes.

El-Cachet Claassen isn’t just an accountant, he’s a systems thinker with a passion for mentorship and precision. Handling 6,500 levy statements a month while guiding peers and safeguarding his weekends, he’s proof that preparation and boundaries are the real productivity hacks.

Jacqi Kruger is a CA(SA) and RA leading Addfin Accountants in Pretoria. With over 8 years in practice, she’s helped grow her firm from 5 to 25 staff while mentoring the next generation of accountants. Grounded in family values and smart planning, she’s building a client-focused, future-ready practice.

Shingai Mhendurwa is a seasoned accountant and founder of Revenue Bridge, known for combining financial strategy with entrepreneurial insight. With 10+ years in practice, he helps South African SMEs grow through trusted relationships, AI-driven tools, and a long-term view. His passion: turning compliance into business advantage.

Lin-Mari Roodt is on a mission to make tax support affordable for South Africa’s smallest businesses. As founder of LinWill Accounting, she’s using empathy, education, and smart systems to help micro-entrepreneurs sleep better, and grow stronger.

Tamryn Verryne is a female Registered Auditor in Kimberley. As founder of LeadCA, she’s built a reputation for audit precision, SME advisory excellence, and values-driven leadership. Her mission: empower small businesses with financial clarity and shape the next generation of accounting professionals.

With over a decade of experience, Chantelle Van der Meulen helps startups grow into thriving family businesses. As the founder of Virtacount, she blends strategic insight with personal connection, turning compliance into opportunity and guiding SMEs toward long-term success

Frederick Chikambure started his firm with one mission, to make financial clarity accessible for SMEs. In just two years, he’s helped clients avoid insolvency, build lasting systems, and regain profitability. His approach is simple: speak their language, solve their real problems, and show them how good governance can drive growth.

Lifa Ngwenya’s journey from marketing graduate to SME tax expert is anything but ordinary. After discovering his calling during a clerical role, he pursued accounting with purpose, now running a growing practice that blends deep expertise with heart. His story proves that with faith, focus, and client-first thinking, you can build more than a business, you can build impact.

As the founder of Beans Accounting, she’s grown her firm from zero to Xero Gold, while raising four kids and mentoring future accountants. Her mission? Helping small businesses thrive, with no jargon and no fluff.

Nadia Leandi Ehlers is the founder of Conteggio Accounting and a dedicated SME advisor with over 20 years of industry experience. With a hands-on, client-first approach, she’s built a practice focused on clarity, trust, and practical support. From signing her first retainer client to leading a growing firm, Nadia’s story reflects the value of consistency, relationships, and smart financial systems.

Janine Boyd doesn’t fit the accountant stereotype, and she’s proud of it. Founder of Bentley Crescent and a seasoned SME advisor, Janine is building South Africa’s first fully digital, female-led firm. From Irish dancing to mentoring homegrown talent, her story is about leadership with heart, clear boundaries, and bold vision.

Vusi Matse is more than an accountant, he’s a strategic partner for SMEs looking to grow and thrive. As the founder of Kesho Chartered Accountants, Vusi has spent over a decade turning financial data into business breakthroughs. From scaling firms to mentoring future professionals, he’s proof that small-practice accountants can drive big impact.

When Masego Mdoka met her first CA(SA) in 2007, she saw her future. Today, she’s a Management Accountant shaping financial strategy at CIPC. Her story blends grit, growth, and grounded leadership, proving that with the right mindset, even the biggest risks can lead to career-defining rewards.

Persuade Kampinya’s story is one of grit, growth, and game-changing leadership. From managing ZW$150 billion at 24 to turning around hotel cashflows and driving a company to R385 million in revenue, he’s proof that accountants don’t just keep score, they change the game. His secret? Strategic thinking, people skills, and a love for the craft that started in Form 1.

Anele Betshwana turned curiosity into career growth, rising from intern to Finance Manager in record time. With a sharp eye for inefficiencies and a passion for mentoring, he’s proving that finance leadership is about more than numbers. It’s about insight, action, and impact.

From e-commerce to banking, Sa’ad Suleman has mastered costing across four industries. Now at FNB, he blends AI tools with financial insight to drive smarter decisions, proving that modern finance is as much about innovation as it is about numbers.