Johan Massyn, Professional Accountant
Professional Accountant
Current Experience:
Financial Advisor at Consult · Full-time Mar 2023 - Present · (2 yrs 6 mos)
Professional Accountant at Massyns and Associates May 2004 - Present (21 Yrs 4 mos)
Past Experiences:
Financial Advisor at Momentum · Full-time Apr 2022 - Jan 2023 · (10 mos)
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s Degree Accounting
Country of Residence:
South Africa
LinkedIn Profile:
You probably wouldn’t guess it from his calm client demeanour, but behind Johan Massyn’s B.Com beats the heart of a die-hard metalhead. More than 20 years ago, a gap year and a father’s nudge launched him into the accounting world, but he stayed because he found something deeper: purpose. Johan isn’t in it for the spreadsheets. He’s in it for the people. For the SMEs building from scratch, the founders in crisis, the families counting on their books to balance.
He may have started out questioning if this path fit him, but today, his clients would tell you he was born for this.
What time do you usually wake up on weekends?
06:00 AM
Are you an early bird or a night owl?
Early Bird
How do you spend the first hour of your day?
I usually start my day with a cup of coffee and some breakfast, while watching a few music videos on YouTube.
What sparked your interest in accounting or finance?
My path into accounting began after a gap year in the UK, when my father, a Chartered Accountant, asked me to join the firm over 20 years ago. It wasn’t a career I had originally envisioned for myself, as I’d always seen myself in a more creative field. Over time, though, I discovered that my passion for helping people could be fulfilled through using my accounting skills and experience to support others, particularly SMEs.
Can you share some career highlights and defining moments as an accountant for SMEs?
A constant career highlight for me is receiving regular positive feedback from clients, which reinforces the value of the work I do and the impact it has on their businesses.
How do you build strong relationships with your clients?
I believe strong client relationships come from being actively involved in their journey, from the early start-up phase to navigating crises, and serving as a trusted confidant through both the good and challenging times, on both a professional and personal level.
What are some future goals for your firm?
Although our firm is small, we’ve built a strong reputation, and our goal is to keep delivering excellent service to our clients while growing and succeeding together.
What’s next on your professional journey?
I plan to pursue a CIMA or ACCA designation to add to my professional qualifications.
Share your strategies for maintaining balance between personal and professional life.
Maintaining balance can be challenging, but I focus on setting clear and firm boundaries between my personal and professional life.
What do you enjoy when you’re off the clock?
When I’m off the clock, I love immersing myself in music, it’s always been a true passion of mine.
Are you involved in mentorship or local business initiatives?
At this time, I’m not actively involved in mentorship or local business initiatives.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to start their own accounting practice?
My advice would be to stay dedicated and work hard. Challenges will arise, but perseverance and determination will help you push through and succeed.
What’s something surprising about you that isn’t in your professional bio?
As I mentioned before, music is a big passion of mine, and it might surprise people to know that I’m a die-hard Metalhead! \m/
If you could have any superpower to help you in your job, what would it be?
If I could have a superpower to help in my practice, it would be the ability to see the future outcomes of decisions made today.
What’s your go-to strategy for staying productive during tax season or busy periods? Any tips for keeping energy levels up?
My go-to strategy for staying productive during busy periods, like tax season, is simple: good coffee to keep my energy up.
“I’m not your typical accountant, and I don’t want to be. I show up for my clients, not just their numbers. If I had a superpower, it’d be seeing the future outcomes of today’s decisions. But for now, I’ll settle for strong coffee and stronger client relationships.”
Want to build a reputation that sets you apart, metalhead or not?
Join CIBA and we’ll show you how to turn passion into professional power.
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