Victoria Modise, Accountant/Business Owner
Accountant/
Business Owner
Current Experience:Accountant / Business Owner at Beans Accounting - Self-employed Aug 2017 - Present · (8 yrs)
PAST EXPERIENCES:Bookkeeper at Opennetworks (Pty) Ltd Feb 2017 - Apr 2017 · (3 mos)
Office Manager / Accounts Rieger Industrial Consultants (RIC) Oct 2016 - Feb 2017 · (5 mos)
Bookkeeper at Provantage (Pty) Ltd Jun 2014 - Sep 2016 · (2 yrs 4 mos)
Bookkeeper at Venture Sport (Pty) Ltd Oct 2011 - May 2014 · (2 yrs 8 mos)
Qualifications:National Diploma in Financial Accounting
Country of Residence:South Africa
LinkedIn Profile: Meet Victoria Modise, founder of Beans Accounting.
She started from scratch, now she’s a Xero Gold Partner, mentor, and speaker for SA business forums.
Victoria helps SMEs scale with clarity. She knows the tools, speaks the language, and leads with heart.
Her story isn’t just about numbers. It’s about growth, grit, and giving back.
What time do you usually wake up on weekends?
7:00 AM
Are you an early bird or a night owl?
Early Bird
How do you spend the first hour of your day?
I spend the first hour of my day planning, journaling, and setting a positive tone for the rest of the day.
What sparked your interest in accounting or finance?
I've always enjoyed problem solving and helping others. Accounting allows me to do both, supporting small businesses in a meaningful way so they can grow, thrive, and continue making a positive impact in their communities.
Can you share some career highlights and defining moments as an accountant for SMEs?
One of my career highlights was achieving Xero Gold Partner status, something I built from the ground up. It’s been incredibly rewarding to help business owners grow from small startups into VAT-registered companies with full teams. More recently, I’ve had the honour of being invited to speak at the SA Council for Business (Johannesburg Branch) and at a RedMatchstick Marketing Enabler session, which have both been meaningful milestones.
How do you build strong relationships with your clients?
I focus on clear communication and personal connection. With every new client, I take the time to fully understand their industry, operations, and processes before handing anything over to my team. This helps build trust and ensures we’re aligned from the start.
What are some future goals for your firm?
One of our main goals is to expand into the UK market and grow our team to five members.
What’s next on your professional journey?
The next step in my journey is to increase visibility by offering workshops and online sessions aimed at new bookkeepers and business owners.
Share your strategies for maintaining balance between personal and professional life.
One of the biggest things for me is learning to switch off once the workday is done. I believe you should be giving from your overflow, not draining yourself to keep up. If your cup isn’t full, you won’t have anything extra to give. It’s important to make time for family, get outdoors, and enjoy your hobbies. We’re multi-dimensional people, and nurturing parts of ourselves outside of work is essential. You don’t want to look back in five years and realise you were just getting by instead of truly living.
What do you enjoy when you’re off the clock?
I enjoy spending time with my husband and our four kids, diving into a good book or learning something new, and getting creative with crafts or DIY projects.
How do you contribute to the development of others in your field?
I recently partnered with a friend to offer free online workshops for business owners and fellow accountants. We focus on topics that are relevant to current business and accounting challenges. I make it a point to communicate in a clear, simple way, accounting jargon can easily overwhelm business owners, so I try to make the information accessible and easy to grasp.
Are you involved in mentorship or local business initiatives?
Yes, I’m actively involved in mentorship and support local business initiatives.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to start their own accounting practice?
My advice would be to start by choosing an online accounting software and completing their free accreditation. Then, get out there and start finding clients. Figure out what sets you apart and makes you unique. While we all offer similar services, it’s important to identify the type of clients you genuinely enjoy working with. It might not be a specific niche, but rather shared values or qualities that connect you with certain business owners. There’s plenty of work available, you just have to go after it.
What’s your favourite quote or mantra that motivates you?
“Don't stay where you are tolerated, go where you are celebrated.”
Share your favorite leadership lesson as a firm owner.
Whenever I bring a new team member on board, my goal is for them to leave feeling fully equipped to take on any role they choose in the future, even knowing more than I do when they move on. Continuous learning and building strong relationships are key. It’s also important to stay humble, recognize where you might be falling short, and address those issues before they affect your clients’ satisfaction.
What’s something surprising about you that isn’t in your professional bio?
I would love to become a carpenter and build furniture.
If you could have any superpower to help you in your job, what would it be?
If I could have any superpower for my practice, it would be flawless time management with zero procrastination!
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 during tax season or busy times is to take regular breaks and start with the easier tasks to build momentum. I also make lists and do my best to stick to them to stay organized and focused.
If you could relive one day from your career, which day would it be and why?
There have been many great moments in my career, but one that stands out is completing my Financial Accounting qualification while juggling life as a mom, wife, and business owner. The sense of accomplishment was unlike anything else. It took time and effort, but I did it, and I did it on my own.
Victoria proves that small firms can make a big impact. Want to grow your practice, charge more, and still have time for your family?
Join CIBA and we’ll show you how to stand out, serve better, and scale with confidence.
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