CA(SA) Profile: Overcoming adversity to become a CA(SA)

‘It may sound strange, but I believe there was a very real upside to my stutter. Stuttering meant I could not fit into certain groups of children my age, including the groups of mischievous children. At school I was a quiet and introverted learner, which meant I did not challenge or speak out of turn towards teachers. I believe that this, coupled with my academic ability, earned me some favour with teachers.’

The CA(SA) who lives with his family in England and works as audit assistant manager for an accounting and professional services firm in London says: ‘Today, having a stutter is a still challenge for me in the workplace, especially in client-interaction roles. I was raised in a predominantly Afrikaans-speaking home. I later attended an Afrikaans school and Stellenbosch University (SU), where we spoke mainly Afrikaans. This meant I did not have many opportunities to become an eloquent English speaker. When I started work for the first time, I found it really hard to communicate effectively in English. This challenge motivated me to join a stuttering support group. I also moved away from my Afrikaans-speaking comfort zone to the UK, where I had no choice but to speak English all the time.’

He continues: ‘Working on my speech through the McGuire programme is a priority for me, and I put in a lot of time to manage it. This includes intensive courses with my stuttering support group over weekends, going out into public areas and chatting to random people − something which helps to overcome my fear of stuttering. Something also shifted when I decided to bring my whole self into the workplace, which included being a person with a stutter.’

From rural Paarl to Thuthuka support
Dylon grew up in a one-bedroom flat in the rural part of Paarl where he lived with his parents and two siblings. Attending primary school and high school in Paarl East school was ‘for the most part a pleasant experience for me. However, the surrounding areas were affected by unemployment and people struggling to get by. This inevitably resulted in gangsterism and substance abuse that filtered down into the schools. The schools managed the situation as best as they could and tried to maintain order and create a conducive environment for those who really wanted to learn. This, coupled with a few wonderful teachers and people who believed in me, created an opportunity for me to dream and to begin pursuing that dream.’

As a young boy he wanted to be a correctional services officer. ‘However, in Grade 10, we had to do a career assignment and that’s when I decided I wanted to be a chartered accountant, as it sounded more rewarding and less dangerous.’ Then his accounting teacher, Miss J Arendse, ‘arranged for me to join the Western Cape Thuthuka Maths and Accounting Camp where I learned about Thuthuka. Learning about the accounting profession shifted my focus from the challenges I was faced with at home − challenges that made me contemplate leaving home many times and never going back. My perspective moved from my external environment to what I could become if I were to stick to this journey with all my abilities and my faith that God will make a way for me. I ultimately achieved really good grades and was recognised as the top student at school. This brought happiness to me and also to my parents.’

Dylon applied and got accepted at SU. ‘The challenge then became funding my university studies, as my family had no financial means to do so. My accounting teacher helped me with a Thuthuka bursary and I was overjoyed to get it. Not only did it fund all of my studies, accommodation, meals and books (with a small portion being a student loan), it also provided me with a support system in the form of fellow accounting students with the same bursary at the same university residence. There was also a dedicated accounting lecturer who supported us through the whole journey, whether academic or personal. Previously I didn’t have anyone to turn to for help.’

He says the tough accounting programme would have been even more challenging without the comprehensive support from Thuthuka. He praises two individuals in particular who supported him during his university years: Professor Riaan Rudman and Mr Thembelani Vanqa. ‘Professor Rudman ensured that any academic challenges were addressed immediately by arranging additional tutoring. He offered his own time when it came to the auditing module, and by reviewing and providing feedback on papers I had done as exercises. He even assisted me with my personal challenges as well, such as to arrange support for my stutter at the university and checking in with me on a regular basis. Mr Vanqa also played a vital role in encouraging me when I faced difficulties. Their support gave me the assurance that there are people that genuinely care about my success and overall wellbeing.’

After obtaining his degree, Dylon started his articles at Grant Thornton in Cape Town. ‘After six months, the firm’s partners split and I was asked to join the outgoing partners at the Mazars firm in Century City. I completed my articles there and became eligible for registration as CA(SA) at the end of 2014. I registered in 2017.’

UK experience, future plans and advice
Dylon joined an accounting firm in the UK intending to stay for two years ‘hoping to improve my ability to communicate better in the workplace and gain some international work experience. Two years turned to three, and I have now been living in the UK for almost six years and consider the UK to be my permanent home.’

He describes the move to the UK as ‘both exciting and challenging because it was an opportunity to explore a part of the world that was completely foreign to me, and to acquire additional skills by working in different organisations in a different economic environment. The work in general is much the same as in South Africa. However, a lot of the laws and regulations, such as taxes and accounting frameworks, are different and you need to get up to speed with those differences quickly. I also get to travel a lot and stay out of town quite frequently (before the COVID-19 pandemic).’

He adds: ‘I know quite a few CAs from South Africa. We have a way of finding one another and sticking together. Especially when I first arrived in the UK, finding people from South Africa was really useful, as we understood one another and faced similar challenges. It brought a welcome sense of familiarity having friends from SA. It’s also nice when one of the friends visits SA: you can ask them to bring over some of your favourite SA goodies!’

Dylon looks backwards, but also towards the future: ‘Accountancy has afforded me many opportunities I never thought were possible when I was growing up. I am grateful for every single one of those, as I know my life could have looked very different today had I made different decisions, or had I decided to leave home when I was younger. My future goals include working my way up within public practice and gaining a master’s degree in internal audit. I also want to build up a collection of art pieces with the aim of launching an online art gallery, since art is one of my passions.’

He has some advice for young people who know they want to become CAs(SA) but find it a daunting prospect: ‘When looking at the timeline of becoming a CA, it is very long – longer than it takes to complete high school. However, if you think of it as similar to your school career, it’s a step-by-step process. For example, you do Grade 8 first before moving on to the next grade. It’s certainly daunting to think about matric final exams when you are in Grade 8. However, if you stick to the process and work hard, matric should be fine when you get to it. At university I found it most helpful when I listed all the modules and courses that I needed to focus on every semester or year and devoted all my attention to those areas. The rest will surely follow. Someday, somewhere, you would have forgotten about the daunting timeline of becoming a CA – and you’ll be focused on the next step of your career and other life ventures!’

Author
Lia Labuschagne