Siphesihle and Jabulile Mlageni tell us about their love, marriage and careers in the accounting space.
Love and accounting are two quite different things, but they do share some similarities. Both require attention to detail, careful planning, and a commitment to making things work. Newlyweds Jabulile Nyathi CA(SA) and Siphesihle Mlangeni CA(SA) show that in love, just as in accounting, you need to be honest and transparent. Trust is key in both cases, and it takes time to build. Just as an accountant needs to be able to explain complex financial matters to their clients, partners in a relationship need to communicate effectively with each other to ensure that they are on the same page.
How did you meet?
We knew we work for the same organisation in 2016 even before we physically met. We officially met in person in 2017 at our head office premises. Before this, we were stationed in different provinces.
It was a casual meetup after work on a day that we both happened to be in the Pretoria office.
When did you realise he/she was the one?
J − I knew he was the one the moment I realised he thought I am the one (probably about three months into our relationship). I had my doubts at first, but his consistency and love made me believe if you have someone that decides to choose you every single day, he is definitely the man for you.
S − It was on a Friday evening when we went on our first date that I knew she was the one. She looked amazing and I felt so comfortable around her, notwithstanding that it was the first date. In the days that followed, it was her intelligence, compassion, and that she is a God-fearing woman that solidified my initial attraction to her.
How do you separate your personal time from your professional time during working hours?
While we work for the same organisation, we have never worked in the same unit or team. We met at a time where we were both professionally mature, thus separating professional time from professional time was spontaneous. Also, at home we do set time for family and for each other to avoid having a work-centred relationship/marriage.
Time spent with our children is also especially important. Planned trips and entertainment are part of that.
Who is the big spender?
S − The wife … !
J − Truth is that at times the spending is on him because he forgets to spend on himself.
What is the most beneficial thing that comes with both of you working in the same industry, same company, and same office?
We can relate on so many levels, we can support each other through our day-to-day work as well as career goals. In the audit environment, we work long hours, hence we both understand the amount of time invested in our work and can support each other through it. There is little room for explanation when it comes to that, because we already know and understand what it really takes. At times we can travel to work together (provided we are knocking off at the same time).
What have you learnt from each other since getting married?
J − I have learnt that my husband is strict and sometimes not so flexible. He is a perfectionist and that taught me to be more patient with him. At the same time, he has learnt to be more accommodative (compromise came into play).
S − She has been unleashing new cooking skills since we got married …
Do you have nicknames for each other? What are they and what inspired their creation?
J − He is Zulu (well, now we both are) … He started with the ‘Sthandwa’ name, and it continued.
What do you collectively hope to achieve in the next five years in your careers?
We hope not to remain employment dependent. As members of SAICA, we believe there are opportunities for growth that go beyond employment, and we would like to explore that (even if we may still be employed).
Do people ever make fun of both of you being CAs? If they do, what is your clapback?
Yes. We get that a lot: a lot of people believe that CAs are stingy and save everything earned. We do not clap back − we leave people to believe what they want. At times it is not necessary to explain when people have already drawn their own conclusions.
What comes first: fun or the cost of having fun?
J − For me fun, and for him, cost.
S − A happy wife equals peace in the home; she chooses peace, which means I win most of the time.
We understand that you can count on each other, but who is really counting?
J − He is dependable; I have learnt to let go of a lot of things that I would not usually trust anyone to do properly, but he has proven repeatedly that I can depend on him. In fact, I have stopped counting.
If there is anything we’ve learnt from these two, it is that while love and accounting may seem like very different things, they both require hard work, attention to detail, and a commitment to making things work. With the right approach and mindset, it is possible to succeed in both areas of life.
