Dynamic duo André Klopper and Calvin de Bruin have joined forces to pen a series of books that aim not only to simplify life for aspirant accountants about to complete their CA qualification; they’re also set on helping these people thrive in the workplace.
It’s an ambitious goal – but André and Calvin are no strangers to ambition. Both have been hustling since high school when they first met. For André, the foray into entrepreneurship started by walking, door to door, with key hangers he’d crafted from shells and wood found on the beach. Meanwhile, Calvin’s early business attempts became more formal during his time at North-West University (NWU), where he co-founded Lekker Specials, an app designed to help students make the most of their entertainment spend. André also started to take entrepreneurship more seriously at university, when he and a friend founded Dealk Investments.
Fast forward several years, and Calvin, who works in corporate finance, is the commercial director of The Pocket CA, an AI platform which aims to streamline CAs’ daily tasks, while André is stationed in Luxemburg where he works in PwC’s assurance department.
While the pair’s early friendship may have been cemented by their early interest in entrepreneurship, in later years, it’s their shared experience of articles that have taken up conversations over a braai.
‘I completed my articles at a Big Four firm while Calvin did his at a mid-tier firm. Despite the difference in the size of our firms, managers and sectors, we both encountered similar challenges. Neither of us found the experience to be an easy one!’ André says.
Calvin agrees. While Andre’s major struggles centred on trying to achieve a healthy work/life balance, he found bridging the gap between university and the workplace to be the hardest part of articles. ‘You might have the right technical skills, but most people just joining the workforce lack soft skills. They aren’t able to read a room; they don’t understand the workplace hierarchy.’
It was only after the two completed articles that they were able to laugh at all the times they’d fumbled and stumbled – and then, after a little reflection, they agreed that the process may not have been quite as difficult if they’d had someone who could have helped them find a way to move past the potential stumbling blocks more easily.
Navigating the obstacles
That’s where the Articles Survival Guide for Chartered Accountants and The Survival Guide for PGDA Students come in. ‘Anyone who tells you that articles is easy isn’t being completely honest,’ says André. ‘But, in reality, it doesn’t have to be all that difficult, either. Our books won’t make this an easy time, but they will help students and young professionals navigate the process so that they experience fewer hardships and less frustration.’
The books do this by offering a series of tips and tricks that other people found useful through their own CA journey. ‘We spoke to an array of people, from our peers to first-year trainees, mentors, industry leaders and even CEOs, to discover what worked for them.
‘Every single CA has walked this road, so they all know what it’s like,’ Calvin says. ‘Understanding that each of them found this tough can be heartening. It can be a motivation and an affirmation.’ That’s why he and André try to take time to speak to each person who has reached out to them with a question or a comment since the release of the book.
Granted, reading a book is time consuming – but then, what part of working as a CA doesn’t require a significant investment in terms of hours? For this reason, the books have been written in a way that allows readers to dip in and out, finding a specific topic that captures their interest before turning to the next. Above all, the books are highly practical, with an emphasis on providing advice that can be easily implemented.
‘More than anything, we wanted this to be a tool that helps CAs do their jobs to the best of their ability and navigate the workplace obstacles the best they can. We believe that if we get people through their articles, they can become better chartered accountants – and since these young people are our future business leaders, this means that we’re ensuring the industry will be in good hands,’ André says.
Calvin’s take? ‘As soon as I started my CA journey, I saw how CAs are able to make a difference. At almost every board table there’s a decision-maker who is a CA. These books are an opportunity to add to the store of knowledge that can take this profession further.’
What to expect
The Articles Survival Guide is all about providing pragmatic solutions to problems that are commonly experienced during this stressful time. Among the issues raised are challenges such as how to deal with that all elusive work/life balance: ‘It’s all about being disciplined around setting boundaries. Be strict about setting time in your schedule for things you enjoy, like a 30-minute jog, and make sure you honour that commitment.’
The ability to compromise is another important learning. ‘Many CAs are perfectionists, but you have to accept that this is a journey. You don’t have to get things right first time – it’s a learning curve,’ Calvin advises.
The book further stresses the importance of finding your niche, the area where it feels easy and natural to apply your skills, and to rather focus on this. Use the time you have been given to learn specialised to find out what you’re good at – this will take you closer to finding your purpose. And that’s where true difference makers are born.
A final piece of advice: Embrace the right mindset.
Yes, articles are tough, but if you focus on the challenges, those difficulties tend to spiral. Instead, try to hone in on finding a solution for those challenges – keep looking for it, and it will become easier to find.
Author
Lisa Witepski
