How we work

Most people put off changing accountants for a year longer than they should, because they assume it'll be a nuisance. Usually the assumption is doing more damage than the accountant.

Here's exactly what happens, so you can decide whether it's worth your afternoon.

1. Coffee, and an honest conversation

We meet in person. Riebeek Kasteel has no shortage of places to sit, and I'd rather hear about your business across a table than through a contact form.

Bring whatever you have. If that's a shoebox and a rough idea of what you owe, that's a normal starting point and not one I'll comment on. What I want to understand is what the business actually does, where things stand right now, and what's been bothering you.

You'll leave that meeting knowing what I think you need — including anything you're currently paying for that you don't. This costs you nothing and commits you to nothing.

2. An engagement letter

If it makes sense to work together, I put it in writing.

The engagement letter sets out exactly which services I'm providing, what each one costs, and what falls outside the scope. It's a professional requirement, but it's also the document that prevents every argument accountants and clients tend to have. You'll know what you're paying before you agree to anything, and I'll know what I've committed to.

Read it properly. Ask about anything that isn't clear. Nothing starts until you're satisfied and you've signed.

3. The handover

If you're coming from another accountant, this is the part I take off your hands.

You don't need to phone them, explain yourself, or have an awkward conversation. Once you've signed, I write to them directly with your authority, request your records and deal with whatever comes back.

I won't give you a date for this, and I'd be wary of anyone who does.

How long a handover takes depends on how quickly your previous accountant responds, whether there's an unpaid account between you, how cleanly your SARS eFiling profile transfers, and what state the records are in when they arrive. Some are finished inside a week. Some take months. Almost none of the variables sit with me.

What I will commit to: I'll tell you precisely where it stands whenever you ask, I'll do the chasing rather than handing it back to you, and I'll start on whatever work doesn't depend on the handover so you're not sitting still while we wait.

4. The monthly rhythm

Once you're set up, it settles into something you barely notice.

You get your paperwork to me however suits you — photographed, emailed, or dropped into a shared folder. I process it, keep the returns filed on time, and come to you when something needs a decision rather than after I've made it for you.

You'll hear from me before deadlines, not after them. And when you have a question, you phone me and get an answer, rather than leaving a message with someone who'll check and come back to you.

What I need from you

This works both ways, and it's short:

Get me your documents in reasonable time. Not perfectly organised — just before the deadline rather than on it.

Tell me about big decisions before you make them. Buying a property, taking on a partner, changing how you pay yourself, selling. There's almost always a better and a worse way to structure these, and the difference disappears once the thing is done.

Tell me if something isn't working. If you're unhappy with something, I'd far rather hear it early than find out when you leave.

Common questions

How much does the first meeting cost? Nothing. If we don't end up working together, you've still had a straight answer about where you stand.

I'm years behind. Is that going to be a whole conversation? No. I'll quote the catch-up work separately so you can see exactly what it costs, and then we move on. It's more common than you'd think and it isn't a character assessment.

Do I have to change accounting software? No. I work in whatever you already use. If you're starting fresh I'll talk you through the options, but the subscription stays in your name — your data belongs to you, not your accountant.

What if I want to leave? You give notice, I hand over your records to whoever's taking over, and I do it properly. You're staying because the work is good, not because leaving is difficult.

Come and have a coffee →