The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Vanderbijlpark Campus recently hosted a breakfast briefing at the Big Lapa, gathering professionals, academics and aspiring chartered accountants for a morning brimming with engagement, insight and inspiration.
Organised in collaboration with the prestigious South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), the “double-shot” breakfast briefing session was far from ordinary. It masterfully fused two pressing conversations shaping the professional landscape of today: the looming threat of cyber risk and the art of career development.
SAICA, the foremost professional body for chartered accountants in South Africa, is celebrated globally for setting ethical, educational and professional standards, supporting more than 57 000 members across business, government and academia.
The audience mirrored the high calibre of the session, comprising SAICA members from local firms, lecturers specialising in financial and chartered accountancy, honours-degree students in Financial Accountancy, students busy with the postgraduate diploma in accountancy (CTA) in pursuit of the CA(SA) designation, and top-performing undergraduates from the chartered accountancy programme at the NWU.
Opening the programme, Ciara Reintjes, regional lead for the Northern Region: Strategic Affairs of SAICA, welcomed attendees and emphasised the necessity of continuous professional engagement. Hester McClintock, chairperson of the association in the Vaal district, followed by highlighting that accounting extends far beyond numbers, stressing the fundamentally human element of the profession.
She noted that accountants are entrusted with sensitive financial information, underscoring the importance of integrity, responsibility and public trust. She further provided local members with an update on key developments in SAICA, outlining changes that will shape the future of the profession.
The first presentation, “The Tussle for Digital Truth”, delivered by Tsepo Moleko, executive at ENS Africa, was a masterclass in vigilance. Moleko unpacked the escalating threat of cyber fraud and illuminated the indispensable role of internal controls in protecting organisations. Through vivid, real-world examples explaining the implications of cyber fraud, he revealed how businesses can fortify their systems to detect and counteract digital threats.
After a brief networking interlude, the momentum continued with “Your CAREERevolution”, led by career strategist Licia Dewing. Her dynamic session equipped
students and young professionals with practical strategies to navigate an increasingly competitive and shifting job market, inspiring them to seize ownership of their career journeys.
Reflecting on the transformative nature of the event, Fatima Mohamed CA (SA), programme leader and senior lecturer at the NWU, shared the impact of this event on student development.
“The event was a success, as students were given real-world examples of the work they study. They gained insight into the controls required in businesses to deter cyber fraud, while also receiving valuable advice on their career planning,” she said.
The briefing concluded with closing remarks from Ciara Reintjes, who reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of SAICA to cultivating future-ready professionals through meaningful initiatives and collaborative platforms.
Fatima emphasised the broader significance of the morning: by bridging the gap between academic theory and industry practice, the NWU reaffirmed its pivotal role in preparing students not merely for qualification, but for resilient and impactful careers in a world in which business evolves at lightning speed.
