S1 E15 – Toby York: The Future of Teaching and Learning Accounting
I chatted to Toby York founder of Accounting Cafe. Take a look also at Colour Accounting – a really unique…
Read moreI chatted to Toby York founder of Accounting Cafe. Take a look also at Colour Accounting – a really unique…
Read moreI presented this paper at the British Accounting and Finance Association 2026 Annual Conference in Manchester and the BAFA Education…
Read moreForget the ‘label’ The most useful part of mindset is to consider how we react when we fail or experience…
Read moreGlobal pass rates for exit-level professional accounting exams often hover around the 40% mark. Failing students will either repeat these…
Read moreAre you sabotaging your studies? I chatted to Tom Clendon, who has spent years helping students with their ACCA exams,…
Read moreWe’ve heard a LOT about ‘growth mindset’s over the last few years. It’s become a buzzword that people use to…
Read moreWhat should your study sessions focus on? As you’re planning to study for ITC, let’s talk about what you should…
Read moreProf Elmar Venter – University of Pretoria I finally managed to squeeze some time into Prof Venters’ diary on your…
Read moreUpdate (2025) I passed my Masters with distinction at the end of 2024. I wrote the contents of the article…
Read moreWe want to get things right faster I always agreed with the motivational quotes that ‘learning takes effort’ and that…
Read more“Start doing questions!” I say this ALL the time. My students probably hear my voice nagging them in their sleep…
Read moreMy Financial Management saga – Don’t worry, I’ll spare you the tears and trauma. (There was a LOT of that!). …
Read moreIntroversion / Extroversion – What is it? We’ve been looking at how your personality affects your studying. In this article,…
Read moreYour personality dictates how you respond to study struggles We’ve been looking at how your personality affects your studying. Here,…
Read moreIs your personality perfect for your studying? Short answer? Nope! Don’t panic though! No matter what we’re learning, there will…
Read moreCan your personality impact your exam performance? You want to improve the effectiveness of your studying, and improve your exam…
Read moreIf you ‘know’ the textbook, will you pass? Thanks to the way a lot of school and earlier level exams…
Read more“I know I need to change my study habits” Most accounting students I work with are aware that they need…
Read more“I don’t feel ready to do questions” I hear this from my students on a daily basis, and I remember…
Read more“I didn’t know the answers! And I studied so hard!” This is something I hear all the time from my…
Read moreYour exam’s a month away… you’re not ready… what to do? I remember the feeling around a month away from…
Read moreI believe that Mindset will affect your studying MORE than anything else I believe that your Mindset will affect the…
Read moreIntroduction, and why we chatted Fenni Nghekevali CA(NAM) is the Chief Executive Officer at ICAN (Institute of Chartered Accountants for…
Read moreIntroduction, and why we chatted Wiehann Olivier CA(SA) is a Partner and the Digital Asset Lead at Mazars. I chatted…
Read moreIntroduction, and why we chatted Tom Clendon is an online lecturer, who specialises in the SBR (Strategic Business Reporting) exam…
Read more‘Masters of Money’. Behind-the-Scenes I chatted to KC Rottok Chesaina about his recently published book ‘Masters of Money’. You can…
Read more‘Masters of Money’ – Strategies for Success from top SA CFO’s KC Rottok Chesaina recently published a book, ‘Masters of…
Read moreShould you leave questions until AFTER you’re finished studying? (This is one of a series of articles) As part of…
Read moreShould you leave questions until AFTER you’re finished studying? (This is one of a series of articles) As part of…
Read moreShould you leave questions until AFTER you’re finished studying? (This article is part of a series) As part of my…
Read moreShould you leave questions until AFTER you’re finished studying? As part of my work with accounting students on their Study…
Read morePurpose of this chat I chatted to Mariam Motala (PGDA MAF lecturer and Programme Head) and Romaana Karodia (PGDA Tax…
Read moreWhat did we cover? Regent Business School invited me to be a guest speaker on one of their webinars dedicated…
Read moreWhat is MyCAhub? Muhammed Ismail has started his own business, myCAhub. We chatted about a LOT of stuff, so I’ve…
Read moreWe want more entrepreneurial accountants! Muhammed Ismail is a recently qualified CA(SA) who has started his own business, myCAhub. We…
Read moreWho is Muhammed Ismail, what did we chat about? Muhammed Ismail is a recently qualified CA(SA) who has started his…
Read more“I feel so stupid” I hear this from so many students. A lot more students will FEEL this, but not…
Read moreDoes this sound like you? You’ve attended your lectures for the day (face-to-face or online!), and you have your notes…
Read moreWhat is a ‘wicked’ learning environment? Yes, I know a lot of my students will agree that accounting is a…
Read moreCreativity, Innovation, and uncertainty I chatted to Michael Lee, founder of The Innotivity Institute, about creativity, innovation and uncertainty. I’ve…
Read moreWhat is Exam Technique? I chatted to Gareth Olivier CA(SA) from Milpark – CA Connect about exam technique As lecturers,…
Read moreLearning starts off with you knowing nothing! I chatted to Gareth Olivier CA(SA) from Milpark – CA Connect about learning…
Read moreHow do we answer questions? When we start learning at school, we learn how learning and studying works. We develop…
Read moreAccounting students have strong similarities The personality traits of all students pre-disposes them to certain thought processes, beliefs, strengths and…
Read moreYou’re more emotional than you think We all need help with overcoming demotivation when we’re in a tough battle. Studying…
Read moreWhy did I chat to SAICA about this? Everyone tells you that your CA(SA) articles / training contract is going…
Read moreWhy did I chat to SAICA about RPL? I had a chat a while back with Gareth Olivier from CA…
Read moreWhy did I chat to Nicolaas? Nicolaas van Wyk is the CEO of SAIBA (South African Institute of Business Accountants).…
Read moreWhy did I chat to Mandi? Mandi Olivier CA(SA) is a Senior Executive at SAICA, involved in the pre-qualification process.…
Read moreWhy did I chat to Pat? Pat is another example of the fact that we are NOT boring, grey accountants!…
Read moreAnd now for something completely different! Most of my chats have been a little more serious. Career and study advice.…
Read more“Am I too old to start?” I get emails from students all the time asking me “Am I too old…
Read moreWhen you’re IN the moment, it’s tough to see past it I’m sharing some of my story because when you…
Read moreWhy did I chat to Cindy? Cindy Mati is the Senior People and Culture Manager at BDO. (Most people refer…
Read moreWhy did I chat to Milpark, CA Connect? Milpark, CA Connect offers an online, SAICA-accredited PGDA (CTA) and Bridging programme.…
Read moreWhy did I chat to Matt? Matthew Tilling is an Australian CPA who is somewhat of a self-confessed IFRS Geek.…
Read moreWhy did I chat to Vincent? Vincent Motholo CA(SA), RA is the Chairperson of SAICA for 2022 and 2021. He…
Read moreWhat’s in this article and videos? Introduction I spoke to Bruce about career opportunities in the Public Sector a while…
Read moreWhat’s in this article and videos? The future of the Accounting Profession Will Accountants be obsolete in the near future?…
Read moreWhat’s in the article and videos? An accounting career in The Public Sector The Public Sector (ie: Government) is a…
Read moreIs your work schedule out of control? It’s tricky to balance life and work at the best of times. If…
Read moreI’m taking Tabaldi’s FAC1502 and FAC1601 class this semester, you can register here: Register for Tabaldi’s FAC1502 online course here…
Read moreTable of Contents SAICA-accredited CTA / PGDA We all love choice, and students are always asking me what options are…
Read moreAre you too old to pursue that goal? I get this question all the time. “Am I too old to…
Read moreWhat’s in this article? Are you studying properly? MOST of my Study Coaching students struggle with this. I’ve lectured for…
Read morei chatted to tim about his book We don’t always realise that our actions and what we do are governed…
Read more“make enough mistakes…” Most of my students are not ok with failure and making mistakes. I get that. I’m there…
Read moreStudy Coaching assessment I use the questions in this quiz to help assess my Study Coaching students and their study…
Read moreDo you need motivation to study? I get messages from students every single day, saying that they’re not motivated, or…
Read morebooks for your career and personal growth Your successful career is going to involve way more skills and knowledge than…
Read moreGet marks for format questions One of the topics I spend time on with my study coaching students, is how…
Read moreDoes highlighting information in your exams help you get marks? Students LOVE highlighters! (I do too, I love stationery!) We…
Read moreWe all need a little light-hearted moment, so take a breather from your studies, and do this personality quiz. Forget…
Read more“How should I study accounting to make sure I pass?” I’ve lectured thousands of accounting students at various levels over…
Read moreOver 70% of students I survey say procrastination is a big issue for them I respect you for the sacrifices…
Read morePerfectionism: use it? or lose it? A lot of people believe that perfectionists make the best students. They have drive,…
Read moreMore than the theory of our subjects, and the technical details, ineffective study habits can keep students from succeeding. A…
Read moreexpectation We sign up for studies for very similar reasons as the gym contract. We want to improve ourselves and…
Read more“I’m not Ready” “I’m not ready to do questions” “I’m not ready to write the exam” I hear this ALL…
Read moreTIps for you to get mentor-help, without a mentor Sheryl Sandberg – ‘Lean In’ “I realized that searching for a…
Read moreMaggie Perotin “Throughout the years, I have learned, and proven, that with a great skilled leader, a team can be…
Read moreWhat’s “Right Now” studying? What are you able to do RIGHT NOW? What knowledge are you comfortable with RIGHT NOW!?…
Read moreWho is James Perry? James Perry, is a Chartered Accountant, and one of Northern Ireland’s Top 40 Under 40. He’s…
Read moreWhy is it important to build a network? People are increasingly relying on their networks and connections to find work…
Read more“What do I need to do to pass?” I get asked this ALL THE TIME. Here’s my answer. It’s your…
Read moreIf UNISA won’t allow you to repeat CTA, what are your choices? I have a number of students asking me…
Read moreIf you’re going to do an accounting training contract in the future Online Course Course duration: 3 hours Cost: R450…
Read moreConnecting students to SAICA training contracts I get hundreds of queries from accounting students looking for a SAICA training contract…
Read moreI always encourage students to be honest with me about their struggles, so I thought it’s only fair for me…
Read moreOnline Course: New Trainees “Why should I do audit articles if I don’t want to be an audit partner?” This…
Read moreWhat is exam technique? Your exam is a game, learn to play it Why do I say this? You have…
Read moreThe ‘ideal’ path to qualifying as a Chartered Accounting is to do your SAICA articles after your CTA / PGDA.…
Read more“If I had more time…” Students often complain that the time restraint in exams and tests is their biggest challenge.…
Read moreACCA has stated in their report “Emotional Quotient in the digital age” that a Growth Mindset is a kew component…
Read more“Adulting”… Am I right?! We all know the exhaustion we feel about EVERYTHING that’s going on in our lives… and…
Read moreYou’ve studied IFRS, pored over Tax legislation and agonized over the ISA’s, will this make you the successful Accountant you…
Read moreWinning = Failing forwards The higher the level you study at, the harder the work, the more likely you may…
Read moreWhy should you care about MY thoughts? A lot of Accounting students I’ve dealt with over the years have voiced…
Read moreI’ve lectured accounting students for years, and I feel that students don’t REALLY understand their basic Accounting knowledge. Do accounting…
Read moreYou can read more about my post-qualification journey and challenges here Post-qual journey Why am I sharing this? I’m sharing…
Read moreVideo chat I recorded a video with Richard to chat about his journey Tell us about your academic journey [expand…
Read moreFor those of you studying Accounting at UNISA, and who’ve followed my blog for a while, you’ll know that I…
Read moreWhat is your current position? I lectured at Wits for 3 years, and I’m currently a financial accounting lecturer for…
Read moreSo many students struggle with answering discussion questions in exams. Let’s see if I can help a little. Whether you’re…
Read moreIt’s easy to accept that someone is proud of you when you’re successful. When you pass, reach your goal… of…
Read moreAs a foreigner, KC experienced some of the challenges that I know a lot of current foreign students face in…
Read moreIn Part 1 of this series, I summarised the CA(SA) qualification journey, you can read that here. Here, I’ll discuss some…
Read more“What do I need to do to qualify as a Chartered Accountant?” I get this question ALL the time! Along…
Read moreWhat do you do now? Why? I’ve recently changed jobs, and I now lecture Auditing for Tabaldi Education. I am…
Read moreWhat do you do now? Why? I am a lecturer at Tabaldi Online Education Lecturers in my journey left a…
Read moreI want to talk to all of you who are feeling ‘stupid’ while you’re studying. As you’re on your study…
Read moreWho did I talk to? – Thabo Godfrey Mongatane CA(SA), Director Kolano Investment Solutions Also, our part-time Financial Accounting lecturer…
Read more“Life is a series of choices.” This can be both an exciting thing to hear, as well as a little…
Read moreI knew my qualification journey was going to be tough, but until I was actually ‘in’ it, I had no…
Read moreBad study advice nearly ruined my career. (Read here for that story!) Don’t let this be you as well! Part…
Read moreThat’s a joke, right? I’m willing to bet most of you giggle a little nervously at the picture at the…
Read moreI spent quite a lot of time thinking before I started writing this article. It’s a direct response to a…
Read moreEvery semester, every year, I counsel students on how they should study. They always want the ‘secret to success’ for…
Read moreWhat’s in this article? Please ask me questions! As a lecturer, I can SEE the confusion and the stress on…
Read moreRelated Online Course Online Course: Mental Prep for Accounting Students Does your studying never match your study plan? Do you…
Read moreI’ve been lecturing Auditing for nine years now! I’ve always loved it…. and I’ve always been a little sad that…
Read moreWho did I talk to? Prof. Jade Jansen CA(SA) Subject Head: Financial Accounting University of the Western Cape …
Read moreFinancial Management is probably the subject that most accounting students struggle with. Understanding why this is, can be the first…
Read moreStudents who are studying Accounting often battle to visualise exactly where their learning will be used in the ‘real world’.…
Read morewe measure ourselves against everyone How often do we compare ourselves to others? In life, studies, career, earning potential, beauty,…
Read moreBackground & Why this article is important I first wrote this article in mid-2014. It was going to be the…
Read moreIt’s nearly here. As much as you want it to be over, you have to go THROUGH it first! Auditing…
Read moreIn my experience, Management Accounting is responsible for more nightmares and tears than any other part of a student’s qualification…
Read moreA lot of people (mainly those that don’t study it, or haven’t worked in the fields!) don’t really understand the…
Read moreSo… Heritage Day is to celebrate your culture and the culture of those around you. You, however, have a different…
Read moreEvery semester, students face the dilemma of how to prepare for their exams in the limited time that they have…
Read moreA quick visual look at ISA 240 – The auditor’s responsibility for Fraud in an audit of Financial Statements
Read moreThese two modules seem to cause endless grief for a lot of students who need them to finish their degree;…
Read moreIt’s good to know where you fit into the current academic landscape. Knowing what the big picture of higher education…
Read moreI’ve lectured for over eight years, most of that being in the face-to-face environment. Shifting from that to our online…
Read moreRegardless of how last semester went, take a deep breath and appreciate that it’s over, even just for a little…
Read moreThink for a moment about the students around you if you’re in a class environment. If you’re working, think of…
Read moreA lot of students study procedures off-by-heart so they can remember all the tests they should perform for Machinery or…
Read moreThere has been a lot of noise in the news and in accounting / auditing student circles about the pending…
Read moreThis is an infographic I created to simplify the new path to qualification as an RA. I’ve also written an…
Read moreAs an Accounting student, the communication levels required in Auditing WAS NOT what you signed up for! Numbers, formulae, disclosures,…
Read moreWhat do exams expect of you? Whether you’re writing Auditing for your degree, CTA, or ACCA (Audit and Assurance, F8…
Read moreHere’s some help to visualise the intentions of the Fundamental Principles of the Code of Professional Conduct… but might be…
Read moreWhen students are studying the King III Code, they mostly study the functions and compositions off by heart. Here’s an…
Read moreWe tend to think that by the time we finish studying or we qualify, we’ll know everything, be wise and…
Read moreA lot of UNISA students seek help with their studies. Thus, there is now a large supply of people and…
Read moreA lot of students are unsure as to why the Companies Act is included in their Auditing studies. I’ve often…
Read moreAs you study and consider your future career, and wherever that may take you, take a few moments to consider…
Read more‘Think different’ is an oft-quoted phrase from Steve Jobs, who has been arguably one of modern societys’ most well-known entrepreneurs.…
Read moreYour results are out! Now what?! Your academic year ends when your results are finally released, but that doesn’t mean…
Read moreI have fielded this question a lot over the years, from students who wonder whether their choice of academic institution…
Read moreWe’ve all been there. Holding your breath for days, weeks (feels like forever!) until you see those results on the…
Read moreLet’s talk exam technique for Auditing! You’ve worked through the theory, you’re working on perfecting your knowledge, now you need…
Read moreYour Accounting exams are a thing of the past (for now anyway!) and you’re anxiously awaiting the outcome of your…
Read moreThese questions are quite a challenge for most students. A balance between theory and application that creates a lot of…
Read moreAre you a perfectionist? Many Accounting students tell me they’re DEFINITELY not perfectionists, because they don’t get great marks. They…
Read moreHave you ever met someone whose passion for what they do is so strong that it’s almost contagious! You find…
Read more“Focussing on studying theory for exams is like playing cricket to prepare for a soccer match!” This is a statement…
Read moreReading the case study in an exam can take up valuable time, so it’s crucial that you get the maximum…
Read moreAn important component of your studies, that is often overlooked, is the need to assess your own work and your…
Read moreMost of us are bombarded with motivational posters, quotes and pictures through various forms of social media, e-mail and well-meaning…
Read moreA lot of people will wish you good luck before tomorrow… I don’t want to wish you good luck, I wish…
Read moreYou’re looking at the work you have to cover. It looks vaguely familiar. The words are definitely English. Mostly. At…
Read moreEvery semester I look around the classes I lecture and see the faces of the students sitting in front of…
Read moreEvery year, I see CTA students dragging their precious SAICA books around with them. Their car could be stolen, they…
Read moreJust as you thought you were coming to grips with your qualification journey and what it requires from you in…
Read moreI’m willing to bet that a lot of students will cringe just reading the heading of this article. There is…
Read moreThe year has been tough. You’re exhausted from studying, tired of the emotional stress of waiting for results and wondering…
Read moreCTA Class of 2021! Where are you going to study? Congratulations if you’re planning to study CTA in 2021. It’s…
Read more‘Networking’ has been a buzzword amongst professionals for many years. The idea of advertising yourself and your skills amongst as…
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