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Listening to our Members: The True Value of SAICA

While SAICA offers extensive support and services, our true impact is best seen through the experiences of our members, associates, and trainees. To understand our value proposition across career stages, we spoke with representatives from each designation – CAs, AGAs, ATs, and trainees.

Through these conversations, they share how SAICA’s advocacy, development opportunities, and mentorship have shaped their careers.

Meet Lornelle Jonas AGA(SA), as she highlights SAICA’s role in her professional growth and community contributions.

Value of Membership

How has being an AGA(SA) member enhanced your professional journey and what specific benefits from SAICA do you find most valuable?

Being an AGA(SA) has significantly shaped my career, providing a strong technical foundation and practical experience. Registering in 2019 while at Liberty Group, I later gained experience at FirstRand before founding E’lique Advisory. The designation boosted my credibility, signalling my SAICA-accredited qualifications to recruiters. SAICA’s reputation strengthened my credentials, while its resources – webinars, IFRS access, and industry updates – kept me informed and equipped for success.

Professional Development

In what ways has SAICA facilitated your continuous learning and skills enhancement as an AGA(SA)?

SAICA has been key to my professional growth, providing resources that keep finance professionals informed and up to date.

For instance:

Webinars – Provide valuable insights into emerging trends, technical updates, and critical developments in the finance industry
Publications – Accountancy SA is a fantastic resource for thought leadership and industry news
Podcasts – Engaging conversations to address key topics relevant to finance professionals
Events – Prestigious gatherings like the Finance Leaders’ Summit offer opportunities to learn from top industry leaders and network with peers

Through these initiatives, SAICA has ensured that I remain future-ready while enhancing my technical skills, leadership capabilities, and industry connections.

Community and Member Support

In what ways has SAICA empowered you as an AGA(SA) to make a positive impact in your community and support local businesses?

Registering as an AGA(SA) aligned with my vision of founding E’lique Advisory, which enhances financial access and sustainability for businesses. SAICA’s reputation has been key in building client trust, reinforcing my expertise and ethical standards.

Through E’lique Advisory, I contribute by:

Running SMME masterclasses on business sustainability
Training accountants and finance professionals in cloud accounting

Collaboration Opportunities

How has SAICA’s network and resources enabled you to collaborate with other professionals to drive meaningful change and make an impact?

SAICA has opened numerous doors for collaboration, enabling me to engage with industry professionals and drive meaningful change.

Highlights include:

Finance Leaders’ Event – Exhibiting at this prestigious event and speaking on the future of the finance profession were transformative opportunities
Webinars – I hosted my first SAICA webinar for small and medium-sized practices (SMPs), helping members grow their practices and expand their services internationally
Podcasts – I shared strategies for digitising business operations using cloud accounting software

(See SAICABiz Impact Podcast)

Future Prospects / Career Advancement

How do you see the support from SAICA shaping the future for AGA(SA)?

The AGA(SA) designation is a game changer, recognising finance professionals’ expertise and providing a platform for diverse career paths.

Looking ahead, SAICA’s support will be key in:

Promoting the AGA(SA) brand – Showcasing their industry contributions
Supporting future skills – Training in technology, data analytics, and sustainability
Celebrating AGA contributions – Celebrating AGAs’ unique impact

SAICA’s inclusion of all designations in the Top 35-under-35 Awards is a positive step. As the first and only AGA(SA) finalist – and Impact Champion winner – I am proud to see SAICA enhancing the visibility of AGAs.

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