Swana’s dream turns into fully fledged advisory business
The challenges were there, but they were not insurmountable, says founder of successful accounting firm
Nonyaniso Swana’s accounting firm started on a dining room table 15 years ago and has now expanded to a fully functioning company based in the heart of Johannesburg and employs 23 people.
Dutywa-born Swana’s Imani Business Advisory Services, emerged from her family’s business ethic that shaped the way she would approach her career and life.
“I grew up in a family of entrepreneurs; both of my parents were in retail, so play time for us was working in the family business,” she said.
“I grew up in a home where both genders were treated equally. There were no limitations in terms of what women could do.”
She said her mother had mainly managed the shop and her father had been the brain behind the business. “My mother taught us that women are to be seen and heard.
“My father was very keen on opening a number of opportunities for me because when it was time for me to go to university I had no clue on what I wanted to do,” she said.
“He was already in business and had his honours in psychology. For him it was natural progression to advise me which career path I should choose.”
The Walter Sisulu University Bcom graduate continued her studies, doing her master’s at Wits University and a postgraduate diploma in taxation through Unisa.
“There was less career guidance back in the day, but there were opportunities. After I graduated from WSU, I did my articles at Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PWC).”
When she got married, she moved to Johannesburg, where she worked in the corporate sector.
“I was unhappy in that company because I felt my contribution to the company was unappreciated. I decided to resign and furthered my academics by acquiring my master’s degree.”
At the point of completing her master’s she got the idea of starting her own business.
“I knew when I was busy with my master’s that I would love to start a business of my own, but it looked like a faraway dream until I graduated,” she said.
The 53-year-old said her firm had accumulated a plethora of expertise in accounting, finance and training from a variety of clients in the public and private sectors.
“When you are an accountant, you understand the accounting aspects, but know little about the business side and other processes. But my master’s ignited the fire in me that it was time to start a business.”
Swana noticed a gap in the local government sphere when it came to accounting firms.
She said: “We started off in the local government sectors where we did consultations, but now we are opening up to the private sector.”
Imani provides management consulting, accounting, VAT recovery and review, debt collection, training and development services.
The company is growing regardless of the tough financial issues the country is facing.
“We have not missed a single payday; even during Covid-19 we managed to pull through and no jobs were lost.”
Swana said the challenges she had faced were a lack of support, finances and start-up material.
“We overcame our challenges by using the things we had. The challenges were there, but they were not insurmountable,” she said.
Swana is a registered facilitator with local government sector education and training authority and finance and accounting services sector education and training authority, and a member of the South African Institute of Tax Practitioners and the South African Institute of Professional Accountants.
She is also a member of the council of debt collectors. She has been practising as an accountant for more than 26 years and finished her articles in 1997.
“I would advise young people to not give up in their dreams.
“Things are getting harder now; there are a lack of opportunities as the unemployment rate is rife. Work ethic is very important.”