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Good morning and thank you to everyone for the warm welcome! I’m excited to be here and think this is a great opportunity to interact, connect and to discuss opportunities in finance!
My handle is @T1mbles, feel free to send me any questions.
Here’s a brief thread about me:
My handle is @T1mbles, feel free to send me any questions.
Here’s a brief thread about me:
1. I didn’t start out in finance!
After passing my A Levels in Harare I studied a BSc in Microbiology and Human Physiology at UCT. I’ve got a picture from graduation below
After I graduated I found career opportunities at home and abroad difficult to come by...
After passing my A Levels in Harare I studied a BSc in Microbiology and Human Physiology at UCT. I’ve got a picture from graduation below
After I graduated I found career opportunities at home and abroad difficult to come by...
...Studying science did not open the doors that I thought it would. Most jobs available were as a researcher or to study further, and places were very competitive or just for S Africans.
Career opportunities were even dryer in Zim. So I felt the need to look outside my field.
Career opportunities were even dryer in Zim. So I felt the need to look outside my field.
Whenever I did my job search I always found that there were a lot more finance related opportunities than opportunities in the fields that I had studied. Speaking to my friends who had studied accountancy made me wonder if it was something I should pursue as an alternative.
2. The change to finance
During my gap year I did a course on finance with the @UCTGSB called from Science to Business. It was a course designed to equip scientists with information needed to run a business and taught business principles. I loved it and got a distinction
During my gap year I did a course on finance with the @UCTGSB called from Science to Business. It was a course designed to equip scientists with information needed to run a business and taught business principles. I loved it and got a distinction
After that I looked at ways to get into the finance field permanently.
I found UCT was offering a course called the Conversion Course. It was basically a crash course in accounting which offered graduates a chance to complete an equivalent to a 3 year BComm degree in 1 year.
I found UCT was offering a course called the Conversion Course. It was basically a crash course in accounting which offered graduates a chance to complete an equivalent to a 3 year BComm degree in 1 year.
Graduates could come from any field and at the end of the year, you wrote the same exams as the final year BComm students in Audit, Finance, Management Accounting, Tax and Accounting.
You were held to the same standard as them for entry into PGDA/(CTA)/Honours.
You were held to the same standard as them for entry into PGDA/(CTA)/Honours.
3. Change in field
So in 2004, at 23 and a half years old, I changed my career path and began the Conversion Course.
It was a grueling year as you can imagine but the one thing I always appreciated was how career focussed the course was compared to my science degree.
So in 2004, at 23 and a half years old, I changed my career path and began the Conversion Course.
It was a grueling year as you can imagine but the one thing I always appreciated was how career focussed the course was compared to my science degree.
This may not be everyone’s experience, but I found there was very little career guidance provided during my science degree.
With accountancy it was clear. I was on a 5 year journey to become a Chartered Accountant.
It helped me focus and be goal oritented in my work.
With accountancy it was clear. I was on a 5 year journey to become a Chartered Accountant.
It helped me focus and be goal oritented in my work.
At the end of the year, after a lot of perserverence and prayer, we made it through and graduated. And also had the grades to take me into CTA.
It wasn’t easy, but it’s certainly doable!
Shout out to ex Vice Chancellor Max Price.
It wasn’t easy, but it’s certainly doable!
Shout out to ex Vice Chancellor Max Price.
I then went on to complete my CTA at UCT and graduated for the last time in 2015.
CTA was particularly challenging considering I only had a one year background in accounting, but again, hard work and prayer can take you far
CTA was particularly challenging considering I only had a one year background in accounting, but again, hard work and prayer can take you far
4. Articles
I preferred to do my articles in SA. My family was based there, I had studied in SA & they paid better than they did in Zim.
At the time though, SA had started making it difficult for foreign nationals to get work permits, and the Big 4 firms didn’t want to sponsor
I preferred to do my articles in SA. My family was based there, I had studied in SA & they paid better than they did in Zim.
At the time though, SA had started making it difficult for foreign nationals to get work permits, and the Big 4 firms didn’t want to sponsor
And so I went and started my articles in Zim.
It was painful knowing my ex classmates were earning 5 times what I was in South Africa but my parents encouraged me to just get my articles done as fast as possible and I got an opportunity at a Big 4 firm so I took it.
It was painful knowing my ex classmates were earning 5 times what I was in South Africa
but my parents encouraged me to just get my articles done as fast as possible and I got an opportunity at a Big 4 firm so I took it.
Before leaving South Africa I wrote and passed my ITC Board exams. It was great knowing that I was now just one exam away from being a CA.
https://twitter.com/t1mbles/status/710829691251331072?s=21 https://twitter.com/t1mbles/status/710829691251331072
https://twitter.com/t1mbles/status/710829691251331072?s=21 https://twitter.com/t1mbles/status/710829691251331072
I did my articles in Zim as the Bond Note was introduced 
it was a great time and I made many good friends.
I also killed the APC exam and came 3rd in the country and that was me done, I was a CA!
it was a great time and I made many good friends. I also killed the APC exam and came 3rd in the country
and that was me done, I was a CA!
Not long after finishing my examinations, I was Head Hunted on LinkedIn for a position at a Big Four Firm in London.
I grabbed the opportunity with both hands and that’s what brings us to today!
I’ve now been in London for 10 months and I’m looking forward to the future
I grabbed the opportunity with both hands and that’s what brings us to today!
I’ve now been in London for 10 months and I’m looking forward to the future
So final thoughts...my journey was not standard or linear. I had to break outside my shell and take some risks in order to end up where I am today.
It’s taken love and support from my family and friends, faith and good (albeit belated) career advice from mentors
It’s taken love and support from my family and friends, faith and good (albeit belated) career advice from mentors
