PKF Finalists

PKF’S THEO VERMAAK – FINALIST FOR ACCOUNTING LEADER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Theo Vermaak, National Chairpersion of PKF South Africa, has been recognised as a finalist for the Accounting Leader of the Year Award for the 2019/2020 period. The recognition was by the Charles Mazhindu, Partner at Accounting and Audit firm PKF Octagon, has received special commendation in the category of Accounting Professional of the Year for the 2019/2020 period. The accolade was granted by the SA Professional Services Awards sponsored by Sanlam and W. Consulting. Mazhindu joined the EY Durban office as a trainee accountant in 1994. He left EY in 1998 and joined Argil Pty Ltd as a Manager (an advisory business 40% owned by EY and 60% by African Investments Limited (now known as Phembani). He later joined the South African Breweries as a Commodity Manager doing procurement and subsequently ran his own practice before rejoining EY as a partner in 2012. He joined PKF Octagon in June 2019. SA Professional Services Awards sponsored by Sanlam and W. Consulting.

Vermaak graduated from the then University of the Orange Free State in 1994 with a B. Compt (Hons) degree, on the path to becoming a Chartered Accountant. He completed his training through Coopers & Lybrand that later became PWC Durban. Since 2001, PKF has been part of his life in many different forms, including when he started his first professional training company in partnership with PKF South Africa in 2003. He took up “Charles comes across as strong in mentorship through providing this informally to junior colleagues both in and out of the workplace,” the SAPSA judges said. “His view is that if he can help others avoid the mistakes he made along the way, he would have made a significant contribution to their lives. Further, Charles has taken a bold step of leaving the comfort of a Big 4 entity to assuming a ‘sole partnership’ role within PKF Octagon where he is already contributing to the transformation and business growth of the firm.” the position of National Chairman on 1 June 2018.

“Theo has an impressive profile in leadership in the profession having served as the Chairman of the Forum of Firms where he regularly engaged with global standard setters,” the SAPSA judges said. “He acknowledges that whereas leadership traits may come naturally, a need to learn and improve is always essential as demonstrated by his engaging a leadership coach at a time when things were not going so well. He has the admirable vision of strengthening the PKF brand, incorporating technology into processes and service delivery while maintaining a personal approach and expanding

PKF’S CHARLES MAZHINDU RECEIVES SAPSA JUDGES COMMENDATION

service capability.”