“Nothing is impossible, the only limitations in life, are those imposed on oneself”
Vincent Berends was born on 15 March 1985, South Africa where he grew up in Mbombela (Nelspruit) in the Lowveld of Mpumalanga. After completing his secondary education, Vincent entered into a full-time SAICA (South African Institute of Chartered Accountants) training contract with a Nelspruit based audit firm, whilst studying part-time towards a Bcompt. (Bachelor of Accounting Sciences) degree with UNISA, completing both his articles and degree in just four years.
In 2009 Vincent took a position as Audit and Engagement Team Manager at an Audit firm in Brooklyn, Pretoria. In the same year, he passed the Professional Evaluation exam with SAIPA (South African Institute of Professional Accountants) to become a practicing Professional Accountant (SA).
An expert in reaching targets, Vincent over-achieved the budget allocated to him through proper and efficient management and decided to move back to his hometown to start his own accounting practice.
“To become successful is not easy, if it was, everyone would be sucessful”
Despite the pressure and responsibilities of being a senior managing partner in a growing accounting firm, Vincent completed his CTA Honours in applied accounting sciences in 2012 and decided to focus on furthering his knowledge and skill as a businessman, building reliable networks and a successful practice. In 2013 Vincent successfully completed SAIPA’s Independent Reviewer programme in terms of the new Companies Act of 2008.
Coaching and mentoring in 2014 had changed the way he not only thinks about his practice, but also how he identifies, resolves and executes challenges in business. He prides himself in being the authority in formulating taxation strategies and corporate consulting. Vincent strives to be exceptional and is committed to continued professional development.
In 2015 he decided to pursue his personal goal of becoming a Chartered Accountant (SA) and wrote and passed SAICA’s Initial Test of Competence (ITC) on his first attempt, which allowed him to write SAICA’s Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) in November 2016, which he also passed on his first attempt, whilst still managing his professional accounting firm and establishing the firm’s brand.
January 2017 saw the opening of the first of many franchised offices of his professional accounting brand. Vincent’s membership application as Chartered Accountant (SA) was also approved in 2017 – proving that nothing is impossible if you work hard, believe in yourself and never give up!
In 2018, Vincent was voted as one of the 35 finalists in the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) Top 35-Under 35 competition that was launched by SAICA in 2014 to recognise its young CA(SA) achievers. It has proven to be a huge success in recognising and promoting young CAs(SA) under the age of 35 who are not just achieving extraordinary results in their professional capacity, but also have a significant impact on society.