Overview

The session explored the transition of a traditional accounting practice from purely dependable tax and compliance work into a high-value business advisory practice.

It examined how software and AI were rapidly automating routine compliance and squeezing profit margins. However, compliance demand remained, creating an opportunity for firms to layer advisory services on top of their existing compliance foundation.

The content focused specifically on the South African accounting and regulatory landscape.

The session was grounded in research from prominent bodies (IFAC, ICAEW, ACCA, SAIPA, and IRBA). It utilised real-world examples, short video insights from leading practitioners, and a hands-on roadmap designed for immediate application.

Key topics included identifying hidden advisory work, implementing value-based and tiered pricing to escape hourly billing, scaling firm structures without practitioner burnout, and ethically leveraging AI for data governance and client insights.

Webinar Content

The webinar was structured across six fast-moving modules, broken down into the following specific units:

• Unit 1: From Compliance to Advisory: Focused on the case for change (driven by AI, fee pressure, and the South African "trusted advisor" mandate) and provided a jargon-free definition of business advisory.
• Unit 2: Finding Advisory Opportunities: Taught participants how to use a structured business "health check" and improved client communication to uncover and properly frame advisory work that was currently being given away for free.
• Unit 3: Pricing and Packaging Advisory for Value: Focused on escaping the hourly billing trap, anchoring fees to client outcomes, building tiered (bronze, silver, gold) proposals, and communicating pricing confidently and ethically.
• Unit 4: Building a Firm to Deliver Advisory at Scale: Explored how to break the "key-person bottleneck" through role design, delegation, standardisation, and niche specialisation to prevent overwhelming senior staff.
• Unit 5: Using AI to Build and Run an Advisory Firm: Covered practical, ethical ways to automate routine tasks, scale advisory methods, and sharpen client insights while maintaining data governance and professional scepticism.

Competencies Development

Participants developed the following professional competencies:

• Strategic Positioning of the Practice: The ability to assess the risks of running a compliance-only model and build a credible case for moving to a compliance-plus-advisory firm within the South African market context.
• Identifying and Framing Advisory Opportunities: Proficiency in using structured tools (such as business "health checks") and advanced conversation techniques to surface existing client needs and translate them into chargeable engagements.
• Value-Based Pricing and Packaging: Mastery in moving away from hourly billing to price services based on value, design tiered proposals, and communicate fees ethically.
• Structuring a Firm to Deliver Advisory at Scale: Skills to eliminate operational bottlenecks through role design, standardisation, and delegation so advisory services could scale without overloading senior partners.
• Applying AI to Build and Run an Advisory Practice: Competency in responsibly implementing AI tools to automate routine work, scale advisory methodologies, and deepen client insights while maintaining proper data governance.

Presenter

Nestene Botha

Nestene Botha is a registered Chartered Accountant and the Academic Programme Leader for the BCom Accounting Programme at Mancosa. With a Masters Degree in Auditing Education, she has worked with approximately 10 higher education institutions globally and is deeply passionate about education. Nestene has a keen interest in Artificial Intelligence and its applications in the accounting profession, integrating AI and technology into her lectures and research. She is recognized as one of the top 35 under 35 Chartered Accountants in South Africa by SAICA and one of the top 50 women in accounting worldwide by Practice Ignition. Additionally, she is a co-founder of Explore ProTech, an entrepreneurial haven with the vision of saving the global economy - one small business at a time.

CPD

Attending this webinar and the successful completion of the online assessment will secure a certificate of completion for 2 hours of CPD.

Event Investment

Free for Tax Technician, Tax Practitioner, Tax Accountant CPD subscribers and Practice Packages. Not a CPD subscriber yet? Click here to register now.

• Regular price:  R460.00
• Group booking discounts available when you register for a group.

Payments and cancellations

• All payments must be made by EFT or by credit card, at least three working days before commencement of an event.
• Kindly note that should payment not be received two days after the event, legal action will be taken.
• Proof of payment will be requested at registration if payment does not reflect in The Tax Faculty’s bank account.
• Only written notice of cancellation will be recognized.
• Conditions:
  • If the cancellation occurs more than four working days prior to the event no cancellation fee will be charged.
  • If the cancellation occurs less than four working days prior to the event, a 100% cancellation fee will apply.
• Delegates who book and fail to attend will be liable for the full event fee.
• The Tax Faculty’s liability in the case of an event being cancelled will be limited to a refund or credit of the event fee.
• Please click here for the full terms and conditions.