Francois Marais

Looking for affordable online accounting services in South Africa? I am an accountant who lives in the small coastal town of Betty's Bay in the Western Cape.

The lockdown implemented two years ago forced a lot of people to start working remotely. I do contract work for a Chartered Accountant firm based in Pretoria that provides the necessary secretarial and compliance services. Because I work from home I am able to offer affordable online accounting services.

I have been doing accounting work since 1990 when I started my articles at an accounting and auditing firm in Durban. This was interrupted by military service which I did with the SAPS. I worked at the Head Office doing financial controlling and internal audits. Once my military service was completed I started my articles at Louis Marais and Partners CA(SA) on 1 March 1993. 29 years later and I still do work for them.

I do have a minimum hourly rate for which I am willing to work. This will be discussed in private. The more complex the work the higher the hourly rate. I do factor in some discounts for returning and ongoing clients. 

At the start of the accounting assignment, I will estimate the total time and total cost to you. We will also agree on the terms of payment. Estimating the total time can never be an exact science. I am acutely aware to bill only productive hours.

I now have more than 30 years of experience in accounting. I am keen to again build up a select portfolio of clients.

After completing my articles and obtaining my B-Compt degree with UNISA in 1997 I practiced as a commercial and financial accountant before venturing into the corporate world as Financial Manager. I have done work as Financial Manager in the Construction and Property industry, the Fast Moving Consumer Goods Industry (Large Bread Factory) as well as a medium-sized clothing factory.

I also help people with websites via Buddy Web Design. Affordable websites for small businesses that owners can easily manage themselves.  ( www.buddywebdesign.co.za ). My partner does the graphic designs while I focus on the debit and credit type work of SEO.