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Colenbrander is a leading firm of Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors, located in Hilton, KwaZulu-Natal. From a small team, we have grown into a well-known brand, and our success as a company is reflected in our clients' achievements.
We proudly partner with business owners across all sectors to turn hopes into reality.
About Us
Colenbrander began as a small team operating out of Pietermaritzburg.
From these modest beginnings, Colenbrander has evolved into a market leader, driven by an unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional client service.
Colenbrander was established in 2000, and the initial team of 12 staff members operated out of Loop Street offices until expansion necessitated a move to new premises.
The Colenbrander story is one of growth and development. Initially set up to serve businesses with specialised professional accounting services, we have become well recognised in KwaZulu-Natal and beyond as a leader in business financial services.
As our team has grown, we have retained our dedication to our values and approach.
From day one, Colenbrander has been a SAICA training office. Today, Colenbrander has a reputation amongst business owners and the accounting community as a frontrunner within the industry.
A Well-Earned Reputation for Dependability
COLENBRANDER DIFFERENCE!
COLENBRANDER DISTINCTION!
Colenbrander is a leading firm of Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors, located in Hilton, KwaZulu-Natal. From a small team, we have grown into a well-known brand, and our success as a company is reflected in our clients' achievements. We proudly partner with business owners across all sectors to help turn hopes into realities.
A highly proficient team that delivers a diverse portfolio of services and decisive, strategic advice to help businesses overcome challenges and realise financial growth and objectives.
A service methodology based on conversations, understanding, and authentic relationship-building.
Discover Colenbrander
We are
focussed on
ADDING VALUE
Relationships
The foundation of all work done for our clients starts with a personal relationship with each and every client.
Driven
We are driven, proactive, and focused on the future of our clients. But we do it NOW. From there, our positioning statement:
the future - now
Growth
We work with our clients to help them grow and develop.
Advice
Our company is managed by forward thinking leaders with a vision. We firmly believe that every client is entitled to base their decisions on accurate information, along with having sound and effective advice.
Informed
We pride ourselves on delivering accurate and relevant information to our clients when and how they need it.
Proactive
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Anticipating any potential problems, creatively offering timely solutions.
Our Team
A growing team with evolving expertise
Colenbrander comprises over 160 staff members, each with unique strengths and diverse backgrounds. This driven team of individuals lie at the heart of the Colenbrander difference, consistently striving to make our clients – and each other – the best at what they do.
The Colenbrander Team
Collectively, the Colenbrander team endeavours to create an environment in which innovation, industry-leading productivity, and personalised service underpin our ability to add real value to our clients’ needs.
Our bookkeepers have many years of experience and the relevant qualifications to assist our diverse client base on a monthly, bi-monthly, and annual basis.
Our tax consultants, some of whom have gained valuable knowledge while working for the South African Revenue Service, are kept busy assisting clients with their individual and corporate income tax returns, as well as various other tax matters.
Our secretarial staff assist the directors to meet their commitments, as well as attend to the statutory documents of companies, close corporations, trusts and other governing bodies, to ensure they comply with the relevant Acts within South Africa.
Behind the scenes are the administrative and support staff, who ensure our office runs smoothly.
Directors
Our directors, who have practised in commerce and public practice, provide in-depth, reliable and unambiguous advice to our clients. Our senior managers assist the directors and provide training to our young recruits.
Steve Colenbrander
Steve was born in Nongoma on 8 June 1960 and schooled in Pietermaritzburg at Merchiston and then Maritzburg College, where he matriculated in 1978. His parents were cattle and sugarcane farmers in Magudu, Northern KZN.
After 2 years’ compulsory National Service, Steve attended UKZN in Pietermaritzburg and qualified with a BCom degree, majoring in Agricultural Economics in 1983.
He qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1990, having completed his articles with Deloitte & Touche.
He worked in commerce in the saw-milling and meat processing industry before returning to the profession in 1996.
Steve founded Colenbrander in 2000.
Steve’s hobbies are squash and mountain biking.
Steve is married to Jenny and they have four children.
Richard Lawrence
Richard was born on 23 March 1983 in Johannesburg. He attended Laerskool Greylingstad, Waterkloof House Preparatory School, and then Hilton College, where he matriculated in 2001.
He obtained his BCom in Management Accounting from Stellenbosch in 2005 and his BCom Honours in Accounting from UKZN in 2006. He completed his articles through PwC.
Richard has previously worked for BSi Steel Limited, then spent three years with Kilombero Sugar Ltd, the Tanzanian subsidiary of Illovo Sugar Ltd, before joining the Colenbrander team in 2015.
Richard was appointed as a director of Colenbrander in 2016.
As a director at Colenbrander, Richard always strives to deliver a top-quality service and add value to clients’ businesses. He grew up on a farm and has a particular interest in the agricultural sector.
Richard is married to Sandy, and they have five busy young children. He loves spending time with his family and enjoys anything to do with the outdoors, particularly fishing and hunting.
Heather Gouweloos
Heather was born in Pietermaritzburg in 1988 and attended The Wykeham Collegiate, where she matriculated in 2005.
After obtaining her BCom Accounting degree and Honours Cum Laude from UKZN in 2010, Heather completed her training contract at KPMG. She came eighth in the country for Part One of the SAICA Board Exams and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2014. She has subsequently registered with the IRBA.
Heather joined the Colenbrander team in 2014 and became a director in 2016.
As a director at Colenbrander, Heather’s area of expertise is technical accounting and taxation. Her key responsibilities within the firm include internal quality control, management of staff training, and attending to technical accounting and taxation issues.
Heather is married to Michael, and they have two children.
Her hobbies include exercise, gardening, scuba diving, and sewing.
Matthew Black
Matthew was born on 20 October 1978 in Harare, Zimbabwe. He was schooled in Pietermaritzburg, where he matriculated in 1996. He obtained his B.Compt degree through Unisa in 2003, while doing his articles through Colenbrander. He obtained his Honours degree from UKZN in 2005 and qualified as a CA(SA) in 2009.
After completing his articles through Colenbrander and achieving his CA(SA), Matthew continued working with the Colenbrander team as an audit manager, specialising in Attorney and Estate Agents audits.
Matthew was appointed as a director at Colenbrander in 2016.
Now, as a director at Colenbrander, Matthew looks after a portfolio of clients who are involved in audits.
Matthew is married to Tamara, and they have three children. He is a keen squash player and enjoys spending time with his children, playing a variety of sports and games. He enjoys the outdoors, game-viewing, and bird watching.
Rentia Vermaak
Rentia was born in Bloemfontein on 24 December 1980 and matriculated from the Barkly East High School in 1998.
She joined Theron du Plessis, a firm in the Eastern Cape, as a trainee accountant in 1999.
She obtained her BCompt degree from UNISA in 2004 and her BCompt Honours in 2005 from the same institution.
Rentia qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2007. She worked in the steel industry as a financial accountant and financial director until 2018.
She joined Colenbrander in 2018 and was appointed as a director in 2021.
Rentia is married to Jacques, and they have two children. She enjoys the outdoors, spending time with her family and reading.
Ernest Pretorius
Ernest was born in Pietermaritzburg on 7 October 1965. He attended Sunridge Primary School in Port Elizabeth and then Pioneer School in Worcester, where he matriculated in 1983. He obtained his BCom degree in 1988, his Dip. He obtained his ACC in 1991 and his HDip (Tax) in 1995, both from UKZN, Pietermaritzburg. Ernest served his articles at Deloitte Pietermaritzburg and passed his board exam in 1992.
Ernest spent 20 years in commerce, most of which were spent as a Senior Manager for the Pioneer Foods Group. He returned to the profession in 2014 when he joined Colenbrander.
Ernest was appointed a director at Colenbrander in 2017.
Ernest manages a portfolio of clients who operate in diverse business sectors. He strives to deliver a value-added service to all aspects of his clients’ businesses.
Ernest has two children and loves spending time with them. He is passionate about sport and music.
Sandra Vicente De Kramer
Sandra was born in Bloemfontein in 1990, where she attended St Michael’s School for Girls and matriculated in 2008.
After obtaining her BAcc degree and Honours from the University of the Free State, she completed her training contract at PWC and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2017.
Sandra joined the Colenbrander team in 2017 as an Audit Portfolio Manager. She subsequently registered with the IRBA and became a director in 2024.
Sandra is passionate about auditing, working with clients, and training up-and-coming chartered accountants.
Sandra shares her time with her family (her husband Len and two children), work, and leisure activities such as cooking, watching movies, and reading.
James Muir
James was born on 11 May 1992 in Pietermaritzburg. He was schooled at Treverton Prep and College, where he matriculated in 2010.
He obtained his B.Acc degree at the University of the Free State in 2013 and completed his Honours in 2014, also at the University of the Free State.
After completing his articles through Colenbrander, James qualified as a CA(SA) in 2018 and continued working at Colenbrander as an Audit Portfolio Manager. James was appointed as a director of Colenbrander in 2023.
James manages a portfolio of audit clients and strives to provide good quality service whilst mentoring his team. James is married to Tess, who is also an accountant.
He is a keen sportsman and enjoys playing golf, hockey and running.
Gallery
Our firm is associated with The Core Group, an association of independent professionals.
We are independent but practice in association with one another, utilising The Core Service Companies to empower us to render a wide variety of specialised services to local clients.
Although all are associated under The Core Group identity, we remain independent and in control of our own firm regarding ownership and management.
Being Core Associated, we have access to:
126
Branches nationwide
397
Specialists in all areas
1 716
Employees securing capacity
30 058
Content clients
the future - now
Other Affiliates
Colenbrander is proudly affiliated with a range of companies. Offering a range of core services for businesses, the Colenbrander connection is characterised by unwavering business standards.
Each of our partners provides a truly client-based approach.
Through meaningful relationship-building and long-term, personal understanding, each of these companies provides bespoke, strategic, and outcomes-based services within their respective spheres of expertise.
At Colenbrander, your success is our reward. We are excited to work with a team of affiliates committed to adding value and achieving success for their clients. Work with a Colenbrander affiliate today.
ReichFin Insurance Brokerage
Previously, Scottfin PMB CC, Garth Reich and Alan Reich bought out their partners and changed the trading name to ReichFin in 2008. ReichFin is an expert in short-term insurance brokerage services.
This dynamic, award-winning father-and-son team provides insurance solutions to commercial ventures and individuals alike. They strive to provide the best short-term insurance services – from advice to claims – with a uniformly applied customer-centred approach.
Only working with leading insurers, Reichfin strives for industry excellence and exceptional service.
Hewitt Colenbrander Recruitment
The team at Hewitt Colenbrander Recruitment aims to place financial, IT, managerial, and engineering staff in senior positions within a wide range of companies.
Their offices are located in KZN and Johannesburg, but assignments are carried out on a country-wide basis. With over ten years of experience in the recruitment industry, Hewitt Colenbrander understands the importance of partnering with clients to find top talent, ensuring long-term wealth creation for both parties.
Top companies are searching for top candidates. Browse the vacancies or post a job listing today.
Accountancy Placements
Accountancy Placements was initially established to service the recruitment needs of the accounting industry. This dedicated team is committed to matching companies and candidates.
They operate with the belief that the right people make the difference between success and failure for businesses. Accountancy Placements brings high-level expertise and international experience to every recruitment task.
By taking the time to understand their clients’ needs and their candidates’ profiles, Accountancy Placements helps companies find the right candidates, enabling both to achieve excellence.
Viridi Lux (Pty) Ltd
Viridi Lux offers short-term, asset-based, and customised financing to meet its clients’ needs. Businesses are operating in increasingly difficult economic times, and sourcing capital to fund short-term requirements is often tedious and time-consuming.
The independent finance provided by Viridi Lux is approved by their in-house credit committee, allowing for a quick response. The financing is customised to your needs, and repayment can be structured for up to 5 years.
Viridi Lux’s finance arrangements are governed and approved by the National Credit Regulator.
CustomEx
CustomEx specialise in the Diesel Rebate system. Their team can ensure your compliance when claiming a diesel refund.
They also offer staff training on correct record-keeping, claims procedures, and the necessary claims documents, as well as explaining the legislation as published in the Customs and Excise Act.
Bill Roberts Wealth & Risk Management
Bill Roberts Wealth and Risk Management is an independent, holistic wealth management advisory practice.
With a professional reputation built on its depth of experience, it ensures financial security for both corporate and individual clients across diverse areas of financial planning.
Your gateway to excellence in professional advisory services.
Driven by knowledge.
Backed by experience.
Power in partnership, strength in unity.
Committed to quality, governed by integrity.
Our Values
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We are leaders in both our industry and our local communities.
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We operate with a sense of urgency and discipline.
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We do the right thing all of the time.
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We are responsible for our impact on the environment.
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We are the owners of our actions and decisions.
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We share our views and ideas openly.
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We are passionate about delivering an exceptional stakeholder experience.
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We are team players in everything we do.
There is a critical need for alignment between personal and organisational values, as mistakes can occur when misalignment exists.
Our Vision
Our VISION defines the way our organisation will look in the FUTURE.
The FUTURE - To be seen and experienced as Globally Trusted Professionals.
Global
Inspires us to grow/expand.
Trusted
Inspires us to build trusting relationships with all our stakeholders based on honesty, efficiency, accountability, and mutual respect.
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Stakeholders
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All entities that can affect or be affected by the organisation's actions, objectives and policies.
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They are our creditors, member firm directors, service company directors, employees, government (and its agencies), owners (shareholders), suppliers, unions, and the community from which the business draws its resources.
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Professional
Inspires all of us to deliver a quality service/product in a manner as defined by our stakeholders.
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It does not refer to professional bodies or professional career types. It relates to HOW we interact with our stakeholders.
Vision is a long-term view describing the goals of the organisation.
Our vision statement helps to drive decisions and goals in our company.
Our Mission
Our MISSION defines our purpose and why we exist.
We CREATE diverse solutions that increase our stakeholders' profits, business value, and personal wealth.
We do this through a single, CORE relationship – NOW.
Create
We develop services through a continuous process, leaving something behind, and are accountable for what we create.
Divers
Many, various, unlimited.
Solutions
Plural, services, answers, actions, products.
Stakeholders
Everybody is affected by our business operations. (suppliers, clients, staff, SARS, the community, etc.)
Single
One.
CORE
Reiterate the brand name, central, nucleus, pivot point.
Relationship
The emotional link between two or more parties.
Our mission statement provides the details of what is done and answers the question:
“How do we do what we do?”.
Our Workplace Behaviour
Working with me (or any of my colleagues) as a firm representative, you can expect the following:
Honesty:
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I do not lie.
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I share my views and ideas without the fear of prejudice and without disrespecting the opinions and rights of others.
Efficiency:
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I stick to deadlines.
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I have a clean and neat desk.
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I return a stakeholder’s call/email/SMS within 24 hours.
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I complete tasks that are allocated to me.
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I prepare properly for formal interactions with stakeholders.
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I proactively follow up on outstanding tasks and assignments.
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I update my skills and knowledge to remain not only relevant but abreast.
Mutual respect for all stakeholders
At the office:
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I am on time.
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I park in my allocated parking space.
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I greet my colleagues.
In meetings:
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I allow others the freedom to express themselves without interrupting them.
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I focus on the agenda at hand and do not communicate with external parties.
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I do not do any other work that is outside the scope of the meeting.
In general:
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I do not use gestures, language, or crude and disrespectful comments.
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I conserve firm and natural resources and limit wastage.
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I dress in a manner that is equal to what is professionally expected by my stakeholders.
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I use proper language when communicating with my stakeholders.
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I use a tone of voice that is acceptable to all my stakeholders.
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I empower and guide. I do not reprimand and belittle stakeholders in public or behind closed doors.
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I do not use intimidating behaviour, like slamming doors and throwing objects.
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I trust my stakeholders. I do not excessively and unreasonably monitor their responsibilities.
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I address a conflict situation with the party concerned in a professional manner that is equal to those above before approaching a third party.
Accountability Statement
I am accountable for all my actions. I will take corrective measures before the deadline if I cannot deliver on my commitment to the Workplace Behaviour Statement.
I will communicate this to the relevant stakeholders within a timeframe that is acceptable to them.
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