ABOUT OUR COMPANY
Local pride | International best practice | Nearly a century’s experience
Charteris & Barnes is a home-grown, independent Eastern Cape accounting and business consulting firm. The original firm, Sampson, Ryder & Co, was established in Queenstown in 1928.
In 1990, Charteris & Barnes opened an office in East London. Now, three decades later, we have grown into one of the leading independent firms in the country with offices in Port Alfred, King William’s Town, Queenstown and East London.
This network of local offices means that our clients in each region have access to experts with the necessary understanding of local needs. This includes advisory services in English, Afrikaans and isiXhosa.
Being a proactive, forward-thinking firm, we assist our clients in keeping up with the latest technology.
We use and recommend Xero Accounting Software above all others.
As a Xero Platinum Partner, we are better suited to providing in-depth, technical Xero support to our clients.
Our Xero Services include:
- Advising on whether your business is suited to Xero
- Setting up Xero correctly
- Migrating your business’s data into Xero
- Training the business and its staff on how to integrate Xero into their processes
- Advising on the range of Xero add-ons, and which applications work best with Xero
- Keeping users up to date with Xero’s latest developments and feature releases
Our MISSION and VISION
OUR MISSION
- To continually produce financial excellence in building trust and economic value for our clients
- To use our knowledge and expertise to reaffirm the accounting profession as the cornerstone of good business
- To uphold the integrity and quality of financial reporting by providing reliable financial information
- To ensure continuous professional development and training to raise the calibre of accounting professionals and the accounting profession
OUR VISION
To be the foremost contributors to financial sustainability by providing quality accounting and professional services to government, business and the broader economy.
Our PEOPLE and CULTURE
At Charteris & Barnes every team member delivers exceptional service characterised by a positive attitude, current knowledge and a passion for their work. This is achieved through continuous training, and by equipping our people with the latest technology and focusing on procedures and methods to enhance the speed and quality of work.
People are our biggest asset and therefore we believe that the team’s strength is determined by the quality of the people we train and employ. Members of the Charteris & Barnes team are self-motivated, positive and pro-active people with a healthy balance between work, family and other personal interests. Charteris & Barnes strives to maintain a pleasant working environment where each person can reach their full potential as an individual and as a team member. All partners have an open-door policy for every individual within the group.
Our PEOPLE and CULTURE
PARTNERS
At Charteris & Barnes, our partners are Chartered Accountants who specialise in local needs. Our partners are dedicated to providing the best accounting, tax and business advisory services to our clients.
Charteris & Barnes guarantees professional service and personal attention and provides opportunities for the previously disadvantaged.
Naas Wait
Gary McLean
Rino Nepgen
Naas Wait
BCom, CTA, CA(SA)
Naas has been a partner in our King William’s Town office since 2000.
After graduating from the University of Port Elizabeth in 1993, Naas completed his training contract at the King William’s Town office before qualifying as Chartered Accountant in 1997. He focuses on private sector accounting, auditing, taxation and public sector advisory.
Naas is the Managing Partner of Charteris & Barnes and is situated in East London.
Naas is a sports fan and loves music.
Gary McLean
BAcc, CA(SA)
Gary Mclean has been a partner in our East London Office since 2009.
After graduating from Rhodes University in 2001, Gary completed his articles in our East London branch, qualifying as a Chartered Accountant at the end of 2004. Subsequently, he worked as a financial controller for Deutsche Bank in Liverpool Street, London and more recently for the Royal Bank of Scotland. Gary’s main focus is private sector accounting, auditing and consulting.
When he is not in the office, you’ll find him travelling or playing hockey, cricket and golf.
Rino Nepgen
BCom (Hons), PGrad Dip (Law), CA(SA)
Rino Nepgen has been a partner in our King William’s Town office since 2014.
After graduating from NMMU in 2004, he completed his articles in the East London office between 2005 and 2007. He first worked as a manager and later as an associate in our East London office, specialising mainly in tax matters, before being offered a partnership in our King William’s Town office.
Rino’s main focus is private sector consulting and tax-related matters and in this capacity represents the firm and the SAICA Border region on various tax-related committees.
Rino is a Rotarian and a keen runner in his spare time.
Laurene Mokawem
Francois Nel
Celia Visser
Laurene Mokawem
BAcc, CA(SA)
Laurene has been a partner in our Queenstown office since 2010.After graduating from the University of the Free State in 2004, she completed her articles at our Queenstown office, qualifying as a Chartered Accountant at the beginning of 2008.
Laurene’s focus is private sector accounting, auditing and taxation.
Her interests include running, tennis and travelling.
Francois Nel
BComm (Rat), BComm Hons, CA(SA)
Francois Nel has been a partner at our East London Office since March 2020.
After graduating from NMMU in 2005, he completed his articles at our Queenstown branch and qualified as a Chartered Accountant at the beginning of 2009. From 2010 onwards, he moved to our East London office, where he has since gained extensive experience in public sector auditing and advisory services.
His main focus includes business process design, public sector advisory and private & public sector auditing. He also manages the public sector staffing & internal auditing assignments. He has gained valuable experience in auditing and advisory capacities, which has given him an extensive skill set.
His other interests include ICT and spending quality time with his family.
Celia Visser
Bacc (Hons), CA (SA), RA
Celia became a partner at the Port Alfred office in March 2022.
Celia graduated from the University of the Free State in 2007 and joined the firm at the start of 2008 as an article clerk. She completed her training contract at the East London office at the end of 2010 and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2011. Celia transferred to the Port Alfred office at the end of 2012 where she was appointed as a Manager in 2013 and an Associate in 2018.
Celia focuses on private-sector accounting, auditing and taxation.
Her interests include reading, research, art and organisation.
Solize Coetzer
Luxolo Tom
Craig Schenk
Solize Coetzer
BAcc (Hons), CA (SA), RA
Solize became a partner at the East London Office in March 2020.
After graduating from the University of the Free State in 2011, Solize completed her first year of traineeship as an academic trainee at the University of the Free State. She completed her training contract at the East London office in 2014 and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2015. Solize’s areas of speciality are private-sector auditing, accounting, and taxation.
Solize enjoys travelling, playing sport and spending time with her family.
Luxolo Tom
BCom Acc, AGA (SA)
Luxolo became a partner at the East London Office in June 2023.
After graduating from the University of Pretoria in 2008, he completed his articles at our East London office between 2009 and 2012. Since then, he has gained extensive experience in public and private sector environments.
Managing a diverse client base throughout the Eastern Cape, Luxolo’s areas of expertise include accounting and taxation services, assurance, due diligence, financial forecasting and analysis, and funding applications.
Outside the office, you’ll find him spending time with his family or engaging in outdoor activities such as hiking and running in his spare time.
Craig Schenk
BCOMPT, MBA, Professional Accountant (SA)
Craig has been a partner at our East London office since March 2020.
Craig joined the firm back in 1996 as an articled clerk and has accumulated 24 years of experience in the advisory, audit and accounting sector, including 2 years experience in the United Kingdom. Craig currently heads our advisory division which covers the Eastern Cape and he has accumulated over 15 years of in-depth knowledge in the public sector environment. Craig’s areas of specialisation include business valuations, due diligence, financial forecasting and analysis, fixed asset management (public and private sector), revenue enhancement, CFO support and accounting.
Craig enjoys spending time with his family, travelling, playing golf and is a sports fan.
PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANTS
Hugh Wormald
Careers at Charteris & Barnes
A large local practice such as Charteris & Barnes has the unique ability to offer trainees a broad range of professional, commercial and interpersonal experiences. This diverse exposure makes for a more attractive career advancement path. We provide a training environment in which close working relationships result in life-long professional associations and friendships:
- A training environment in which trainees work directly with the partners and training officers, and benefit significantly from “apprentice-style” training.
- Intimate involvement with clients and an opportunity to learn from a wide variety of industries and business, including intimate knowledge of their business systems and business risks – no two days are alike!
- In a smaller office environment, there are unparalleled opportunities to stand out from the crowd – effort and commitment equal the reward.
- Smaller office environments enable faster progression to supervisory levels, and the transfer of management and personnel skills are intense and invaluable.
- Educational lectures for all staff on relevant topics and access to final qualifying examination courses.
- Staff development through the attendance of various update seminars run by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants and other accredited associations.
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Why choose Charteris & Barnes
Becoming the master of your own destiny starts with a training contract with Charteris & Barnes. While you gain all the necessary exposure required under a SAICA or SAIPA training contract, you will also hone the life skills and soft skills that distinguish those who are a cut above the rest.
At Charteris & Barnes, you gain knowledge in a variety of business aspects through exposure to our diverse portfolio. Working with our clients and their individual challenges will also provide you with valuable people skills. Working and learning in the positive Charteris & Barnes team environment allows you to experience the camaraderie of people working to be more than just themselves – you will be stronger because you are part of a great team!
Need a career boost?
Make it happen!
Our greatest asset is our wonderful staff of experienced and caring professionals
Charteris & Barnes offers career opportunities for:
SAICA Trainees
SAIPA Trainees
Accounting Professionals
Chartered Accountants
Public Sector Professionals
If you value personal achievement in order to become a better team player, apply here for vacation work, article training or permanent placement.
If you want to know how to become a Chartered or Professional Accountant, contact us at careers@cbarnes.co.za.