“There’s no point doing anything halfway. Whatever job you do, go all in. Go as deep as you can.” That’s the mentality my latest guest on Calculated Conversations, Mr. Christiaan Coetzee CA(SA), lives and leads by. A SAICA Top 35-under-35 winner and the founder of The Audit Toolbar, a supercharged Excel plugin adopted by thousands and used across hundreds of firms, Mr. Coetzee is reshaping the way we think about auditing, efficiency, and innovation.
In this episode, we dove into some of the most pressing questions facing professionals today: What does the future of accounting look like? What critical skills must auditors develop? How do you lead with impact in high-pressure environments? And above all, how do you stay ahead when the pace of change has never been faster?
Here’s what he had to say:
1. The Audit Toolbar is revolutionizing the auditing process. What inspired you to build a tool that drastically improves audit efficiency and quality?
The Story Behind The Audit Toolbar
What inspired me to build the Audit Toolbar was really just addressing my own frustrations in the profession. What also helped was the fact that I had a background in software and automation, along with my chartered accountancy experience. This included working for CaseWare as one of their developers, as well as working on internal software teams at BDO in the UK.
So, on the one hand, I could see what was possible with technology, and on the other, I had very real frustrations while doing audits. That’s where the idea for the Audit Toolbar came from. Me solving my own problem and then passing it along to others who had similar issues, just as you would help a neighbor or friend.
2. You’ve built a career that blends accounting with software development. How do you see technology reshaping the accounting and audit industries in the next 5–10 years?
Technology’s Role in the Future of Accounting and Auditing
That’s a very difficult question, because the pace of technological change right now is unlike anything we’ve seen before in human history. There has never been a time when technology has moved as quickly as it is now. So even judging it on a five- to ten-year horizon is almost impossible. I’d say it’s becoming difficult even to predict what things will look like in two years.
What I do see is a lot of AI being incorporated into our tools, processes, and ways of working. I think that will be the biggest shift. In terms of reshaping the accounting industry, what I hope for, especially in the audit space, is that we start moving away from this “after-the-fact” value model, which is very government-focused. An audit is mandated, so we have to do it three months after year-end, talking about transactions that happened 12 to 15 months ago. For an entrepreneur, that’s meaningless, it becomes a box-ticking exercise.
I’m hoping we start using AI and automation tools to tick the legislative boxes in a more efficient way, so we can become more proactive. Can we build systems, as external auditors, for our clients that trigger red flags as they happen throughout the year? And how do we more actively work with our clients to develop internal controls?
That’s a big challenge for small businesses, setting up those systems and procedures. Often you’ve got someone deeply passionate about a specific solution, with all their life experience in that one area, and now they’re trying to build a business. They turn to auditors to help build and strengthen the machine running in the background. So I hope we as auditors become more active in that side of things and less reactive to legislative requirements. Not saying that’s definitely where it’s headed, but that’s just what I hope will happen.
3. As a SAICA Top 35-under-35 winner, how has this recognition impacted your professional journey, and what advice would you give to young professionals aiming for similar recognition?
The SAICA Recognition and Professional Growth
I think the biggest thing about the SAICA award is that it wasn’t something I was aiming for. Right up until the evening they started announcing the winners, I had no expectation at all of receiving it. For me, the goal has always been the mission from question one. I was frustrated with certain aspects of auditing and, from an empathetic standpoint, I reached out to colleagues and other auditors and said, “Hey, you must be frustrated too. I’ve got something that might help.” That’s always been the goal: how do we improve and move forward in the profession?
So, the award itself shouldn’t be the goal. That’s the advice I’d give to young professionals, but don’t make the award the objective. Focus on your mission. There’s a need, a gap in the market that you can fill and make an impact in hundreds, if not thousands, of lives by executing on that mission. If you do and you get recognized along the way, that’s wonderful and something to cherish. But that shouldn’t be the goal. The goal should be: how do you change the lives of your neighbors?
4. What are the most critical skills and mindset shifts auditors and accountants need to embrace to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape?
Adapting to Technological Change
I think the biggest blind spot accountants and auditors have in adopting technology is underestimating the speed of change. I don’t think we’ve ever seen anything like this in history. Some firms are fully embracing this and will be enormously successful. Those who don’t will be left behind.
So, my advice is: build a habit of continuously exploring what’s out there. Test things. Try new tools. Deploy solutions into your firm and workflows. Always look for those improvements. When you talk to colleagues or engage online, ask about what technologies others are using and how it’s working for them.
You can’t be in a position anymore where, a year from now, you’re still doing things the same way as today. Those days are gone. We used to do audits the same way for years, but that method is completely gone. Skip one year of innovation now, and you could fall so far behind that it becomes impossible to catch up. That’s the mindset shift auditors and accountants must go through to thrive in this landscape.
5. Reflecting on your career, what key lessons have you learned about leadership and innovation, particularly in high-pressure environments like auditing?
Leadership and Work Ethic in High-Pressure Environments
The first thing is: you need to build an extraordinary work ethic. No matter where you end up, that will carry you far. By work ethic, I mean show up on time, do what you say you’re going to do, and communicate, overcommunicate, especially in remote environments. Just build up that incredible consistency. Ask questions if you don’t understand something, push back when necessary, and make sure you’re a real asset to the team.
Secondly, we often look at a job as just clocking in and out. But if you zoom out and look at your time as part of the limited time you have on Earth, there’s no point doing anything halfway. Whatever job you do, go all in. Go as deep as you can. Learn as much as possible. Once you do that, you’ll start seeing gaps, and those gaps are opportunities. If you have a strong work ethic, you’ll be able to act on those opportunities. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a first-year trainee or a partner.
And third, leadership is all about leading by example. Your behavior, attitude, and way of operating will reflect through your team. It all starts with people. Show up. Show people how to solve problems. The rest follows. Leadership becomes easy if you stay authentic and lead by example.
Throughout this conversation, Mr. Coetzee shared valuable insights that extend far beyond auditing or accounting, they’re relevant to the entire business world. His emphasis on persistent improvement, continuous innovation, and avoiding redundancy in our methods year after year is a mindset we should all adopt if we want to grow and stay relevant in this technological revolution.
He also reminded us that integrating AI, especially for automation, is no longer optional. It’s essential. And perhaps most powerfully, he stressed the value of soft skills: being on time, following through, and making every limited hour on Earth count. Simple principles, but game-changing when lived out consistently, as clearly seen by the success of the audit toolbar.
The audit toolbar is a great example of how the technological revolution is playing a major role in reshaping industries, and you can check it out here: Official Website
As a bonus, here is the link to “The Modern Auditor’s Survival Kit”, which is packed with 10 game-changing tips for auditors to help them work smarter and not harder: The Modern Auditor’s Survival Kit
If you enjoyed this article make sure to check out this conversation I had with an associate director at a big 4 firm: Conversation with Yunus Essop
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