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Beyond the Books: Building a Professional Edge Outside the Classroom
Because debits and credits are just the beginning.
Xavier Prospero
July 22, 2025
Beyond the Books: Building a Professional Edge Outside the Classroom
2 Min Read | 465 Words
🧠 Fun Fact:
Airbnb started as a side hustle — the founders sold cereal boxes branded “Obama O’s” and “Cap’n McCain” to fund their startup. That quirky idea raised $30,000 and helped them land their first investors.
The Technical Ceiling
Becoming a CA(SA) is a technical achievement, and one absolutely worth celebrating, but technical skills alone won’t make you indispensable.
Whether you’re prepping for APC or starting a trainee contract, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that IFRS mastery or tax legislation is enough. But the real world demands more. Clients, stakeholders, and employers value professionals who can communicate clearly, sell ideas, and think commercially.
The modern finance professional is no longer a number-cruncher. They're a strategist, a problem-solver and even a bit of a salesperson.
Side Projects = Real-World MBA
Having a side hustle or project isn’t a distraction but it’s actually a fast track to building business acumen.
Running an online store, tutoring accounting students, or launching a podcast can teach you:
Cash flow management (yes, your income statement might be just Excel),
Marketing and customer acquisition, and
Decision-making under uncertainty.
You learn to wear multiple hats( CEO, bookkeeper, strategist), skills that are invaluable to future CFOs and audit partners.
And if you're still in varsity? Start small. A freelance accounting gig goes a long way in giving you commercial exposure.
Sell It Like a CA
Most CAs aren't taught how to sell, but sales is the secret sauce in advisory, audit, and entrepreneurship because at the end of the day if you have no clients your technical skills don’t matter
Think about it:
Convincing a partner to adopt your idea? That's a pitch.
Getting a client to sign off on your recommendation? Sales.
Leading a team through a tough deadline? Influence, also sales just wearing a disguise.
Practice:
Asking great questions.
Listening actively.
Framing benefits over features.
Even the best spreadsheets don’t sell themselves.
Success isn't just about what you know, it's who knows what you know.
Attend networking events. Message that LinkedIn mentor. Say yes to presenting during your audit rotation. These may feel small, but they build visibility, trust, and confidence which are all key to a thriving career in finance.
And don’t wait until you qualify. The CA(SA) letters open doors, but it’s your personal brand that keeps them open.
Round-Up
Aspiring professionals often underestimate how non-technical skills can accelerate their careers.
Here’s your development checklist this semester:
✅ Launch or join a side project,
✅ Learn to pitch — ideas, services, yourself,
✅ Attend one new networking event per month,
✅ Invest in your personal brand (hello, LinkedIn!).
In accounting, your knowledge gets you in the door. But your soft skills, business sense, and hustle are what make you stand out.
Podcast Suggestion
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Sign Up for Trainee Contract Opportunities
For those of you working toward your CA(SA) qualification, we’ve got great news! As a subscriber to The Journal Entry, we’re doing our best to find article program opportunities for you.
Don’t miss the chance to grow your professional network and take that crucial step toward your CA(SA) designation.
Be sure to fill out the sign-up form linked below to stay informed about upcoming trainee positions!
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