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.
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 directors, who have practiced 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.
We provide on-the-job training for young accountants to build future capacities.
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 who 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.
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.
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.
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.Acc in 1991, and his HDip (Tax) in 1995, all 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.
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 Honours in 2014 also at 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.