About Barend

I started out as an auditor, where finance, valuations and the discipline of precise thinking became the foundation of how I work. That grounding has stayed with me, but over time, I also came to understand its limitations.

Integrity

My Story

One lesson has stayed with me above all others: the numbers can tell you where a business stands, but they cannot tell you how far it can go. That answer lies elsewhere, in vision, in values and, most importantly, in the people who bring those things to life.


I am a chartered accountant by training, and that rigour will always be part of how I think. But I no longer see it as the whole story. It is the foundation, not the ceiling.


Today, what I bring is broader. Real commercial experience, sound financial judgement to keep a strategy grounded, and a genuine optimism about what is possible when the right people and ideas come together.

My work sits at the intersection of strategy, transformation and leadership. That is where I have built my experience, and where I believe I can make the greatest difference.

How I Choose To Lead

I have always been interested in understanding what makes people tick, including myself. Over time, I have come to recognise a handful of qualities that consistently shape how I think, lead and work with others.

  • Perspective

    People come to me for perspective. I help them step back, see the bigger picture and understand how the pieces fit together.

  • Integrity

    I believe in being honest, consistent and straightforward. What I say and how I act should always align.

  • Kindness

    I take people seriously. I believe good business is ultimately about people, and that how you treat others matters.

  • Humility

    I don't need to be the loudest voice in the room. I would rather let the work, the people and the results speak for themselves.

  • Zest

    I bring energy to what I do. I care deeply about the work, and I believe that enthusiasm is contagious.

Sometimes the answer isn’t to work harder It’s to look at the problem differently. 

I believe in being honest, consistent and straightforward. What I say and how I act should always align.

Integrity

Built Through Experience

My perspective on business has been shaped by years of being in the room, making decisions, navigating change and building organisations.

Centry Consulting 

Founded 2019

Founded Centry Consulting to work alongside business owners facing pressure, change and significant decisions. The work spans turnaround and restructuring, valuations, virtual CFO support and scenario planning.

SAICA

Mentor

Continuing to mentor young Chartered Accountants through SAICA. Developing people and igniting potential in others remains one of the parts of my work I value most.

The Leadership Boardroom

Chair, Midstream, Gauteng

Chair of the Midstream chapter of The Leadership Boardroom, a private peer forum where business owners and senior leaders share experience, challenge one another and work through complex business decisions together.

Credo Business College

CEO since 2023

Leading an institution providing accredited accounting qualifications to students across South Africa, with a focus on developing the next generation of financial professionals.