Accountants rule JSE roost

Cape Town - About a third of the chief executives of the 194 top listed companies on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange are chartered accountants, the SA Institute of Chartered Accounants (Saica) said on Thursday.

It said it had completed a comprehensive update of the JSC's database of directorships which showed that 32% of CEOs and a further 32%, or 692, of directors at the top listings were qualified chartered accounants.

In contrast, 9.8% of board directors held an MBA.

Saica chief executive Matsobane Matlwa said the findings debunked the myth that qualifying as a chartered accountant only served to prepare students for careers as auditors, accountants or corporate specialists.

"Clearly the business sector is increasingly appreciating the extraordinary business value they can derive from the expertise of the nation's most sought after business qualification.

"South Africa's chartered accountants are leaders in business in many diverse roles. There is no better qualification for aspiring corporate tycoons, innovative entrepreneurs or captains of industry."