Professional & Powerful Women - Lynette Pretorius

“Women entering professional services industries should have confidence in their own abilities and invest consistently in their personal and professional growth.”

Words of wisdom from Lynette, owner of Austral Accounting in Umhlanga, who has spent nearly three decades building a career in finance, tax and long-term planning while establishing herself as a leader in a traditionally male-dominated industry.

“To anyone building a business or career in a professional services environment, my first piece of advice is this: back yourself. The knowledge, the qualifications and the capability are yours, do not let imposter syndrome or anyone else’s low expectations hold you back,” she said.
Lynette joined Austral Accounting 29 years ago and eventually took ownership of the firm. Today, she leads a team of seven and a firm that has since expanded beyond traditional accounting services to include cloud accounting, payroll, tax planning, business advisory, financial planning and estate planning.

A qualified Professional Accountant (SA), registered tax practitioner and holder of a postgraduate qualification in financial planning, Lynette said her focus has always been on offering clients broader financial guidance rather than simply handling compliance work.

Lynette said continuous learning has been central to her career development. Over the years, she has participated in programmes including the Graça Machel Trust’s Women Creating Wealth initiative, FASSET’s Women in Leadership programme and other leadership and investment-focused training opportunities.

Lynette said KwaZulu-Natal’s entrepreneurial culture and growing business environment have played an important role in Austral Accounting’s growth. “The province has an energy and entrepreneurial spirit that I find deeply inspiring,” she said.

She added that while the accounting profession remains heavily regulated and constantly evolving, women in leadership spaces are still often required to prove themselves repeatedly in industries historically dominated by men, although she believes this is gradually changing.
She was recently nominated among KwaZulu-Natal’s top women in business, while Austral Accounting was recognised nationally as a finalist in the 2025 Xero Awards South Africa in the Digital Innovator category for its use of cloud-based accounting technology.

For Lynette, long-term business success is rooted in trust and relationships. “The businesses that have stayed with Austral Accounting for decades are here because they trust us,” she said.

Website: www.australaccounting.co.za