By De Wet de Villiers, Managing Partner, AJM
The rise of South Africa’s professional services sector is no accident. It is the product of resilience, reinvention, and remarkable human capital. At AJM, we’ve lived this journey. In just five years, we’ve grown from a boutique tax consultancy in Cape Town into a multi-regional firm, expanding our team by 400%. Our growth story mirrors a larger trend: South Africa is entering a golden era for specialist consultancies.
While I will continue to advise long-standing and strategic clients, the momentum of our business calls for a sharper focus on leadership, business scale, and strategic direction. As a result, my role has evolved from being a client-facing partner to taking on the more full-time responsibilities of a Managing Partner.
A Quiet Talent Revolution
It may surprise many, but South Africa is rich in highly skilled finance and legal professionals. Contrary to common perceptions, South Africa has become a sought-after hub for sourcing top-tier talent to deliver world-class professional services. Our experience at AJM has been no exception to this. We are not scrambling for talent – we’re spoiled for choice.
Globally, advisory firms receive limited qualified applications for a job post. Here, we receive dozens of high-calibre submissions from qualified accountants, tax practitioners, and lawyers, many with dual or even triple qualifications. These are future-fit professionals: analytically strong, practically oriented, extremely motivated, and ready to add value from day one.
The implication is profound. If nurtured correctly, this talent base could unlock exponential value for clients and the broader economy. South Africa’s professional services sector is not just growing; it’s quietly redefining global standards of excellence in technical advisory work.
The Value of Specialisation
In an increasingly complex and regulated world, generalists struggle to keep up. That’s why our strategy has remained unapologetically focused: stay specialist, stay sharp.
At AJM, tax is not just a service line – it’s our core. We don’t dilute our offering with distractions. We solve high-stakes problems for clients who need depth, nuance, and clear commercial guidance. As a result, our clients trust us to help them navigate both regulatory requirements and strategic opportunities. That trust has propelled us into new markets, including Johannesburg and Namibia.
I’ve learned over the past years as a strategic leader in the professional services space that scaling a professional services firm in South Africa isn’t about growing for the sake of growth. It’s about deepening your niche, investing in talent, and building a culture where people are not just retained but inspired.
A Growing Market with Bigger Opportunities
According to Statista, South Africa’s professional services market is expected to grow to over US$260 million in 2025, reaching US$313 million by 2029. But that’s only part of the story.
Within this broader market, specialist consultancies are likely to outpace this average by being agile, technically focused, and deeply client-centric. As geopolitical risks, tax complexities, ESG imperatives, and cross-border regulations intensify, clients are turning away from bloated generalist firms toward specialist advisors who deliver fast, actionable insight.
The World Economic Forum projects that demographic shifts, technological disruption, and the green transition will radically reshape global labour markets by 2030. Rather than a threat, this marks a new opportunity for professional services in South Africa. Those who can harness future-ready skills and local expertise will win.
What’s Next
As we open the next chapter, our goal is simple: to lead with purpose, grow with discipline, and deliver with excellence. We’ll deepen our roots in South Africa and expand further into Namibia, where we see untapped potential in financial services and tax advisory.
But our mission goes beyond market share. The key is to build a firm where professionals thrive, clients gain true strategic advantage, and technical work is elevated into something greater: a driver of trust, growth, and resilience in business.
The professional services boom in South Africa is real. And with the right mix of specialisation, talent, and vision, it’s only just beginning.
Visit De Wet De Villiers’ LinkedIn profile here.