Q&A: One lesson I’ve learnt – Tahera Nassrat

Q: What motivated you to become an accountant?

When I was at school I always enjoyed studying subjects that were practical and allowed me to get results quickly. I loved numbers too. I was often correcting my mathematics teacher and enjoyed solving numbers-based problems.

When I arrived in Australia as a refugee from Afghanistan, I was looking to study and enter a profession that would allow me to see results quickly. After researching different professions and speaking to careers advisers, I decided to study accounting.

I worked in a few companies as an accountant for a number of years before establishing T&R Accountants in 2009. I love my profession and I want to do accounting every second minute. It brings me a lot of satisfaction.

Q: It sounds like your passion for accounting has not wavered throughout your career. What’s one lesson you’ve learnt along the way?

It’s okay to make mistakes, but try to ensure they remain internal and are fixable.

Accountants carry a huge amount of responsibility. People rely on what we say and do, so we need to make sure all the information we provide is correct. Every mistake that isn’t picked up internally and exits your company will cost a client.

We have a robust process in place in our company to try to avoid mistakes. One bookkeeper does the processing, and then a second person takes over and goes through the information to make sure it’s accurate. Then it goes to the third person to check and take on the next step in the process. We’ve designed the system as a chain so if someone makes a mistake or misses something, the next person has an opportunity to notice and correct it.

We always follow this procedure of checking and analysing information to make sure what we’re telling our clients is correct. Following these steps tells clients that they can rely on us, and it keeps our reputation intact.

Q: Having established a successful business with a strong reputation, you now share many of your learnings and advice with up-and-coming entrepreneurs. What’s one piece of advice you impart onto them?

If you’re starting a new business, you need to be patient and flexible.

A lot of entrepreneurs expect to make a big profit in years one and two. My advice to them has always been to be patient and not lose hope if they don’t make a profit in the early years. If they make a loss when they’re starting out, don’t just close the business because it takes time to build and grow something from scratch.

Many people are very impatient and just want to make money overnight. But nothing comes easy in life. They need to work at it, be patient and grow their business step-by-step.

Q: How did you come to found the Afghan Peace Foundation?

Many of my clients are in the Afghan community in Sydney. They often share problems they’re facing with me and voice their concerns about issues in our community. Because I’m very involved in the community through my accounting business, they suggested that I would be a good leader and advocate for our community.

Hearing their requests and observing the need in our community, I decided to set up a charity in 2019. I called it the Afghan Peace Foundation because the idea was to establish a platform where all ethnic groups could come together under the one platform to shake hands, enjoy our traditions, and experience the love and pain for Afghanistan under the banner of peace.

We support and educate a lot of refugees and asylum seekers, and help them become financially independent. We also do a lot of work in supporting senior members of our community, as well as helping people experiencing mental health issues or domestic and family violence.

It’s very rewarding and I’m glad to be giving back to my community in this way.