Calvin de Bruin CA(SA), 29

Finalist: Future-Fit Innovator | SAICA Top-35-Under-35 Awards 2025

Calvin de Bruin is reshaping the future of the accounting profession — not only through cutting-edge innovation but by building a movement of mentorship, access, and empowerment. As Head of Innovation at HLB CBS GROUP and Corporate Finance Partner & Director at HLB CBS Group Capital, Calvin combines technical expertise in M&A and valuations with a visionary approach to AI-driven transformation. His mission is clear: to make world-class tools accessible and affordable for developing markets, and to ensure that every student and SME has the support they need to thrive.

Calvin is the co-founder of The Pocket CA, an AI-powered assistant revolutionising how students and professionals engage with technical standards. The Student Edition provides underprivileged distance learners with access to IFRS, ISAs, and mentoring content — bridging the gap between full-time and remote education. The Professional Edition empowers mid-tier and smaller firms with automated analytical reviews, red-flag detection, and commentary templates, saving hundreds of hours annually. Piloted with firms like the CORE Network, BDO, Nexia SAB&T, and Kreston, and developed in collaboration with SAICA, The Pocket CA is fast becoming a cornerstone of the future-ready CA toolkit.

His innovation journey doesn’t stop there. Calvin also co-founded The Pocket Auditor, a beta-stage platform designed to automate up to 60% of audit workflows, fully mapped to ISAs. Built with human-in-the-loop governance, it ensures audit quality while driving efficiency — a game-changer for firms without dedicated innovation teams.

But Calvin’s impact goes far beyond technology. He is the co-author of the Articles Survival Guide series, a national mentorship initiative that has reached thousands of students and trainees across South Africa. The guides offer practical advice, mental resilience strategies, and real-world insights to help trainees navigate the toughest years of their careers. With editions tailored for both accounting and law students, and a growing sponsorship portfolio including Standard Bank, Profmed, and CIRCIT, the initiative is embedded into onboarding and wellness programs at over 120 firms.

Through bi-weekly newsletters, curated toolkits, and campus activations, Calvin has built a thriving community of young professionals. His strategic plan for 2025 includes expanding distribution, launching a digital mentorship platform, and deepening partnerships with universities and firms — all aimed at building a more resilient, better-prepared generation of professionals.

Calvin’s philosophy is simple: “Innovation should remove barriers, not create them.” Whether he’s mentoring students, embedding AI into audit workflows, or building scalable support systems, his work is rooted in purpose, accessibility, and excellence.

A true Future-Fit Innovator, Calvin de Bruin is not just imagining the future of the profession — he’s building it. His legacy is one of transformation, inclusion, and leadership, and his impact is already being felt across South Africa’s professional landscape.