Finalist: SAICA Trainee Trailblazer Awards 2025

Nikyle Perumaul is a Senior Associate at PwC South Africa whose work is redefining the future of audit through innovation, automation, and digital transformation. His contributions span tool development, strategic dashboarding, and firmwide upskilling — positioning him as a standout Disruptive Innovator in the profession.

Nikyle’s most impactful achievement is the enhancement and co-development of a multi-country dashboarding system that consolidates financial and non-financial KPIs for PwC Africa Audit Partners. Drawing from over 20 data sources, the tool enables strategic insights across PwC’s South, East, and West Market Areas, driving decision-making at scale and fostering cross-border collaboration.

He also created the national audit trainee booking dashboard, now used firmwide to monitor and optimise trainee allocations. This tool has streamlined resource management and improved operational efficiency across South Africa.

To support long-term planning, Nikyle built the PwC Africa client target dashboard, which tracks client growth targets for the next three financial years. It has become a cornerstone of PwC Africa’s business development strategy.

Nikyle’s technical expertise has earned national recognition. He is the only trainee to reach the finals of both the 2024 and 2025 South African Excel Championships, ranking 10th nationally in 2025. He also developed an automated IFRS 16 lease model in Excel, simplifying one of the most complex accounting standards. The model accommodates lease modifications and other intricacies, making it accessible and efficient for audit teams.

In 2025, Nikyle led a certification initiative, upskilling and certifying over 60 audit trainees in low-code automation tools. This project empowered trainees to embrace digital transformation and contribute to tech-enabled audit delivery.

Over the last few financial quarters, Nikyle has produced the most audit digital tools within PwC amongst trainees, consistently delivering solutions that enhance audit quality and efficiency. His contributions earned him a place among PwC’s Top 35 Under 35 Youth Month finalists, recognising his leadership in tech innovation.

Beyond tool development, Nikyle co-presents a firmwide digital initiative that equips audit associates with digital skills and guides them in applying these capabilities to both audit and accounting. This initiative fosters a culture of continuous learning and digital fluency.

As a PwC Next Generation Audit Ambassador, Nikyle actively promotes the integration of AI and predictive analytics into audit processes. He advocates for a tech-powered, human-led approach that enhances audit insight and relevance in a rapidly evolving business landscape.

Nikyle Perumaul exemplifies the spirit of a Disruptive Innovator — pushing boundaries, empowering others, and redefining what’s possible in audit through technology. His work is shaping the future of the profession, proving that innovation is not just about tools, but about vision, leadership, and impact.