My Back Story

How it all began

Originally hailing from South Africa, Nikesh Harrinarain aka "THE NiK" stumbled into music by learning to play the harmonium by ear at age 6. At age 16, I took up the violin despite opposition from my music teacher who at the time thought that I was too old to begin. I was so passionate and obsessed about classical music at the time that I did not just succeed with the violin, I also started to learn how to play the first movement of the Violin Concerto in E Minor by Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847) in my third year of violin lessons with the same teacher who could not stop bragging that I was her best student of all time !

Children who learn to play classical music often perform well academically. At school and university, I was no exception to the rule. I consistently featured at the top of the best academic achievers list in my accounting studies - a subject area that is known to be very complex and challenging.

Classical music taught me a lot about discipline, perseverance, dedication, passion, patience, following the rules, intense focus and overcoming adversity. Coupled with a strong eye for detail and an outstanding memory, it has contributed to sharpening my skills as an accountant.

Very few people know that when I completed high school, I originally wanted to study orchestra conducting in Vienna, Austria. I was obsessed with wanting to emulate my musical heroes, Otto Klemperer, Leonard Bernstein and Zubin Mehta and become a high profile recording artist. Sadly, my father and violin teacher dissuaded me from going down that path and recommended that I follow a "safe profession" like accounting. I grudgingly accepted. Fortunately, both my violin teacher and father encouraged me to continue indulging in music as a hobby rather than risk becoming a struggling, starving musician.

As an accountant, I got to work for three of the "Big 4 Accounting Firms" in three different countries [South Africa, Bermuda and Canada]. I gained broad exposure to a variety of business entities ranging from small trusts to large banks that were listed on a stock exchange. In addition, I mastered the skill of interpreting and applying generally accepted accounting principles of IFRS, US GAAP, Canadian GAAP and taxation rules. From 2010 - 2012, I lectured at the University of KwaZulu-Natal's Accounting Faculty alongside the same lecturers who had taught me during my student days.

After relocating to Canada in 2012, I unexpectedly found myself laid-off in 2013 from a "Big 4" accounting firm that was struggling to keep up with its competitors. In late 2014, the oil prices plunged. There were mass layoffs throughout Canada's oil and gas sector. Jobs were scarce. Once again, I had to overcome adversity. For almost four, consecutive, painfully long years (2013 - 2017), I faced constant job interview rejections despite getting stellar feedback and praises from the interviewers. My patience was being tested. My savings and unemployment insurance were eventually going to run out. I knew that I had to change my strategy.

As luck would have it, in March 2017, I attended an entrepreneurship event at my local library. I learned about the Self-Employment Program. A program that was run by the local provincial government as an initiative to encourage entrepreneurship and also to educate business owners about all aspects of running a business. I applied to the program and got accepted. It was here that I learned about combining my accounting skills with my passion for the arts to create a niche service offering in my city.

By taking baby steps into the daunting world of entrepreneurship I overcame another obstacle that I hated and avoided >>> Networking. My first three bookkeeping clients were my colleagues in my intake group. Through regular attendance at business meetup groups and volunteering in local arts events, I slowly grew my client base over many years and have not looked back ever since.

Today, with more than seven years experience of running my own business, I enjoy serving business owners behind the scenes by helping them stay on top of their financial responsibilities and "propelling them beyond success."

Throughout my life, I still indulged in music as a hobby. Up to the point where I played in orchestras, taught myself to play the guitar and piano, and best of all - started composing my own original orchestral music. Having this passion for the performing arts has set me apart from other accountants who do not have a flair and detailed understanding of the accounting and tax challenges faced by artists and arts organizations.

If you enjoyed getting to know me, please check out my Linkedin profile for a detailed description of my professional experience.

Be sure to listen to my original music compositions on my YouTube channel : @TheComposingAccountant. Let me know what you think !!