The newly appointed Deputy Executive Dean of the College of Accounting Sciences, Prof Cameron Modisane, hails from humble beginnings. Growing up in a township, Modisane always hungered for academic success. As a result, he was one of the first few black people to attain a PhD in Accounting before age 35.

His love for numbers was discovered in primary school, where he easily obtained 100% in mathematics. He also helped fellow learners who struggled with the subjects. However, it was in high school that he discovered his interest in accounting, where he was a top learner and achieved the highest marks in the subject. As an 18-year-old, the young Modisane proceeded to the University of Pretoria to pursue his undergraduate and later postgraduate studies. He later registered and excelled in his master's degree at the University of Johannesburg. 

Prof Cameron Modisane, Deputy Executive Dean of the College of Accounting Sciences.

His career started at PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2009, where he worked as a trainee auditor. Later, he acquired a PhD in Accounting Sciences from the University of the North-West while working as an audit manager at the Auditor General of South Africa. Modisane says: "I always had a zeal to study further, even though it was challenging to complete a PhD while working full-time for an audit firm as a manager." A hardworking trailblazer in his own right, Modisane completed his PhD in three and a half years at age 33.

In 2020, he was appointed as a professor at Unisa. Shortly after his appointment, Modisane became a media magnet and is often invited to share expert insights on platforms like eNCA News, SABC and more. His illustrious career includes being a board director and treasurer for the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA SA). He is also currently the chairperson of the Finance, Risk and Audit Committee of Oxfam South Africa's board and the treasurer-general of the South African Association of PhDs (SAAPhDs). Furthermore, he is a social activist who is passionate about education and works with several non-profit organisations. 

Prominent career

Modisane is a member of the Chartered Institute of Business Accountants (CIBA), the Institute of Directors Southern Africa (IoDSA), the Institute of Internal Auditors South Africa, the Association for the Advancement of Black Accountants Southern Africa (ABASA), and the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA). In pursuit of academic excellence, Unisa appoints distinguished academics in various positions, including management roles, to assist the university towards its goal of reclaiming Africa's intellectual futures and its place at the top tier of tertiary education institutions on the continent. As deputy executive dean, Modisane brings eminent knowledge and experience to the position to benefit Unisa students. He says: Since I serve in board structures of professional bodies, I will use my social capital and industry experience to take the College of Accounting Sciences to greater heights by leveraging relationships and partnerships created over the years." He adds: "I will be working closely with all accounting professional bodies to improve further our product offerings, which will ultimately benefit our students when they enter the job market or start their businesses."

As deputy executive dean, Modisane manages over 200 people, including academics and administrators. The College of Accounting Sciences has over 30,000 students enrolled in various undergraduate and postgraduate accounting courses. "I help to provide strategic direction for the college regarding teaching and learning, research and innovation, academic citizenship and engaged scholarship," he says. Modisane also works with several professional accounting bodies that credit the college's accounting qualifications and manage its relationship with them. He continues: "I also work closely with potential student funders, including employers and organisations like BANKSETA and FASSET, who help to fund accounting education for South African students. In addition, I supervise master's and PhD students in various accounting disciplines."

Unisa strives to conduct research that has meaning and relevance for the people of South Africa and the African continent while also being of value globally. Modisane fits like a glove to the university culture; he shares: "I have a passion for accounting research, and I will continue to work together with my colleagues in producing more accounting scholars like us and also working on publishing scientific journal articles to benefit and propel accounting research with a special focus on African epistemology and indigenous knowledge systems."

He says: "I am ready to roll up my sleeves to work closely with the executive dean, our academics and administrators to bring out the best in the college and produce more professionals and accounting research scholars." He concludes: "I am excited about this new role and will be working with key partners and stakeholders to benefit our students by offering competitive accounting programmes in the market."

#UnisaDistinguishedScholars 

* Submitted by the College of Accounting Sciences