We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Shamela John. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Shamela below.
Alright, Shamela thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Please tell us about starting your own firm and if you’d do anything different knowing what you know now.
I never thought that I would have my own business in accounting. I spent 80% of the time studying the profession, applying it and seeking more ways to improve my efficiency. However, at the time, I was dismissed from a job of 5 years with a partner of 10 years due to gender discrimination. I wanted to maintain career growth and use all of the skills I have. I sat November 4, 2020 as I was about to end my life. But I got up and went to Deeds Registry to register RESYSCO by SJ with the last few cents i had on me. To be a chartered accountant, I had to secure my ACCA membership, this was quite a challenge with my previous manager who was required to sign on my experience. Nevertheless, it was successful after I received some assistance from persons working there. Thereafter, it was a lot of networking with the aim to connect. I tried to apply at several banks but was faced with gender discrimination and because I didn’t have a partner to support me. I secured a job on a project amongst many other specialists who helped to put a lot of things into perspective for me.
Being a part of the Cherie Blair Mentorship sessions gave me someone I could have confided in because their interest was mainly on my approach and what I intended to do to get there. Being apart of the Cherie Blair Road to Growth & Finance program exposed me to potential clients. The women from the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry also provided tremendous support to the process of new business ownership. I would have also reproached the banks, this time leading the conversation. I wrote emails, had one on one conversations on how best the banks can assist with bettering my position to secure loans for business and home purposes.
I would have looked at those in mentorship capacity different especially males. Reflecting on the advice I received from male mentors kept me in the field I wanted but at a level below them. It was this major break away that led me to believe in myself, to hear feedback on my own work, further my education and never to step foot in someone else’s shadow.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
RESYSCO by SJ was established in November, 2020 and is registered under the Business Names
(Registration) Act, Chapter 90:05. RESYSCO came from the words RECORD MANAGEMENT-
SYSTEMS-INTERNAL CONTROLS.
At RESYSCO, we realized that all newly established entities generally share these common
pitfalls. Little to no records are kept, no system is established to provide management with
information and no controls to ensure the systems are operating effectively. RESYSCO is a strong
believer that entities should focus on their core services, while allowing us to help you create an
efficient, quality accounting environment, that will enable you to make business decisions in a
timely manner.
This firm was created with the interest of helping to foster a strong foundation for local businesses
and companies to compete with increasing presence of international companies in Guyana’s
economy. Over the past three years, since oil discovery in Guyana, the presence of international
companies has visibly grown and this is expected to continue to increase. Our economy welcomes
these international companies. Nevertheless, RESYSCO appreciates that in welcoming them, we
need to advocate for our local emerging businesses and companies. This is now more critical than
ever since an international company trying to establish would be ahead of our local entities because
they are coming with an already established market presence and financial support.
RESYSCO’s aim is to help you start the right way, with the right tools and on the right path to
accountability and better management decisions through bespoke systems and controls.
RESYSCO believes Guyana will see tremendous economic growth and it is important that this
growth is inclusive that our local entities and our cottage industries are not eliminated in the
process. RESYSCO commits to work assiduously to improve the quality of accountability in the
business world and looks forward to work with others – from the clients to wider stakeholders –
to use the knowledge, skills and experience.
Ms. Shamela John (SJ) is the sole proprietor of RESYSCO by SJ. Ms. John is responsible for
developing and implementing an effective systems and internal controls. At the commencement
of newly established entities, Ms. John would spend time understanding the clients reason for
existence and creates bespoke systems that suit their operations.
Ms. John started her first job at the age of seventeen (17) at Ram and McRae as a Junior Audit
Clerk 1 in the Audit Department. During her time there, she would have had the opportunity to
work closely with the Audit Partner and Managing Director on audits and ad hoc projects
(Annually published by Ram and McRae Budget Focus). This provided exposure to various
entities by size, function and content.
Due to undying love for auditing and accounting, Ms. John found herself increasing her experience
on the job but not the theory. She then embarked on studying Accounting and left Ram and McRae
to work on a contractual basis at the Health Sector Development Unit where she would have more
time to focus on completing her ACCA exams.
In October, 2015, she was given the great opportunity play an integral part in to start an accounting
and auditing firm – Chateram Ramdihal, Chartered Accountants, Professional Services Firm. The
firm has grown over the years under Ms. John’s management and leadership.
Ms. John also took an active role during the year 2017 in the establishment and management of
Ramdihal and Haynes a management and consultation firm, who partnered with Haynes, Inc. is a
contracting firm that provides staff and business solutions assistance to clients.
Early 2019, she was once again actively involved in the setting up and launching The Caribbean
Institute of Forensic Accounting – Guyana who partnered with Stephon Grey, Founder of CIFA &
Director of CIFA Consulting Limited located in Trinidad and Tobago.
At this point Ms. John understood and appreciate exactly what she was good at. She then made the
conscious decision to position herself to help the Guyanese entrepreneurs operate in business better
by laying an accountable foundation for data mining. As such RESYSCO by SJ was birthed.
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?
To start, I was left in a few millions of debt due to my prior business/personal arrangement with my employer. I sold my car to clear two of my debts outstanding, the smaller loan was manageable. I then applied for a job as Finance Specialist with a fixed income after which I was able to bring a staff on board to my business to take some of my work load off. I then secured a second project job which allowed me to secure an office space, becoming a member of organizations aligned with RESYSCO. Two and a half years in and I am transitioning fully to RESYSCO off of the projects as it is being wrapped up. Timing is key to this process.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
We have been building our brand since we started interacting. The people i have worked with and worked for has indirectly spread the satisfaction of my work. Consistency played an integral part. At the age of 18, Mr. Ram said “I create accountants/ auditors that let my work speak for me” To this day, I pride myself in client satisfaction.
Contact Info:
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