Meet the Founder, Hanneke Barlow

Born and bred in the Windy City, with the happiest childhood memories from chasing butterflies in Dolfyntjie Pre-Primary, riding our bikes to Summerwood Primary and finally crossing the road from my parents house where I spent some of the best years of my life in Pearson High School.

My accounting journey started with Ms Blignaut, our accounting teacher back then, suggesting I pursue the subject at tertiary level.

Thanks to her and a lot of prayers and grace, I followed my family roots to Stellenbosch University to study accounting and spent phenomenal years there, first in Nemesia Koshuis and later in Bergzicht Plaza.

Love and life after varsity had me settle in various cities including a return to Port Elizabeth, a big move to Bloemfontein and finally we settled down in Johannesburg where my dreams of a picket fenced life with two labradors and a house full of kids became a dream come true.

I was made for corporate life. Heels, pencil skirts, and sky skraping corner offices coupled with an innate work ethic that was the perfect fit for a fabulous accounting career.

In 2015 I chose the adventurous, tough journey of entrepreneurship with the vision of mastering both sides of what I valued in life: having a big family and providing an unsurpassable professional service to my own clients.

Born and raised in the Windy City, my happiest childhood memories include chasing butterflies at Dolfyntjie Pre-Primary, riding bikes to Summerwood Primary, and finally, crossing the road from my parents’ house to Pearson High School, where I spent some of the best years of my life.

My accounting journey began with Ms. Blignaut, my high school accounting teacher, who saw something in me and encouraged me to pursue the subject further. Thanks to her, and a whole lot of prayers and grace, I followed my family roots to Stellenbosch University, where I studied accounting and spent phenomenal years first in Nemesia Koshuis and later in Bergzicht Plaza.

Life after varsity took me through different cities—a return to Port Elizabeth, a big move to Bloemfontein, and finally settling in Johannesburg, where my dreams of a picket-fenced life, two Labradors, and a house full of children became a reality.

I once thrived in corporate life—heels, pencil skirts, and corner offices felt like home, and my work ethic made for a thriving career in accounting. But in 2015, I chose a different path: entrepreneurship. I wanted both—a big, love-filled family and the ability to serve clients in a way that was personal, intentional, and professional.

Digits was born from that vision, starting humbly with a simple Facebook ad in a local community group. Within hours, I had twelve business owners reach out, desperate for an accountant who would truly see and support them. That moment confirmed everything—I wasn’t just building a business; I was building relationships. What started as a small freelance service quickly grew, but I remained intentional about not becoming just another big firm. Instead, I built Digits into a practice where personal, attentive service is at the heart of what we do.

In May 2020, our lives changed in ways we never expected. We lost our fourth baby, and while it was the most heartbreaking experience we’ve ever faced, it also led us to embrace a truly intentional way of living. We pivoted in so many ways—choosing to homeschool our three children, rethinking our daily rhythms, and having Johan join the business to help keep things running smoothly. Now, life, learning, and making a living are intertwined in the best way. The road we’ve taken isn’t the one we originally planned, but we can truly say we are blessed beyond measure.

Today, Digits remains a deeply personal, family-run business. We take on a select number of clients, ensuring that each one receives the attention and expertise they deserve. I am, at heart, a wife and mother, an accountant with a creative streak, and a master juggler of all things life and business.

I want you to thrive doing what you do best—and my role is to provide you with the kind of accounting experience that feels less like a service and more like a partnership in your success.