Shabir was invited to join Deloitte & Touche’s Johannesburg office, based on his academic results in 1987. He wrote and passed both board exams in the same year. Shabir was promoted to Manager while still in articles, a feat accomplished by only a few top quality article clerks. He was subsequently promoted to Associate Director after 5 years as a Manager. Shabir left Deloitte to open his own firm in his home town, Newcastle, as he saw a niche in the market, and the need for a qualified black accountant in the area.