Tanya van der Westhuizen is the Group Financial Manager at Willie Burger Group, overseeing the full financial operations of nine companies. With over a decade in the industry, she’s built her career from the ground up through grit, continuous learning, and strong leadership. Tanya bridges the gap between finance and operations, mentors her team, and believes that adaptability, accuracy, and trust are key to success. Her story is a powerful example of how business accountants can lead with both numbers and heart.

Annebe Kruger didn’t follow the “textbook” path. No high school accounting. No shortcuts. Just grit, faith, and 4:15am wakeups.

Now she’s a financial manager, lecturer, ex-athlete, and proof that discipline beats background.

“My superpower? Planning. I write down every mistake so I never repeat it.”

“I failed more than once, but I never stopped.”

When Chelsee-Leigh Fortuin couldn’t find a job for nearly a year after COVID, she didn’t give up. When university knocked her down, she got back up. Today, she’s mentoring others, mastering multiple platforms, and delivering financials that drive real decisions.

Meet Wisani Yingwani, Treasury Accountant at Impuma Group with nearly a decade in finance. A self-declared night owl and sports enthusiast, Wisani starts his day with purpose, planning, reflecting, and sticking to a structure that keeps him focused even when pressure mounts.

His journey into accounting started in high school with a love for numbers, but it’s been far from easy. After overcoming personal challenges to earn his BCom and become a Professional Accountant (SA), he’s built a career rooted in ethics and efficiency.

“From Top 30 SAIPA grad to reversing R1 million in SARS assessments, Muhammed Khan Dookhee doesn’t just do accounting, he defends it.”

In a role that straddles financial control and mentorship, Muhammed is proof that small-team accountants can lead with both skill and strategy. His mantra? Honesty is the best policy, and professional ethics doesn’t take a day off.

Roberta Mabasa is more than a CA(SA), she’s proof that purpose and profession can coexist. After qualifying through years of grit and determination, she ran high-stakes audits in London before taking up a strategic reinsurance role at Auto & General. Beyond the numbers, Roberta is a self-taught makeup artist and founder of R50 for Change, a non-profit that delivers groceries to families in need. Grounded by faith and driven by impact, she’s building a career that balances spreadsheets with service, and inspiring others to do the same.

Siboniso Hleza didn’t choose finance out of passion, he chose it because a bursary opened the door. Now he’s running regional numbers, spotting waste, and mentoring the next generation. This is what it looks like when hustle meets purpose.

“From cashier to financial controller, Mhlengi Moyo didn’t climb the ladder, he rebuilt it.”

With over a decade in property finance, Mhlengi has mastered more than numbers. He’s reshaped strategy, pushed back on resistance, and turned Excel and Power BI into business weapons. If you’ve ever felt underestimated in your role, this is the story you forward to your team.

Kaelin Korb doesn’t sugarcoat the grind. From rebuilding confidence after a steep UK tax learning curve to mentoring his team as Training Officer at CFO360 UK, he’s proof that real leadership comes from resilience, not rank.

Nicholas Wright’s journey to CA(SA) wasn’t smooth, it was brutal. But he didn’t quit. Today, he’s running financial strategy, leading teams, and proving age doesn’t define impact.

His secret? Clean data, clear goals, and a killer mantra:

“It’s not how you start, but how you finish.”

Read his story and get inspired to lead from the front, no matter where you’re starting.

“I don’t just report the numbers, I explain what they mean and how we can do better.”

As a management accountant, Alice Mutero blends technical excellence with real business insight. From tight month-end deadlines to process improvements and mentoring her team, Alice brings a calm, analytical edge that helps her business make smarter, faster decisions.

“I don’t have all the answers, and I tell my team that upfront.”

Archbold Dirorimwe leads with humility, builds with purpose, and mentors through action. Whether it’s designing stock systems under pressure or translating complex finance into clear strategy, his approach is grounded, practical, and people-first.

This is finance leadership, done right.

“Leadership isn’t about popularity. It’s about making tough calls and standing by them.”

Mandilakhe Nontenja has done just that. From SARS to Sasol, from tax compliance to crisis navigation, he’s been at the coalface of South Africa’s most complex fuel tax challenges.

“SARS conceded. I got the refund. That day changed everything.”

Zandre Steynfaardt isn’t your typical accountant. With a mining portfolio under his watch and a past life as a TV actor, he blends structure with boldness, and mentors’ others to do the same. This is how one accountant turned grit into legacy.

“I started as an intern, clueless but curious. 1,000 hours later, I’m leading project finances.”

Nomfundo Ngwenya’s rise is more than a career story, it’s a blueprint for every young accountant chasing impact over titles. From early wake-ups to invoice systems and sisterly inspiration, she’s turning passion into progress, one project at a time.

Thendo Masola knows the grind: deadlines, deliverables, and diapers. But when burnout collided with motherhood, she made a bold move and rebuilt her career on her terms. This is a story about boundaries, bravery, and the power of saying no more.

Conny Mhlongo is a purpose-driven tax accountant who turns pressure into progress. With 4–5 years in the field, she’s already handled audits that would rattle seasoned pros, including saving a trust for orphans from a crippling SARS penalty. Early mornings, strong values, and a deep love for helping others define her approach. Whether she’s mentoring colleagues or tackling tax season chaos, Conny leads with clarity, grit, and care.

“From audit rooms to Accountex London, and a fly rod never far behind.”

Stephen Smith isn’t just building a client base; he’s building global credibility. As a Senior Manager at MPVR Cloud Accountants, he’s helping South African accounting firms think bigger, lead better, and grow beyond borders.

“I don’t celebrate my wins; I celebrate the business’s success.”

That’s how Karabo Kith Mahlaela operates. Whether he’s managing diverse property portfolios or helping commission a smelter plant from scratch, he shows up with one goal: make the business stronger. He doesn’t just crunch numbers. He builds momentum. Strategic, humble, and fiercely competitive, on the court and in the boardroom.

“I’ve seen former trainees now leading their own teams.” For Pieter van Staden, leadership isn’t about control, it’s about legacy.

As a Senior Manager, he’s built more than just financial systems. He’s built people. From mentoring junior staff to rolling out firm-wide innovations, Pieter proves that the best accountants don’t just crunch numbers, they create ripple effects.