“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.

"Finance isn’t just numbers, it’s a story of resilience, strategy, and leadership."

From winning the Emerging Catalyst Award to leading finance at Zig Capital, Sanele Cebekhulu shows how discipline, faith, and vision can turn financial chaos into clarity. His journey proves that true leadership in accounting is about creating leaders, not followers.

"I started as the least qualified. I became the youngest in the financial reporting team. While studying."

Keamogetswe Tema’s journey from intern to Group Accountant proves that hustle, heart, and high standards can rewrite your career story, no shortcuts, no excuses. Here's how she did it.

Angelique Pienaar’s journey is anything but ordinary, from juggling studies and single motherhood to leading finance projects in a tech-driven firm. Her story is raw, real, and proof that perseverance pays off. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed in your career, this is the inspiration you didn’t know you needed.

Mary-Anne Claire Klem doesn’t just balance books, she builds financial muscle into every corner of her company. From crafting forecasts with surgical precision to mentoring her team and raising kids on puzzle pieces and spreadsheets, her story is a masterclass in owning your value and leading with heart.

"I became the first professional accountant in my family. That wasn’t just a career move. It was a message: if I can do it, so can you."

Mlondi Clive Dube didn’t just break barriers, he built a path for others. In this spotlight, he shares how mentorship, checklists, and self-help books fuel his mission to serve clients and uplift his community.

Tshegofatso Masipa didn’t wait for permission to lead. In just two years, this CA(SA) has gone from trainee to a trusted financial strategist at Credit Guarentee, taking on senior responsibilities, mentoring the next generation, and proving that young accountants can shape strategy, not just balance the books.

From walking into an office with her CV and landing a job on the spot, to becoming Financial Director, Nthabiseng Sekanka’s journey proves that passion, persistence, and continuous learning can change everything.

Mondli’s journey from number lover to trusted advisor is proof that hard work, hustle, and the right tools can fast-track your accounting career. From client compliance to mentoring future pros, he’s doing it all, on his terms.

James Stuart Morris isn’t your typical finance leader. As an Accountant, he’s rebuilt entire accounting systems, led SARS engagements, and earned his Professional Accountant (SA) designation through grit and growth. His story is one of quiet resilience, relentless improvement, and redefining what success in finance really looks like.

Yolanda Putter’s story isn’t about titles, it’s about tenacity. After enduring a toxic work culture that nearly broke her, she found strength in leadership, therapy, and the quiet power of data. Now a finance lead in a global firm, she proves that kindness and precision aren’t soft skills, they’re survival tools.

Peter Serite helped over 500 SMEs survive lockdowns, now he’s scaling Azania into a global firm and launching an AI-powered tool to shake up the accounting space. From township roots to tech innovation, his story is proof that real impact doesn’t come from playing it safe.

Basimane Likhi isn’t your average finance assistant. Between reconciling multi-country books and mastering Xero, he’s quietly becoming a powerhouse in his field. What started with ACCA articles has grown into strategic impact, tackling inventory chaos, mentoring through collaboration, and making time for hiking and coding.

Paul Cruywagen started CRUX Konsult not for profit, but for purpose. He’s built a business where trust drives every client relationship, and growth starts with growing his team. From 5am gym sessions to mentoring staff and dreaming beyond the balance sheet, Paul’s story proves that leadership in this profession starts with living your values.

Trisha Rajkumar isn’t your typical accountant. She’s a second-generation business owner, a martial artist with a black belt, and a fierce advocate for SMEs. From opening a new office in Johannesburg with her dad to mentoring future accountants, she’s building more than a firm, she’s building a legacy. Here’s how discipline, family, and client trust shaped her path.