Werner Gerber didn’t just qualify as a CA(SA), he earned it between fire shifts.

From firefighting as a student to now leading Apex Group’s African business development, Werner turns complex financial problems into elegant, tech-driven solutions. His mornings start with coffee and global news; his workdays end with strategies that scale across borders.

Netisha Moodley didn’t inherit a finance team, she built financial systems from scratch, solo. As a Management Accountant with a background in debt counselling and hands-on bookkeeping from her teen years, she’s proof that you don’t need a big firm behind you to lead with authority. From forecasting to stakeholder negotiations, she’s mastered the art of managing up, down, and across, all while staying grounded in real-life strategy, Disney movies, and weekend tutoring. Her mantra? “What you go through, grows you.”

“I had to stop focusing on numbers and start focusing on people.”

That’s when everything changed for Cindy de Lange. As a CA(SA) turned junior manager at a US-based remote bookkeeping firm, Cindy’s not just doing the work, she’s building teams, mentoring talent, and driving growth across borders.

She learned the hard way that soft skills aren’t optional, they’re your superpower.

At just 27, Ricus Fourie became the youngest member of executive management at Andrada Mining. His formula? Laser focus on cash flow, open-door mentoring, and a deep belief that finance should serve people, not intimidate them.

He’s not just managing numbers. He’s making sure every rand aligns with business strategy, and he’s doing it by speaking plainly, listening deeply, and driving real impact.

Nicholas isn’t your typical junior accountant. He’s a KPMG top performer, SAICA ITC distinction holder, and EY Project Alpha finalist.

Now in a new role, he’s learning fast, enforcing boundaries, and refusing to drag work into his personal life.

His motto? “You work to live, not the other way around.”

He decompresses with off-roading in his Jimny and Xbox marathons. His dream superpower? Reading his clients’ minds.

“My teacher told me I’d never make it in accounting. That lit the fire.”

Pariksha Singh didn’t enter the profession with applause. She walked in with something better: a point to prove.

Today, as a Senior Audit Manager and mentor, she’s living proof that criticism can be rocket fuel. From managing audits to mentoring trainees, Pariksha balances compliance pressure with calm leadership, and still finds time for LEGO builds and personal growth.

She doesn’t just manage audits. She builds teams, trusts her gut, and leads with intention.

Helena van Huyssteen is the kind of audit senior every firm wishes they had, structured, sharp, and grounded in purpose. With 7+ years in the field, she leads teams, mentors juniors, and still finds time for paddle, prayer, and pool nights. Her career is a blueprint in discipline, routine, and grace under deadline pressure. She's not just surviving the profession, she's thriving in it, quietly and powerfully.

S’bonginkosi Majola starts her mornings at 4AM with reflection, not reports. As Financial Controller at Meraxis SA, she’s navigating one of the toughest sectors with clarity, courage, and a deep belief in the power of asking “why.” From tackling industry-specific risks to lifting her team through knowledge-sharing, she’s proof that great finance leaders don’t just crunch numbers, they shape strategy, calm chaos, and lead with heart.

Helena McIntyre managed the books for a law firm for 18 years. Then she switched to a group managing mines, farms, and plant hire, and the chaos hit hard. But instead of crumbling, she created systems, sparked strategy discussions, and calmly told her boss: “We’ve got enough saved for provisional tax, with some to spare.”

Oh, and in her spare time? She sews backpacks, tutors students, and grows award-worthy orchids.

This is the kind of accountant who doesn’t just adapt, she levels up.

Confidence Lekgau, CA(SA), doesn’t just crunch numbers, she carves paths. After landing in NYC as an Audit Senior for Deloitte USA, she returned home with global insight and a fire to give back. Today, she’s a Financial Accountant at Cementation Africa, mentoring aspiring CAs, guiding business strategy, and proving that resilience, service, and faith go further than any spreadsheet can measure.

She’s not just building reports. She’s building others.

Christabel Seima knew she wanted to be an accountant long before her first ledger. Now, with 10+ years in the game and a SAIPA qualification behind her, she’s mastering more than numbers, she’s driving strategy, mentoring her team, and turning financial chaos into clarity.

Her mantra? “A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” And she’s walked every one with purpose.

After wrapping up his SAICA articles, Heini Ferreira didn’t stick around to play it safe. He made the jump straight into the private sector, landing a role as a management accountant just two weeks in. It’s a steep learning curve, but Heini thrives under pressure.

With both parents in finance, numbers are in his blood, but now it’s about more than compliance. His focus? Controlling costs, guiding decisions, and proving his worth where it counts: the bottom line.

Shehzaad Ali didn’t wait for perfect conditions, he built GRIPP Advisory’s audit and analytics function from the ground up. A night owl with a knack for strategy, Shehzaad leads by example: driving cost savings, mentoring talent, and delivering fast, actionable insights. His story is a masterclass in doing more with less and still rising to the top.

"I hit a wall in my accounting career, and it wasn’t skill. It was structure."

Irene Schulze built her expertise the hard way, manually, meticulously, and with a mentor’s heart. From navigating audits to coaching junior staff, she did it all. But when promotion became impossible, she didn’t stall, she started planning her next move. Her story is a masterclass in grit, growth, and choosing yourself.

Rayno Wasserman isn’t here to tick boxes. As Group Financial Manager, he owns the full finance function, start to finish. Cash flow, forecasting, risk, budgeting, reporting? All in a day’s work.

But it’s not just the systems that stand out. It’s the mindset.

Up at 5am. Runs to clear his head. Reflects when things get tough. And believes that leadership means empowering others to take smart risks, even if it means failing first.

“I left my comfort zone in year 8 and nearly drowned in automation.”

Namhla Nodali went from drafting AFS to decoding AI.

Her shift into a tech-driven accounting team nearly broke her until she learned to lean in, ask better questions, and own the unknown.

Now she’s not just surviving change, she’s leading it.

Read how she flipped fear into fuel.

“The day the CEO asked me to apply for a role I wasn’t ‘qualified’ for changed everything.”

Charity Fetene didn’t wait for titles. She built trust through performance and proved that you don’t need letters behind your name to lead.

From writing the manuals to mentoring her team, she’s showing what real leadership in finance looks like.

Iviwe Matrose is a rising force in finance, already holding a senior Cost and Projects Accountant role with just a few years under her belt. When thrown into the deep end early in her career, with no mentor, no handover, and no safety net, she didn’t just survive, she levelled up. Today, she’s the one helping directors understand costs, drive revenue, and make smarter project decisions.

Wandré de Villiers isn’t your average CA. By 5:30am, he’s already aligning global commodity strategy with financial risk management, all while staying grounded through faith, mentorship, and a love for agriculture. In this raw profile, he shares what it takes to lead in finance, build trust across teams, and still find time to braai, play piano, and support others.

At just 1–2 years into her accounting career, Phumudzo Bvumbi is already handling high-stakes accounts payable at Coface. From vendor stalls to financial statements, her story is a masterclass in grit, growth, and proving yourself early.