Abbegail Van Rensburg, Accounts Manager
Accounts Manager
Current Experience:
Accounts Manager Oct 2025 - Present (1 mo)
Past Experience:
Advisory and Financial Manager Mar 2023 - Sep 2025 · (2 yrs 7 mos)
Quality Control Manager and Audit Senior at Watermans Registered Auditors · Full-time Mar 2022 - Feb 2023 · (1 yr)
Audit Clerk at Watermans Registered Auditors Mar 2018 - Feb 2022 · (4 yrs)
Intern at Muller Muller Accounting Cc Jan 2017 - Feb 2018 · (1 yr 2 mos)
Qualifications:
Bachelor of Accounting Sciences in Financial Accounting
Country of Residence:
South Africa
LinkedIn Profile:
Meet Abbegail van Rensburg. From grinding through her BCom while working, to fast-tracking her articles and landing three professional designations before 30, Abbegail has turned every barrier into a stepping stone.
A night owl who starts her day with the Bible and coffee, she knows the weight of running client portfolios, keeping books clean, and setting boundaries that protect her team’s sanity. But her true power? Mentoring younger accountants who now look to her for guidance.
She’s not just building reports, she’s building people.
What time do you usually wake up on weekends?
08:30 AM
Are you an early bird or a night owl?
Night owl
How do you spend the first hour of your day?
I start my morning by reading my Bible and enjoying a good cup of coffee.
What sparked your interest in accounting or finance?
I’ve always had a love for numbers, even as a child. By the time I was 12, I spoke with my parents about possible careers that involved working with numbers, and after that discussion, I decided that accounting was the right path for me.
Can you share some key career milestones or defining moments?
My first major milestone was earning my BCom in Finance, which was especially meaningful because I completed it while working full-time. The second was registering as an AGA(SA) within a year of graduating, and the third was passing the SAIPA Professional Competence Exam and becoming a registered Professional Accountant (SA).
Some of the defining moments in my career were completing my articles a year ahead of schedule and being appointed as a Financial Manager at the age of 25.
I believe these achievements are possible for anyone. The key is persistence, no matter how tough things get, if you stay focused and keep pushing, you’ll reach the goals you’ve set for yourself.
What is your role within your company’s finance department?
I’m an Accounts Manager at my current company. My role involves overseeing and supporting a team, managing my own client portfolio, providing clients with financial insights and advice, and ensuring time allocations align with each client’s budget.
What is one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your role? How did you overcome it?
Every day comes with its own set of challenges, and I’ve learned to handle them through patience and clear, thoughtful communication.
What tools or strategies do you use to manage the financial operations of the company effectively?
I maintain effective financial operations through clear communication with clients via email, phone calls, and meetings. I also use accounting software to keep records accurate and up to date, allowing me to analyse reports and provide clients with informed financial advice.
Share your strategies for staying balanced, especially during busy periods.
I set clear boundaries and expectations with my clients to manage workload effectively. After work, I make time to exercise, which helps me disconnect, recharge, and keep a healthy balance between my professional and personal life.
What do you enjoy outside of work?
I enjoy traveling, exploring new restaurants, spending time with my family, watching theatre productions, and painting. These activities help me unwind and stay inspired outside of work.
Do you mentor or support other team members in the finance department?
I mentor several team members as they grow in their accounting careers. I’ve built relationships where they feel comfortable approaching me for guidance and advice on professional challenges and their future goals.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to work in a finance department?
I would advise aspiring finance professionals to stay open-minded, adaptable, and develop strong communication skills. It’s also important to be self-sufficient and cultivate excellent time management abilities.
“I am brilliant. I am bright. I am a radiant being of light. I am a peak performer. I am a dynamic life transformer.”
Share a leadership lesson or a piece of advice that’s been valuable to you in your career
A valuable leadership lesson I’ve learned is to never give up, no matter how challenging things get, because there’s always light at the end of the tunnel.
What’s something surprising about you that isn’t in your professional bio?
Something surprising about me that’s not in my professional bio is that I love ballroom and Latin dancing.
If you could have any superpower to help you in your job, what would it be?
If I could have any superpower to help me in my job, it would be the ability to read minds.
What’s your go-to strategy for staying productive during long workdays?
My go-to strategy for staying productive during long workdays is making detailed to-do lists.
If you could relive one day from your career, which day would it be and why?
I would choose the day I completed my articles, as it was a moment when all my hard work truly felt rewarding.
“Never give up, there is light at the end of the tunnel.”
That’s Abbegail’s mantra. And her story proves it.
At CIBA, we spotlight professionals like her who are turning pressure into purpose and lifting others as they rise.
Join CIBA and we’ll show you how to lead with confidence, charge what you’re worth, and mentor the next generation, just like Abbegail.
Profile sponsored by the Chartered Institute for Business Accountants
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