Alexia De Beer, Senior Financial Accountant
Senior Financial Accountant
Current Experience:Senior Financial Accountant at Powermite div of Hudaco Trading (Pty) Ltd Jun 2019 - Sep 2021 · (2 yrs 4 mos)
PAST EXPERIENCES:Financial Manager at Africawide Consulting (Pty) Ltd May 2018 - May 2019 · (1 yr 1 mo)
Financial Manager at EOH Aug 2016 - Jun 2017 · (11 mos)
Senior Financial Accountant at EY Sep 2015 - Aug 2016 · (1 yr)
Financial Accountant at IZAZI Solutions May 2013 - Sep 2015 · (2 yrs 5 mos)
Qualifications:Bcom Accounting
Country of Residence:South Africa
LinkedIn Profile: At Accounting Weekly, we’re proud to spotlight professionals like Alexia De Beer, a dedicated accountant whose career journey spans over a decade. From winning industry awards to fostering meaningful team relationships, Alexia exemplifies the discipline, insight, and heart that define excellence in accounting.
What time do you usually wake up on weekends?
6:00 AM
Are you an early bird or a night owl?
Early bird
How do you spend the first hour of your day?
Reading or watching news updates.
What sparked your interest in accounting or finance?
I've had a passion for accounting since I was young. I used to go to work with my dad and help him out by crunching numbers, it’s something that stuck with me early on.
Can you share some key career milestones or defining moments?
I was proud to receive gold and platinum awards at Izazi two years in a row, and more recently, to be recognised by external auditors in my current role for my diligence, strong understanding of the audit process, and efficiency in finalising audits.
What is your role within your company’s finance department?
Handling the full monthly finance function and reporting, along with preparing annual financial reports.
How do you contribute to the overall financial strategy of the business?
Making sure general ledger accounting is always complete and accurate, providing necessary reports, reconciling any variances, and ensuring timely access to information at all times.
What is one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your role? How did you overcome it?
Getting timely information from the divisions has become much easier over time. I've built strong relationships with the teams, so I can simply pick up the phone, and they’re quick to respond and share what I need.
What tools or strategies do you use to manage the financial operations of the company effectively?
I’ve developed a solid understanding of the business by looking at its history and using the knowledge I’ve gained over time to correct past errors and improve accuracy moving forward.
Share your strategies for staying balanced, especially during busy periods.
I always make sure deadlines are met, but I also try to balance that with quality time at home. I've learned to switch off from work once I get home so I can focus on my family without letting it affect my responsibilities.
What do you enjoy outside of work?
I enjoy spending time with friends, family, and all the kids, getting into a good book, and binge-watching series with my son on the weekends.
Do you mentor or support other team members in the finance department?
Not directly, but I do try to offer constructive guidance to our accounts and cashbook clerk when she’s unsure about how to allocate certain expense items. Instead of just pointing out mistakes, I take the time to explain the bigger picture and the impact of proper allocation.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to work in a finance department?
I always try to encourage others to consider this career path, it’s incredibly rewarding. The hours can get long, especially around year-end, but there’s real satisfaction in seeing all the work from throughout the year come together. When the AFS are published on the JSE and in the newspapers, it’s a proud moment to know you played a part in delivering accurate, timely results. To thrive in this field, you really need a love for numbers, both accounting and pure maths.
What’s your favourite quote or mantra that motivates you?
Work hard for the things you want in life, because the harder it is to get, the harder it is to loose them.
Share a leadership lesson or a piece of advice that’s been valuable to you in your career.
Keep learning because there’s always more to know, and be open to sharing what you’ve learned with others.
What’s something surprising about you that isn’t in your professional bio?
I’m quite introverted and naturally shy.
If you could have any superpower to help you in your job, what would it be?
Automation of systems, since most processes here are still done manually.
What’s your go-to strategy for staying productive during long workdays?
Step away from my desk for a break to reset and recharge.
If you could relive one day from your career, which day would it be and why?
There are quite a few, but one that really stands out is when my former team surprised me with a baby shower at work. They gave thoughtful gifts and shared advice for a new mom, truly showing the spirit of a family. Even now, they still check in on my son, asking about his growth and school achievements.
Alexia’s blend of technical precision and human connection serves as a powerful reminder that great accounting is more than just numbers, it’s about teamwork, mentorship, and pride in the outcome. Follow her journey and be inspired to lead with diligence, empathy, and lifelong learning.
Profile sponsored by the Chartered Institute for Business Accountants
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