Alzaan Patrick, Assistant Audit Manager
Assistant Audit Manager
Current Experience:
Assistant Audit Manager at Auditor-General of South Africa Full-time Mar 2025 - Present · (11 mos)
Past Experience:
Acting Assistant Audit Manager Contract at Auditor-General of South Africa Feb 2025 - March 2025 (2 mos)
Audit Senior at Auditor-General of South Africa Contract May 2024 - March 2025 (11 mos)
Acting Technical Manager at Auditor-General of South Africa Seasonal Oct 2024 - Dec 2024 (3 mos)
Audit Trainee at Auditor-General of South Africa March 2021 - April 2024 (3 Years 2 mos)
Education:
BCom Accounting
Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting
Country of Residence:
South Africa
LinkedIn Profile:
Alzaan Patrick isn’t just an Audit Senior at AGSA, she’s living proof that setbacks shape strength. After a year of failed assessments and self-doubt, she passed the toughest board exam in one shot. Not because it was easy, but because she refused to give up.
Today, she leads complex audits, coaches trainees, and handles tough client interactions with calm confidence and quiet power.
She doesn’t just audit, she mentors, manages, and uplifts.
What time do you usually wake up on weekends?
08:00 AM
Are you an early bird or a night owl?
Early Bird
How do you spend the first hour of your day?
I usually start my day by going to the gym.
What sparked your interest in accounting and finance?
My interest in accounting and finance comes from a natural enjoyment of working with numbers and being analytical. It always made sense to me, so when it came time to choose school subjects, accounting was an easy choice.
Can you share some key career milestones or defining moments?
A defining moment in my career was writing the final SAICA board exam (APC) in December 2022, with the goal of qualifying as a CA(SA). It was especially meaningful because it was the first major exam I had passed on my first attempt in a long time.
For anyone familiar with the CA journey, you’ll know how challenging it can be. After experiencing several failures along the way, I began to doubt myself and question my abilities, especially since I had always done well academically in the past. Those setbacks were difficult to process and tested my confidence.
Passing APC on the first attempt, despite failing most of my assessments that year and only passing the supplementary exam, felt incredible. It showed me that every challenge had built resilience and character. I truly believe that my journey was guided by God to prepare me for that moment and to remind me that perseverance matters more than perfection.
Today, being qualified is an achievement, but what gives me even more purpose is being able to support and share my experiences with others who are still working towards this goal.
What is your role within your company’s finance department?
As an Audit Senior, I’m responsible for auditing more complex areas, supporting project management, reviewing my peers’ work, and coaching trainees.
How do you contribute to the overall financial strategy of the business?
I contribute by staying proactive and making sure I’m always adding value. When I complete my tasks, I make myself available for the next assignment, whether that’s auditing another component or reviewing other team members’ work across different files. In this way, I ensure that my time is used effectively and that I consistently meet my billable targets.
What is one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your role? How did you overcome it?
One of my biggest challenges has been maintaining emotional intelligence during difficult interactions, both with clients and within audit teams. I’ve learned to handle this by responding with kindness, confidence, and professionalism. While it’s not easy when emotions run high or when someone is being confrontational, I’ve found that this approach often diffuses tension and even leads to mutual understanding and apologies. More importantly, it helps me stay calm, grounded, and able to perform my role effectively.
Share your strategies for staying balanced, especially during busy periods
I stay balanced by being intentional about maintaining a healthy diet, sticking to my exercise routine, making up for it when I fall off, and ensuring I get enough sleep.
What do you enjoy outside of work? Any hobbies or activities that help you recharge?
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my partner and going on spontaneous trips. I also love reading, watching Netflix, going to the gym, and getting some much-needed rest.
Do you mentor or support other team members in the finance department? How do you help develop the skills of others?
Yes, I do mentor others by reviewing their work and coaching them on areas where they can improve. I demonstrate what is expected, make myself available for questions, and regularly engage in discussions to support their development.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to work in a finance department?
My advice would be to be tenacious, as this field requires strong mental resilience. Key skills to focus on are attention to detail and analytical thinking, because the real story is always in the numbers. You need to be able to scrutinise data carefully to truly understand what it’s telling you.
“God is with me.”
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 genuinely show that you care about others. When people feel supported, they’re more willing to go the extra mile.
What’s something surprising about you that isn’t in your professional bio? A hobby, interest, or fun fact?
Something surprising about me is that I can sing.
If you could have any superpower to help you in your job, what would it be? Predicting financial trends? Master multitasking?
If I could have any superpower for my job, it would be the ability to instill a sense of urgency in others.
What’s your go-to strategy for staying productive during long workdays?
My go-to strategy for staying productive during long workdays is to take regular breaks and get some fresh air.
If you could relive one day from your career, which day would it be and why? What made that day special?
If I could relive one day from my career, it would be the day I met my partner. My career journey played a big role in bringing us together, and I wouldn’t have met him otherwise.
Alzaan’s secret? “Respond with kindness, confidence, and professionalism, even when it’s hardest.”
She’s showing a new generation of finance professionals that failure isn’t final, and that emotional intelligence might just be the sharpest tool in your audit kit.
Join CIBA and we’ll show you how to lead with character, pass with confidence, and build a finance career that changes more than just numbers.
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