Ashleigh Abrahams, Senior Internal Auditor
Senior Internal Auditor
Current Experience:
Senior Internal Auditor at JSE · Full-time Jul 2024 - Present · (1 yr 5 mos)
Past Experiences:
Financial Services - Banking and Capital Markets Audit Manager at EY · Full-time May 2023 - Jun 2024 · (1 yr 2 mos)
Manager at PwC South Africa Jan 2022 - May 2023 · (1 yr 5 mos)
Banking and Capital Markets Senior Associate at PwC Jan 2021 - Dec 2021 (1 Yr)
Banking and Capital Markets Associate at PwC Jan 2019 - Dec 2020 (2 Yrs)
Private Tutor at Teach Me 2 · Part-time Feb 2015 - Jan 2022 · (7 yrs)
Qualifications:
Bachelor of Accounting and Finance
Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting Sciences
Country of Residence:
South Africa
LinkedIn Profile:
Meet Ashleigh Abrahams, Senior Internal Auditor at the JSE, a professional who turned setbacks into steppingstones. She didn’t just pass, she prevailed, emerging from the chaos of COVID-era articles and virtual board exams stronger, sharper, and more determined than ever.
From making the leap from chemical engineering to chartered accountancy, to now auditing one of Africa’s most complex financial ecosystems, Ashleigh's story is one of bold pivots, honest reflection, and hard-earned resilience.
What time do you usually wake up on weekends?
05:45 AM
Are you an early bird or a night owl?
Early Bird
How do you spend the first hour of your day?
I start my morning with a cup of coffee while I look over my schedule for the day. Once I’ve got a handle on what’s ahead, I get everything ready for the morning and make sure everyone’s lunch bags are packed and sorted.
What sparked your interest in accounting and finance?
When I was in grade 5, I had to give a speech about what I wanted to be one day. After chatting it through with friends and my parents, I decided I wanted to become a chartered accountant. At ten years old, I didn’t fully understand what the job involved, but the way people reacted made it feel like a big goal worth aiming for.
As I got older, my love for numbers, structured work and problem-solving confirmed that the choice I made at ten was actually right for me. I took accounting in high school, did well in it, and the career days and firm presentations I attended helped me see where the path could lead. By the time I finished school, I knew it was the career I wanted to pursue.
Can you share some key career milestones or defining moments?
A big turning point for me came while I was doing my articles at one of the big four firms. When Covid hit, everything shifted online, including all my board course exams. I found it tough to balance the workload and the demands of studying from home, and I didn’t pass any of my initial exams. I only cleared them after writing the supplementary.
Passing the SAICA APC board exam on my first attempt was a defining moment. It reminded me that even when things don’t go the way I expect, I can push through, adjust and still come out strong.
What is your role within your company’s finance department?
In internal audit, my role is to support the finance team by offering independent assurance and practical recommendations to strengthen financial processes and controls. The reports I prepare help the business stay compliant and improve the quality of financial reporting, risk management and overall efficiency.
How do you contribute to the overall financial strategy of the business?
As part of internal audit, I help the business reach its goals by adding insight and highlighting areas that can be strengthened. The feedback I provide on controls during audit assignments gives management a clearer view of what’s working and what needs attention. That guidance supports better decision-making and can improve the performance of key business areas, which ultimately feeds into the company’s broader strategic objectives.
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 shifting from external audit to internal audit. Even though I had worked with clients in banking and capital markets, moving into one of Africa’s largest stock exchanges came with a steep learning curve because the business model is so specialised. Internal audit also works differently from financial statement audits, with a stronger focus on assessing controls and processes, so adjusting to that approach took time.
What helped me get through it was staying curious, asking questions and being open to learning through trial and error.
What tools or strategies do you use to manage the financial operations of the company effectively?
Since I’m part of internal audit, I don’t handle day-to-day financial operations myself. My role comes in when the business needs support in reviewing controls or processes. If there’s a need for assurance or guidance on how those areas are working, I step in to assess them and provide recommendations.
Share your strategies for staying balanced, especially during busy periods
Since becoming a mother, I’ve had to be very mindful about how I use my time. My energetic three-year-old always wants to play and connect when I get home, and that helps me switch off from work and be present. Spending time with my family keeps me grounded and gives me the recharge I need to tackle busy periods with a clear head.
What do you enjoy outside of work? Any hobbies or activities that help you recharge?
I enjoy swimming, getting lost in a good book and, more recently, playing padel. It’s been a fun way to unwind, meet new people and, if you’re up for it, even network a bit since it’s becoming the new go-to sport for young professionals.
Do you mentor or support other team members in the finance department? How do you help develop the skills of others?
Because I’m part of internal audit, there are limits to the kind of support I can give directly to teams like finance.
That said, mentorship is something I take seriously. In 2024, I joined the Lomaku mentorship program and worked with a final-year university student. We built a strong, trusting relationship where she could talk openly about her challenges and goals, and I helped guide her through her next steps.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to work in a finance department?
Working in a company’s finance department requires attention to detail, a willingness to learn, and a curious mindset, always asking what’s being done, why, and how it aligns with accounting standards like IFRS, as well as relevant laws and regulations.
Staying up to date with new accounting standards, tax law changes, and current topics in the field is essential. I’ve found LinkedIn particularly helpful for this—connecting with experts and following the content they share has been a great way to learn, refresh my knowledge, and support my career growth.
“Every day is an opportunity to learn something and everyday something new is learned, that’s a successful day.”
Share a leadership lesson or a piece of advice that’s been valuable to you in your career
Early in my articles, during my first feedback session with a partner, I was told that the three years I had to complete to become a CA(SA) would pass quickly, and I had a choice in how I approached it. I could treat it as just a checklist, doing what was required to qualify, or I could fully engage, challenge myself, and use the experience to grow into a more well-rounded professional.
I took that advice to heart and have applied it in every role I’ve held since qualifying.
What’s something surprising about you that isn’t in your professional bio?
Something people might find surprising is that I didn’t start out studying accounting after high school. I excelled in accounting and economics, but also did well in mathematics and physics, which led me to try chemical engineering. I completed my first year in that field but realized midway that it wasn’t the right fit, so I switched to accounting.
If you could have any superpower to help you in your job, what would it be?
I’d love to be a risk universe megamind, someone who can design controls and processes with just a wave of a finger.
What’s your go-to strategy for staying productive during long workdays?
I kick off my day by making a to-do list. Once it’s set, I block out time for each task in my diary and color-code them. Having that structure keeps me accountable, and there’s something really satisfying about crossing tasks off the list, it keeps me motivated throughout the day.
If you could relive one day from your career, which day would it be and why? What made that day special?
The day I found out I had passed my APC exam is one I’d love to relive. It was an incredibly emotional and rewarding moment after nearly seven years of studying and constant learning. The only thing I would change is the timing, we received our results during lockdown, so there wasn’t the chance to celebrate with others who had also received theirs, which would have made the moment even more special.
Ashleigh’s fuel? Structure, mentorship, and purpose.
Whether she’s building a color-coded to-do list, mentoring young professionals, or chasing her toddler around the house after a long day, she shows up with intention.
Her mantra: Every day you learn something, you win.
Join CIBA and we’ll show you how to rise, recover, and lead, even when the odds are stacked.
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