Bakang Merafe, Management Accountant
Management Accountant
Current Experience:Management Accountant at Howden, A Chart Industries Company May 2011 - Present · (14 yrs 1 mo)
PAST EXPERIENCES:Project Accountant at BAE Systems Jul 2009 - May 2011 · (1 yr 11 mos)
Qualifications:Bcom Accounting
Country of Residence:South Africa
LinkedIn Profile: Bakang Merafe isn’t just a Management Accountant, he’s a legacy builder, strategic thinker, and a mentor at heart.
From supporting billion-rand defence projects to leaving behind detailed handovers that help future recruits thrive, Bakang combines technical mastery with a deep sense of purpose. His early days running a family shop sparked a passion for business operations that still drives him today.
What time do you usually wake up on weekends?
5:30 AM
Are you an early bird or a night owl?
Early bird
How do you spend the first hour of your day?
Meditation, prayer, and reading.
What sparked your interest in accounting or finance?
It all started back in high school, helping out at my uncle and aunty’s shop on weekends when they needed someone to cover for them. Being trusted to handle the till, take responsibility, and step in while they were away got me curious about how a business actually runs. I became interested in understanding the day-to-day processes, how performance is tracked, and how I could play a role in helping it grow.
Can you share some key career milestones or defining moments?
Served as a business partner managing projects with a portfolio worth over R4 billion in the defence sector at BAE Land Systems.
For every role I’ve held, I made it a priority to document business processes and work instructions, especially before moving on, so that incoming team members could transition smoothly and perform even better than I did. These documents were shaped by real experience, aimed at simplifying processes, capturing effective ways of working, and clearly outlining the purpose and steps of each task. I’ve often found that when joining a new company, there’s a noticeable gap in knowledge transfer. Since many of my roles have been specialist positions, I wanted to make sure that whoever came after me wouldn’t struggle. I took pride in leaving behind something useful, my way of paving the way and passing on what I’d learned, even to people I might never meet. My goal was always that the next person should not only succeed but thrive in the role.
Volunteered to present quarterly business results at townhall meetings during my time at Jaguar Land Rover South Africa. This was a valuable opportunity for me to sharpen my presentation skills, build visibility, and have a voice within the organisation.
What is your role within your company’s finance department?
Management Accountant
How do you contribute to the overall financial strategy of the business?
My focus has been on driving business growth and sustainability by collaborating across projects and departments to improve margins, streamline processes, boost sales, manage cash flow, and support accurate forecasting. I provide financial insights that contribute to strategic decision-making and help eliminate operational bottlenecks as part of my value-add. While my foundation is in finance, I take an operational approach, engaging in meaningful discussions around both financial and business strategies to help move the business forward.
What is one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your role? How did you overcome it?
Management accounting is forward-looking and relies heavily on up-to-date business information and operational insight to support decision-making. This means building strong relationships with operations, which can be challenging, finance is often seen as the “policing” function, which naturally creates some resistance. In my previous roles, earning trust wasn’t easy at first. There was a lot of hesitation and fear, but I made it a point to take a genuine interest in what the operations teams were doing. I spent time learning the business, asking questions, and showing that my role was to help tell their story from a financial perspective. By seeking information and constructively challenging the business, I was able to shine a light on their successes, identify and remove bottlenecks, and create a culture of trust and collaboration, so we could all work towards the same goal.
What tools or strategies do you use to manage the financial operations of the company effectively?
ERP systems, integrated reporting, and monthly performance reviews with operations and management.
Share your strategies for staying balanced, especially during busy periods.
Preparation and planning are essential. Taking short breaks and making time to exercise helps clear your mind and manage pressure, while keeping the bigger picture in focus. I've also learned to stay agile, especially as business continues to evolve and management accounting shifts more toward future-focused, strategic thinking.
What do you enjoy outside of work?
I make time for exercise and recently joined a community called AOLG (Art of Letting Go), where we practice meditation and have reflective discussions. It’s a space to pause, step away from the daily rush, and focus on mindfulness and gratitude.
Do you mentor or support other team members in the finance department?
Yes, I do mentor others, even outside of finance, but I especially enjoy teaching and helping people understand finance in a practical, engaging way.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to work in a finance department?
Building strong relationships, clear communication, and solid technical knowledge are all essential, along with the ability to think creatively. The finance profession has moved well beyond traditional number-crunching; it's now about being a true business partner and offering practical, strategic solutions.
What’s your favourite quote or mantra that motivates you?
“If you believe it, you can achieve it”
Share a leadership lesson or a piece of advice that’s been valuable to you in your career.
Be proactive and stay passionate. True leadership means creating a foundation where the organisation continues to thrive, even in your absence.
What’s something surprising about you that isn’t in your professional bio?
I really enjoy the creative side of things, especially acting and directing.
If you could have any superpower to help you in your job, what would it be?
Accurately predicting financial trends and business outcomes, and consistently delivering precise sales and net profit forecasts.
What’s your go-to strategy for staying productive during long workdays?
Focus on the end goal and plan accordingly. Identify your biological “prime time” when you’re most focused and use it to your advantage. Also, prioritize staying healthy and hydrated.
If you could relive one day from your career, which day would it be and why?
It’s hard to pick just one, but there have been several times when I challenged myself and later realized that success was possible. The sense of accomplishment that comes with reaching those goals is incredibly rewarding.
Bakang’s story shows us that finance isn’t just about numbers, it’s about relationships, resilience, and reaching beyond your role to uplift others. Whether he’s forecasting trends, presenting to leadership, or mentoring across departments, he proves that great accountants don’t just report results, they create them.
Join CIBA and we’ll help you build impact and legacy, just like Bakang.
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