Chanel Middlebrook, Accounting Assistant
Accounting Assistant
Current Experience:
Accounting Assistant at Kubus Buitenpost Jan 2026 - Present · (3 mos)
Junior acountant at Marijon Accounting Aug 2017 - Present · (8 yrs 8 mos)
Past Experience:
Senior bookkeeper at Top Carpets and Floors 2013
Early Childhood Consultant Skille Development Academy · Part-time Jan 2024 - Sep 2024 · (9 mos)
Education:
Diploma in Accounting Science
Financial Accounting Diploma
Country of Residence:
South Africa
LinkedIn Profile:
Deadlines don’t scare her. They fuel her.
Chanel Middlebrook started at the bottom of the corporate ladder, and built her career through discipline, pressure, and persistence.
Now a Financial Accountant with over 10 years’ experience, she’s proof that growth doesn’t happen in comfort. It happens when you’re thrown into the deep end — and choose to swim.
What time do you usually wake up on weekends?
06:00 AM
Are you an early bird or a night owl?
Night Owl
How do you spend the first hour of your day?
I usually start my morning by having a cup of coffee while getting ready for work and helping prepare for the school day.
What sparked your interest in accounting and finance?
A genuine passion for the field of accounting and finance is what sparked my interest and continues to drive me today.
Can you share some key career milestones or defining moments?
Completing my qualification and starting my first accounting job were key milestones in my career. It was meaningful to begin at entry level in the corporate environment and work my way up from the foundation of the profession.
What is your role within your company’s finance department?
I work as a Financial Accountant, responsible for preparing financial reports and ensuring the accurate and timely submission of financial information.
How do you contribute to the overall financial strategy of the business?
I contribute through applying my experience, knowledge, and strong work ethic to support sound financial decision making and help drive the business forward.
What is one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your role? How did you overcome it?
The constant pressure of meeting deadlines has been one of the biggest challenges in my role. Over time, I learned to adapt by staying organised, prioritising effectively, and making deadline management a natural part of my workflow.
What tools or strategies do you use to manage the financial operations of the company effectively?
I focus on prioritising tasks, keeping things simple, and thinking creatively when solving problems. Managing my time wisely and working smarter rather than harder helps me stay effective in handling financial operations.
Share your strategies for staying balanced, especially during busy periods
I stay balanced by focusing on one task at a time and prioritising what needs to be done first. Taking short breaks to step away and reset also helps me stay focused and work more effectively when I return.
What do you enjoy outside of work? Any hobbies or activities that help you recharge?
I enjoy gardening, exercising, and spending quality time with my son, as these activities help me relax and recharge outside of work.
Do you mentor or support other team members in the finance department? How do you help develop the skills of others?
Yes, I support my team by motivating them and providing regular training on different accounting principles. I believe in building knowledge step by step, starting with the fundamentals before moving on to more advanced concepts. The idea is to make sure learning is solid and steady, like mastering the basics first.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to work in a finance department?
Focus on prioritising tasks and maintaining a high level of accuracy in your work, as attention to detail is essential in finance. It’s also important to stay informed about changing tax regulations and continuously update your knowledge to remain effective in the field.
“Work smarter not harder”
Share a leadership lesson or a piece of advice that’s been valuable to you in your career.
Focus on working smarter rather than simply working harder, and embrace opportunities to grow, even when it means stepping into challenging situations. Sometimes being pushed out of your comfort zone is where the most valuable learning happens.
What’s something surprising about you that isn’t in your professional bio? A hobby, interest, or fun fact?
I play the piano and enjoy singing as well.
If you could have any superpower to help you in your job, what would it be? Predicting financial trends? Master multitasking?
The superpower I would choose is the ability to master multitasking.
What’s your go-to strategy for staying productive during long workdays?
I stay productive by staying focused on learning and absorbing as much as I can while working. I avoid distractions, keep myself driven by purpose, and maintain the discipline needed to complete tasks efficiently.
If you could relive one day from your career, which day would it be and why? What made that day special?
The day I was promoted to VAT Manager is one I would choose to relive. That period helped me build many of my skills and deepen my knowledge by working through the books myself and managing the pressure of performance and tight deadlines, which played a big role in my professional growth.
For Chanel, success is simple:
Prioritise. Stay accurate. Work smarter, not harder.
From VAT Manager to mentoring junior staff weekly, she believes real growth comes from pressure, practice, and discipline.
If you’re climbing the ladder, juggling deadlines, and building your credibility, don’t stop now.
Join CIBA and we’ll show you how to strengthen your expertise and grow your professional standing.
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