Clint Van Wyk, Financial Accountant
Financial Accountant
Current Experience:Financial Accountant at BitCo Telecoms · Full-time Jan 2025 - Present (4 mos)
PAST EXPERIENCES:MMS Chartered Accountants
Senior Accountant Full-time
Apr 2024 - Jan 2025 (10 mos)
Accounting Trainee - Contract Apr 2021 - Apr 2024 (3 yrs 1 mo)
Junior Accountant at Route Management Group of Companies · Full-time
Jun 2018 - Dec 2018 · (7 mos)
Financial Manager at LifeLine Northern Cape · Contract
Aug 2017 - Jun 2018 · (11 mos)
Qualifications:Bachelor of commerce Accounting
Country of Residence:South Africa
LinkedIn Profile: In our mission to build a strong accounting community in South Africa, Accounting Weekly highlights the journeys of accountants who make a difference in their field. This edition features Clint van Wyk, a Financial Accountant with 5-6 years of experience, known for his dedication to financial integrity, his entrepreneurial spirit, and his commitment to personal and professional growth.
Clint, an early riser, begins his mornings with a cardio workout, followed by meditation and prayer. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing music, and pursuing his passion for golf, despite the challenges.
What time do you usually wake up on weekends?
6:30 AM
Are you an early bird or a night owl?
Early bird
How do you spend the first hour of your day?
The first half hour of my day is always dedicated to a cardio workout, followed by 30 minutes of meditation and prayer to ground myself before the day begins.
What sparked your interest in accounting or finance?
As an entrepreneur, I quickly came to understand just how vital accounting and finance are to the success of any business. This realization sparked a deep interest in the world of numbers and financial strategy. While I continue to explore and enjoy the entrepreneurial journey, accounting and finance have become my true passion.
Can you share some key career milestones or defining moments?
I believe my career is still in its early stages, with no fixed direction just yet, which makes it difficult to identify specific milestones or defining moments. However, I’m confident that one day I’ll look back and see my qualification and registration as a Professional Accountant (SA) as a pivotal moment in shaping my career.
What is your role within your company’s finance department?
I recently began a new role at BitCo Telecoms as a Financial Accountant, where I report directly to the Financial Manager.
How do you contribute to the overall financial strategy of the business?
Currently, I'm studying the company's existing financial strategy to better understand my role and how I can contribute to guiding the business in the right direction.
What is one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your role? How did you overcome it?
To answer this question, I’d refer to my previous role as Senior Accountant at MMS Trust Services. In a firm environment, maintaining strong client relationships is always a challenge. Early in my time at MMS, I made a conscious decision to treat these relationships with the same level of importance as the financial information I was responsible for delivering. This mindset consistently helped me navigate what I believe to be one of the biggest challenges in the firm environment, second only to the high-pressure nature of the work.
Share your strategies for staying balanced, especially during busy periods.
I’m someone who thrives on routine. It’s been my greatest secret to staying grounded during busy periods. No matter how intense the pressure or how long the to-do list gets, I always stick to my routine, that’s what keeps me focused and productive.
What do you enjoy outside of work?
I'm a performing musician who's also ventured into the world of amateur (and often struggling) golf. However, out of all the activities I enjoy outside of work, nothing compares to the time I spend with my family, it’s truly what I value most.
Do you mentor or support other team members in the finance department?
While I haven’t officially taken on the role of mentor to anyone I’ve worked with, I’m aware that a few colleagues see me in that light. I consistently advocate for hard work and the belief that you’ll never regret the effort you put in. When this mindset becomes part of who you are as a professional, support from senior leadership often follows naturally.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to work in a finance department?
It might sound cliché, but truly loving what you do makes all the difference. When you're passionate about your work, the skills and knowledge you need to succeed tend to develop naturally.
If your main motivation for pursuing a career in finance is the money, it's unlikely you'll stick with it for long, this field is demanding and requires genuine commitment.
What’s your favourite quote or mantra that motivates you?
"Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all love of what you are doing or learning to do"- PELE
Share a leadership lesson or a piece of advice that’s been valuable to you in your career.
I've consistently received the same advice from successful individuals: hard work will always pay off.
What’s something surprising about you that isn’t in your professional bio?
My wife often says she wishes the people I work with could see me at home, as I'm the typical class clown around the house.
If you could have any superpower to help you in your job, what would it be?
It would have to be 24-hour concentration!
What’s your go-to strategy for staying productive during long workdays?
It’s about maintaining the determination to succeed at the task and using the ABC strategy (Apply Bum to Chair).
If you could relive one day from your career, which day would it be and why?
That day has not arrived yet.
Clint van Wyk’s story reflects his passion for accounting and finance, his commitment to hard work, and his ongoing personal and professional growth. Connect with Clint on LinkedIn to follow his journey and achievements.
Profile sponsored by the Chartered Institute for Business Accountants
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