Comfort Bhila, Senior Financial Accountant
Senior Financial Accountant
Current Experience:
Senior Financial Accountant at MDB Municipal Demarcation Board Sep 2023 - Present · (2 yrs 3 mos)
Past Experiences:
Financial Accountant at MDB Municipal Demarc Aug 2019 - Aug 2023 · (4 yrs 1 mo)
SAIPA Trainee Accountant at Gauteng Provincial Treasury · Internship Sep 2016 - Aug 2019 · (3 yrs)
Qualifications:
Advanced Diploma in Accounting Sciences
Postgraduate Diploma in Management Accountant
Bachelor of Technology Cost and Management Accounting
National Diploma Cost and Management Accounting
Country of Residence:
South Africa
LinkedIn Profile:
Meet Comfort Bhila, a seasoned Senior Financial Accountant at the Municipal Demarcation Board with nearly a decade of experience in the public finance sector. From his early days as a trainee accountant to leading year-end financial closes, Comfort has built a reputation for precision, leadership, and unwavering calm under pressure. With a Postgraduate Diploma in Management Accounting and a deep commitment to mentoring, he’s become a pillar of excellence in financial reporting and compliance.
What time do you usually wake up on weekends?
06:00 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 morning with a jog.
What sparked your interest in accounting and finance?
My interest in accounting grew when I realised how much it shapes the way a business runs. I’ve always enjoyed working with numbers and staying organised, and accounting brought those strengths together. What pulled me in even more was seeing how financial information can tell a clear story about a company’s performance and future potential. I liked the idea that solid financial management helps leaders make better decisions and build sustainable growth. The problem-solving side of it — from balancing figures to working through detailed regulations — made it even more appealing.
Can you share some key career milestones or defining moments?
A few moments have really shaped my career so far. Landing my first accounting role in 2016 was a big one. I was fresh out of school and suddenly working on real financial statements, which was intimidating but incredibly valuable.
Passing the SAIPA PE exam in 2019 was another turning point. Juggling work and studying wasn’t easy, so finally clearing the exams felt like a major achievement and opened the door to the next stage of my career.
Moving into a senior role at the Municipal Demarcation Board in 2023 also stands out. Shifting from processing transactions to reviewing work and guiding junior staff made me realise how far I’d come in both skill and confidence.
Stepping into management has been another defining moment. It taught me how to balance leadership, technical expertise, and client relationships. It’s no longer just about the numbers — it’s about strategy, communication, and supporting others.
What is your role within your company’s finance department?
As a Senior Financial Accountant focused on Financial Accounting and Reporting, my role centres on ensuring that our financial information is accurate, compliant, and reliable. I prepare key financial reports, manage reconciliations, and make sure everything aligns with GRAP, National Treasury rules, and other reporting requirements.
My work includes preparing balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow reports on time, overseeing accruals and adjustments, and supporting the audit process. I also analyse financial results, flag discrepancies, and share insights that help management make informed decisions.
On the operational side, I’m involved in improving reporting processes, strengthening internal controls, and finding ways to automate or streamline tasks. Because I’m in a senior role, I also guide junior accountants and work closely with other teams to support broader organisational goals.
How do you contribute to the overall financial strategy of the business?
As a Senior Financial Accountant in Financial Accounting and Reporting, my role supports the business’s financial strategy in several key ways. Beyond preparing reports, I help guide decision-making, strengthen financial stability, and improve overall efficiency.
By keeping our financial records accurate and compliant with GRAP and National Treasury requirements, I provide leadership with dependable information they can use to make strategic choices. I analyse trends in revenue and expenditure, offer insight into performance, and support the development of budgets and forecasts that reflect the organisation’s true financial position.
I also play a key role in managing risk by upholding regulatory standards and maintaining strong internal controls. This helps prevent errors, reduce exposure to potential penalties, and protect the organisation’s financial integrity.
On the operational side, I assist in improving systems, automating routine processes, and refining reporting methods, which reduces manual work and creates more space for value-adding analysis. Collaboration is another important part of my role—I work closely with operations, procurement, and senior management to ensure that financial reporting supports broader organisational goals and helps teams stay on track with their budgets.
What is one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your role? How did you overcome it?
One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced as a Senior Financial Accountant was managing a major reporting deadline while simultaneously implementing a new accounting standard. It created a lot of pressure, not only did we need to meet strict timelines, but we also had to reassess lease contracts, update revenue-recognition principles, and adjust our financial statements to align with the new requirements. On top of that, the transition involved close coordination with IT, legal, operations, and other departments to gather accurate information.
I tackled it through early preparation and a clear plan. I made sure I fully understood the new standard by attending training sessions and reviewing regulatory guidance. From there, I worked with the team to create templates and automate parts of the process, which helped reduce manual work and avoid errors. I also kept communication open by breaking down the technical changes into straightforward steps for each team and scheduling regular check-ins to keep everyone aligned.
Engaging our auditors early also helped smooth the process and avoid any last-minute surprises. In the end, we met the reporting deadline without compromising on compliance, and the improvements we introduced made the next reporting cycle far more efficient.
What tools or strategies do you use to manage the financial operations of the company effectively?
Here are some key tools and strategies I rely on:
Financial Systems & Accounting Software.
Automation & Data Analytics
Internal Controls & Compliance Strategies
Budgeting, Forecasting & Financial Planning Cross
Functional Collaboration & Communication
Continuous Improvement & Professional Development
Share your strategies for staying balanced, especially during busy periods
I stay balanced during busy periods by planning ahead and breaking my workload into manageable pieces. I focus on the tasks that matter most and use tools like ERP systems, dashboards, and simple automations to save time and reduce manual work. I also work closely with my team to share responsibilities and keep things moving without last-minute pressure. Taking short breaks and protecting my downtime helps prevent burnout, and after each peak period, I review what went well and what can be improved so the next cycle is even easier to manage.
What do you enjoy outside of work? Any hobbies or activities that help you recharge?
I enjoy starting my mornings with a jog, spending time at church, and catching up with friends and family.
Do you mentor or support other team members in the finance department? How do you help develop the skills of others?
I support my team by helping them understand key accounting concepts and offering constructive, practical feedback. I also give them work that gradually increases in complexity so they can build confidence and grow their skills. On top of that, I encourage them to collaborate with other departments to strengthen their communication and overall business understanding.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to work in a finance department?
Understand financial reporting, reconciliation, and core principles (GRAP/IFRS). Familiarize with accounting software (SAP, SAGE, Oracle) and advanced Excel, plus data analytics tools. Develop the ability to analyze financial data, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions. Understand how finance aligns with overall business strategy and operations. Enhance your ability to present financial data clearly and collaborate across teams. Growth Opportunities Certifications. Consider obtaining credentials like SAIPA, SAICA, ACCA, or CIMA to strengthen your qualifications. Continuous Learning. Stay updated on industry trends, financial regulations, and new tools to ensure ongoing development."
“Keep your head, no matter how steamy the room is”
Share a leadership lesson or a piece of advice that’s been valuable to you in your career
Early in my career, I learned that leadership is more than giving instructions, it’s about guiding the team through challenges and supporting their growth. By consistently modeling the work ethic and attention to detail I expect, I set a standard while giving team members the autonomy to take ownership of their projects. I focus on offering guidance, trusting them to execute, and treating mistakes as learning opportunities rather than assigning blame. This approach has helped create a motivated, capable team and a positive, growth-focused work environment.
What’s something surprising about you that isn’t in your professional bio?
Something not in my professional bio is that I am a God-fearing man.
If you could have any superpower to help you in your job, what would it be?
I’d choose the ability to instantly automate and process financial data in my mind, making analysis faster and more precise.
What’s your go-to strategy for staying productive during long workdays?
To stay productive during long workdays, I break tasks into smaller, manageable parts, focus on the most important priorities, and take short, regular breaks to maintain energy and focus.
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 in my career, it would be the day I successfully led my first year-end financial close. What made it memorable was the combination of teamwork and achievement—despite the pressure, everything fell into place after weeks of preparation. I felt proud managing the entire process, ensuring all reconciliations were accurate, and delivering reports on time to management. That day marked a turning point, showing me the real impact of my work and how much I had grown in my role.
Comfort isn’t just managing numbers, he’s driving accountability, mentoring future leaders, and ensuring financial integrity across the board. Whether it’s guiding his team through complex reporting deadlines or using automation to streamline operations, he leads with purpose and faith. Want a blueprint for building credibility and impact in finance? Comfort Bhila shows what it looks like.
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