Danél Swanepoel, Senior Financial Accountant
Senior Financial Accountant
Current Experience:
Senior Financial Accountant at Intercape · Full-time Jan 2025 - Present · (1 yr 3 mos)
Past Experience:
Accounting Bookkeeper at Lazarus Motor Company · Full-time Feb 2020 - Jan 2025 · (5 yrs)
Education:
Higher National Diploma Accounting and Finance
Country of Residence:
South Africa
LinkedIn Profile:
She wakes up at 6am.
Prayer. Exercise. Discipline.
Because leadership doesn’t start at the office. It starts with intention.
This week’s Accounting Weekly profile features Danél Swanepoel, Senior Financial Accountant with over a decade in finance, and proof that strength in numbers means nothing without strength in character.
She’s a published fiction author.
Because finance isn’t just about reporting the past. It’s about shaping the future.
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 begin my morning with prayer, followed by some form of exercise.
What sparked your interest in accounting and finance?
I’ve always been drawn to how accounting brings information together to create a clear picture of what has happened in the past while also helping us make more informed predictions about the future.
Can you share some key career milestones or defining moments?
Being appointed to my current position was a major milestone in my career. It represented the realisation of a goal I had worked toward for a long time and was a moment that made the effort and dedication along the way feel truly meaningful.
What is your role within your company’s finance department?
I serve as a Senior Financial Accountant, reporting directly to the Financial Manager and the CFO.
How do you contribute to the overall financial strategy of the business?
I contribute by helping to implement systems and procedures that improve business processes and support efficient financial operations. I also play a role in ensuring a well organised and smooth audit process, which adds value to overall financial governance.
What is one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your role? How did you overcome it?
One of the biggest challenges in my role has been aligning different finance teams that historically operated in their own ways. Bringing these groups together requires balancing processes, people, and expectations while ensuring that the transition is smooth and inclusive. It’s about creating consistency without losing the strengths each team brings to the table
What tools or strategies do you use to manage the financial operations of the company effectively?
I believe in taking a holistic approach when managing financial operations, carefully evaluating each situation and making decisions based on what best supports the company’s growth and long-term success.
Share your strategies for staying balanced, especially during busy periods
Balance is very important to me. When I’m working, I stay fully focused and committed, giving my best to the task at hand. But I also make a conscious effort to switch off when it’s time to live life outside of work. Making time to rest, recharge, and nurture my physical, mental, and emotional well-being helps me stay at my best in all areas of life.
What do you enjoy outside of work? Any hobbies or activities that help you recharge?
I enjoy spending time in nature, especially hiking, as it helps refresh my mind and recharge my energy. I also like reading, writing, and keeping a journal.
Do you mentor or support other team members in the finance department? How do you help develop the skills of others?
Yes, I do. I focus on encouraging and supporting team members by showing confidence in their abilities and reminding them of their potential, especially when they are unsure of themselves. I believe motivation and positive reinforcement play an important role in helping others grow and develop their skills.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to work in a finance department?
While technical financial knowledge is important, I believe strong interpersonal skills are just as critical. Working in finance is not only about understanding numbers but also about understanding people, since collaboration and communication play a key role in a successful finance function.
“Give it your all or walk away. If you are not fully committed to a role or project it takes away the opportunity for maximum growth and potential.”
Share a leadership lesson or a piece of advice that’s been valuable to you in your career.
Always focus on the bigger picture.
What’s something surprising about you that isn’t in your professional bio? A hobby, interest, or fun fact?
I enjoy writing, and I’ve actually published a fictional book. People are often surprised to learn that I have a strong interest in both numbers and literature, as it’s not a combination they usually expect.
If you could have any superpower to help you in your job, what would it be? Predicting financial trends? Master multitasking?
If I could choose a superpower to help me in my work, it would be the ability to read people’s thoughts.
What’s your go-to strategy for staying productive during long workdays?
I find that taking short breaks helps me reset before returning to work with full focus. I also value quick check-in conversations with my team, as they help keep everyone energised, aligned, and engaged 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 was awarded third place overall in a leadership course I attended with participants from across South Africa, presented by Stellenbosch University Business School, is one I would love to relive.
For Danél, finance isn’t just about figures. It’s about people.
Her advice? Master the numbers but never ignore the human side of the business.
If you’re building your career, stepping into leadership, or trying to unite teams that think differently, don’t underestimate the power of soft skills and bigger-picture thinking.
Join CIBA and we’ll show you how to grow your technical authority and leadership impact.
Profile sponsored by the Chartered Institute for Business Accountants
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