Divashni Padayachee, Financial Accountant
Financial Accountant
Current Experience:
Financial Accountant at inlumi · Full-time Aug 2023 - Present · (2 yrs 7 mos)
Past Experience:
Bookkeeper at Nologo Studios · Full-time May 2022 - Jul 2023 · (1 yr 3 mos)
Financial Consultant at Adaptive Consulting Services · Full-time Oct 2020 - Apr 2022 · (1 yr 7 mos)
Shipping and Creditors Clerk at Kingsley Brands · Full-time Aug 2019 - Sep 2020 · (1 yr 2 mos)
Education:
BCom Accounting and Business Management
Country of Residence:
South Africa
LinkedIn Profile:
New system. Year-end. Tight deadlines. No room for mistakes.
Most accountants would panic.
Divashni Padayachee didn’t.
While others were still adjusting, she was learning the system, working with IT, and building quick-reference guides for her team.
That’s leadership.
A Financial Accountant at Inlumi, Divashni thrives on reconciliations, process improvements, and making month-end less stressful. Here’s how she handles pressure, and why she earned the highest performance review in her team after just one year.
What time do you usually wake up on weekends?
08:00 AM
Are you an early bird or a night owl?
Early Bird
How do you spend the first hour of your day?
I usually spend the first hour of my morning either practicing yoga or meditating.
What sparked your interest in accounting and finance?
My interest in accounting and finance comes from enjoying working with numbers and the satisfaction I get from investigating discrepancies and reconciling accounts accurately.
Can you share some key career milestones or defining moments?
Some key career milestones for me include implementing new finance systems within companies and refining finance processes to make month-end close more efficient and far less stressful for the team.
What is your role within your company’s finance department?
I work as a Financial Accountant within my company’s finance department.
How do you contribute to the overall financial strategy of the business?
I contribute to the overall financial strategy by preparing key financial reports and providing clear explanations and insights to support informed decision-making.
What is one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your role? How did you overcome it?
One of the biggest challenges I faced as a Financial Accountant was during a year-end close when we had to implement a new accounting system just weeks before the closing period. The system changed how transactions were recorded and reported, creating a steep learning curve for the whole team, all while we were under pressure to meet tight reporting and audit deadlines.
To manage this, I took the initiative to learn the system thoroughly by attending training sessions and reviewing all documentation. I worked closely with IT and the software provider to resolve issues as they arose. Additionally, I created a quick-reference guide highlighting key processes and differences from the previous system, which helped my team adapt more quickly and meet our deadlines efficiently.
What tools or strategies do you use to manage the financial operations of the company effectively?
I manage the company’s financial operations effectively by using tools like Microsoft Excel and our financial systems to track and analyze data. I also focus on staying ahead of deadlines, ensuring that tasks are completed on time or even earlier.
Share your strategies for staying balanced, especially during busy periods
To stay balanced during busy periods, I make sure all tasks are completed within the agreed timelines, and if there’s a risk of delay, I communicate with my manager promptly. I focus on prioritising tasks effectively and maintaining attention to detail, which helps manage workload without compromising quality.
What do you enjoy outside of work? Any hobbies or activities that help you recharge?
Outside of work, I enjoy watching movies and reading, as well as engaging in creative activities like painting, drawing, and teaching art. These hobbies help me relax and recharge.
Do you mentor or support other team members in the finance department? How do you help develop the skills of others?
Yes, I actively support my team by scheduling monthly sessions where a team member shares insights or teaches a part of their responsibilities. This allows everyone to learn new skills and ensures that we can cover each other’s work if someone is on leave.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to work in a finance department?
If you’re looking to work in a finance department, my key advice is to develop strong technical skills alongside a solid understanding of the business. Finance isn’t just about handling numbers, it’s about interpreting them, providing insights, and supporting decisions that help the company succeed.
“What gets measured gets managed. – Peter Drucker”
Share a leadership lesson or a piece of advice that’s been valuable to you in your career.
A valuable leadership lesson I’ve learned is to lead with clarity and consistency rather than relying solely on authority. It’s important not only to review the numbers but also to check in with the people behind them, supporting and guiding your team along the way.
What’s something surprising about you that isn’t in your professional bio? A hobby, interest, or fun fact?
Something surprising about me that isn’t in my professional bio is that I really enjoy teaching.
If you could have any superpower to help you in your job, what would it be? Predicting financial trends? Master multitasking?
If I could have a superpower for my job, it would be Instant Financial Foresight, the ability to accurately predict financial trends and the impact of decisions before they happen.
What’s your go-to strategy for staying productive during long workdays?
My go-to strategy for staying productive during long workdays is time-blocking and task batching. I set aside dedicated blocks of time for deep-focus work, like reconciliations or reporting, and group similar tasks together to maintain efficiency and focus throughout the day.
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 from my career, it would be the day I received my performance review after just one year at my company. It was special because I was the only member of my team to receive a high-performance rating, which felt like recognition for my hard work and dedication.
High performance isn’t loud. It’s consistent. It’s prepared. It’s proactive.
Divashni doesn’t wait for problems. She blocks time. She batches tasks. She mentors her team. She builds systems so no one struggles alone.
Her mantra?
“What gets measured gets managed.”
If you want to grow in finance, or build a stronger practice, this is the standard.
Master the systems. Support your people. Lead with clarity.
Join CIBA and we’ll show you how to position yourself as the finance professional businesses can’t afford to lose.
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