El-Cachet Claassen, Property Management Accountant
Property Management Accountant
Current Experience:
Accountant at GroundProbe · Full-time Dec 2021 - Present · (3 yrs 6 mos)
Past Experience:
Accountant at Samuel Pauw Incorporated Jan 2018 - Jun 2022 · (4 yrs 6 mos)
Qualifications:
Financial Management Diploma
Finance and Financial Management Services
Country of Residence:
South Africa
LinkedIn Profile:
Meet El-Cachet Claassen, a Property Management Accountant with a 3D printing hobby and a sharp eye for interdepartmental improvements. He juggles 6,500 monthly levy statements and 35+ reports while mentoring junior staff and defending his weekends for rest and family. His mindset? Prepare early, stay ahead, and always be open to learning.
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 by getting ready for work since I work from home. While having breakfast, I go through my emails to see what needs attention for the day.
What sparked your interest in accounting or finance?
My dad works in accounting, so I was exposed to it early on. I’ve always had a knack for numbers, and once I started studying accounting at school, I realised it was something I was really good at.
Can you share some key career milestones or defining moments?
Two key moments stand out for me: being named Employee of the Month in my department, and completing my internship, which led to a full-time role as a Project Management Accountant.
What is your role within your company’s finance department?
I'm an Accountant in the Property Management department. My main responsibilities include preparing around 35–40 monthly reports and sending out about 6,500 levy statements each month. I also assist my colleagues whenever they need support.
How do you contribute to the overall financial strategy of the business?
At the moment, I'm not directly involved in shaping the overall financial strategy of the business.
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 is managing my time while working from home. It’s still something I work on, especially with the workload, but I’ve found that preparation makes a big difference. I try to work hard at the start of the month to stay ahead in case anything unexpected comes up later on.
What tools or strategies do you use to manage the financial operations of the company effectively?
I’m not currently involved in managing the company’s financial operations.
Share your strategies for staying balanced, especially during busy periods.
I make it a priority to set clear boundaries between work and personal life. Weekends are reserved for family and friends, so I stick to a firm rule: no working late on Fridays and no work over the weekend. It helps me stay balanced, especially during busy periods.
What do you enjoy outside of work?
Outside of work, I enjoy 3D design and printing, it’s a creative outlet that I find really rewarding. I’m also a big rugby fan and enjoy watching games whenever I c
Do you mentor or support other team members in the finance department?
Yes, I’ve successfully trained four employees, and since I’ve been with the company for a while, team members often reach out to me for advice or help. I’m always happy to share what I’ve learned and support others in developing their skills.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to work in a finance department?
My advice would be to be ready to put in extra effort and always do your best. It’s also helpful to identify the industry you’re interested in and, if you can, spend some time job shadowing someone to get a real feel for the work.
“Don’t see it as a mistake, see it as a learning opportunity.”
Share a leadership lesson or a piece of advice that’s been valuable to you in your caree
A valuable leadership lesson I’ve learned is to always stay open to learning. I make a point to connect with different departments to better understand how they work. Even though it’s not required, having that insight helps me improve communication and smooth out any frustrations or misunderstandings between teams.
What’s something surprising about you that isn’t in your professional bio?
Something surprising that isn’t in my professional bio is that I’m really into cars and also enjoy 3D printing as a hobby.
If you could have any superpower to help you in your job, what would it be?
If I could have any superpower for my job, it would be the ability to clone myself so I could get more done in less time.
What’s your go-to strategy for staying productive during long workdays?
My go-to strategy for staying productive during long workdays is taking regular comfort breaks, which help keep my energy and focus up.
If you could relive one day from your career, which day would it be and why?
If I could relive one day from my career, it would be the day I was named Employee of the Month in my department. What made it special was how our GM announced it, saying I won by a country mile, and the big round of applause I received from my colleagues.
El-Cachet proves that the real power in accounting is knowing more than just the numbers. From championing workflows to balancing boundaries, he’s shaping more than spreadsheets, he’s shaping trust.
Join CIBA and we’ll show you how to lead like El-Cachet, with confidence, competence, and community.
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