Elsabe Grobler, Financial Accountant
Financial Accountant
Current Experience:Financial Accountant at KwaPele Foods · Full-time Jun 2018 - Present · (7 yrs 1 mo)
PAST EXPERIENCES:Senior Accounting Clerk at Veritas · Full-time Nov 2017 - May 2018 · (7 mos)
Financial Clerk at Fanus de Beer Ingelyf · Full-time Jan 2011 - Oct 2017 · (6 yrs 10 mos)
Qualifications:Bachelor’s Degree Accounting
Country of Residence:South Africa
LinkedIn Profile: Meet Elsabe Grobler, a Financial Accountant who brings precision, passion, and perseverance to everything she does. With over a decade of experience, Elsabe has carved out a name for herself by doing the hard work, studying part-time, earning her stripes young, and leading by example.
What time do you usually wake up on weekends?
5:00 AM
Are you an early bird or a night owl?
Early bird
How do you spend the first hour of your day?
Drinking coffee and preparing for the day.
What sparked your interest in accounting or finance?
I'm a very structured person and appreciate clear right or wrong answers, which is exactly what Accounting offers. There's no grey area.
Can you share some key career milestones or defining moments?
I worked full-time while studying part-time, which was a major milestone for me. It required a lot of hard work and dedication.
What is your role within your company’s finance department?
I am a Financial Accountant.
How do you contribute to the overall financial strategy of the business?
The figures I compile each month play a key role in guiding major decisions.
What is one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your role? How did you overcome it?
When I started my current role, I was one of the youngest accountants on the team. I had to work hard to prove that I deserved the position. I overcame the challenge by consistently showing that I'm a skilled accountant who’s dedicated and committed to giving my best every day.
What tools or strategies do you use to manage the financial operations of the company effectively?
I ask a lot of questions to make sure everyone is clear on how the work should be done effectively, and I focus on keeping the team motivated.
Share your strategies for staying balanced, especially during busy periods.
Do your best with the time you have.
What do you enjoy outside of work?
I love reading and baking.
Do you mentor or support other team members in the finance department?
Yes, I do. I motivate others and am always willing to guide them on how things should be done.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to work in a finance department?
When doing your SAIPA or SAICA clerkship, choose a company that gives you exposure to all departments, like drafting financials, auditing, tax, and completing income tax returns.
Those clerkship years are incredibly important, and the more you learn during that time, the more it will give you a real advantage in your career.
What’s your favourite quote or mantra that motivates you?
Your best is enough.
Share a leadership lesson or a piece of advice that’s been valuable to you in your career.
Don’t try to blend in, stand out. Work hard, and don’t let yourself get stuck in one place. Always look for better opportunities to grow.
What’s something surprising about you that isn’t in your professional bio?
I love photography
If you could have any superpower to help you in your job, what would it be?
Master social skills. I work hard and can motivate others easily, but I’m naturally shy, so social interactions can be challenging for me at times.
What’s your go-to strategy for staying productive during long workdays?
I like to take a short walk every hour to clear my mind.
If you could relive one day from your career, which day would it be and why?
My graduation showed me that hard work truly pays off, and it has ever since.
Elsabe’s journey is proof that structure and heart can go hand in hand. From balancing spreadsheets to baking up a storm, she reminds us that excellence is about consistency, curiosity, and never settling for less than your best.
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