Gerald Vutlhari Mabasa, Associate Technical Accountant
Associate Technical Accountant
Current Experience:
Associate Technical Accountant at Hannover Reinsurance Group Africa (Pty) Limited Jul 2023 - Present · (2 yrs 4 mos)
Past Experience:
Junior Technical Accountant at Hannover Reinsurance Group Africa Mar 2021 - Jul 2023 (2 Yrs 3 mos)
Trainee Accountant at WizeBooks · Internship Jan 2021 - Apr 2021 · (4 mos)
Qualifications:
BCom Honours, Financial Management Sciences
Country of Residence:
South Africa
LinkedIn Profile:
From gym floors to international accounts, Gerald Vutlhari Mabasa doesn’t just crunch numbers, he owns them. As an Associate Technical Accountant with 4–5 years of experience and two promotions under his belt, Gerald’s journey is a reminder that growth isn’t just possible, it’s strategic.
He’s the kind of pro who trains juniors by day and hits the football pitch by weekend. A self-proclaimed night owl with a 6am weekend alarm, he brings structure, sweat, and a sharp sense of accountability to everything he does, especially client cashflows.
This is the future of accounting. Relentless. Grounded. Earning it.
What time do you usually wake up on weekends?
06:00 AM
Are you an early bird or a night owl?
Night owl
How do you spend the first hour of your day?
I usually start my morning at the gym.
What sparked your interest in accounting or finance?
My interest in accounting and finance came from enjoying problem-solving and working with numbers and analysis.
Can you share some key career milestones or defining moments?
One of my key career milestones was earning a promotion within just two years.
What is your role within your company’s finance department?
I manage both local and international accounts, handling accounts receivable and payable, along with reconciliations.
How do you contribute to the overall financial strategy of the business?
I contribute to the company’s financial strategy by serving as the first point of contact for clients regarding accounts and cash, ensuring that all payments are accurately matched with the accounts.
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 early in my career was gaining confidence in sending emails to clients while minimizing errors. I overcame this by undergoing training on how to write and address professional emails effectively.
What tools or strategies do you use to manage the financial operations of the company effectively?
I manage the company’s financial operations by putting proper checks and controls in place to reduce errors.
Share your strategies for staying balanced, especially during busy periods.
I stay balanced by handling tasks as they come rather than trying to do everything at once. This approach keeps me calm and focused, even during busy periods like month-end.
What do you enjoy outside of work?
Outside of work, I enjoy playing football with friends at the park and going to the gym occasionally. I like to stay active to recharge and keep my energy up.
Do you mentor or support other team members in the finance department?
I often train junior employees, which I really enjoy. Sharing knowledge and helping others develop their skills is something that truly fulfills me.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to work in a finance department?
My advice would be to focus on collaboration and teamwork, both within the finance department and with other departments, as this makes getting things done much smoother. It’s also important to be strong with numbers and to be accountable for every cent, which reflects not just in work but in life in general.
“Nothing is impossible”
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 that integrity should be at the core of any leader. I make it a point to practice this every day, even at this early stage of my career.
What’s something surprising about you that isn’t in your professional bio?
Something surprising about me is that I’m currently pursuing my CIMA qualification, which focuses on the strategic side of finance and understanding the story behind the numbers.
If you could have any superpower to help you in your job, what would it be?
If I could have any superpower to help me in my job, it would be to spend less time on reconciliations.
What’s your go-to strategy for staying productive during long workdays?
My go-to strategy for staying productive during long workdays is keeping the mood light by joking around with colleagues.
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 received my second promotion, three years into the job. It came with a nice increase in remuneration, and I wish achievements like that could happen every year.
Gerald isn’t just chasing career milestones, he’s creating them. From managing both local and global reconciliations to mentoring the next generation, he’s proof that leadership starts with integrity and ends with impact.
Want to build the kind of career that gets you promoted, twice?
Join CIBA and we’ll show you how to turn accountability into income.
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