Helena van Huyssteen, Audit Senior
Audit Senior
Current Experience:
Audit Senior at Grunberg & Co · Full-time Mar 2024 - Present · (1 yr 9 mos)
Past Experiences:
Audit Trainee at BDO South Africa · Full-time Feb 2021 - Mar 2024 · (3 yrs 2 mos)
Accounting Trainee at Moore South Africa · Full-time Feb 2018 - Jan 2021 · (3 yrs)
Qualifications:
BCom Accounting
Postgraduate Degree, Accounting
Country of Residence:
South Africa
LinkedIn Profile:
“I knew I wanted to be a CA in Grade 4.”
Most people stumble into accounting. Helena ran towards it.
From skipping the party life to pass board exams first-time, to leading audit teams with calm strength and quiet excellence, Helena van Huyssteen isn’t here for titles, she’s here to serve, guide, and lead with purpose.
Her story isn’t loud. But it hits deep. Discipline. Faith. Structure. A love for spreadsheets, squash, and spiritual grounding. This is what modern audit leadership looks like when done right.
What time do you usually wake up on weekends?
07:00 AM
Are you an early bird or a night owl?
Early Bird
How do you spend the first hour of your day?
I start my mornings with some Bible study and a cup of tea. On most days, I head to the gym a bit later, but sometimes I just relax and spend time playing with my dog.
What sparked your interest in accounting or finance?
My interest in accounting started back in grade 4 when we were first introduced to economics, I loved it right away and naturally did well in accounting too. Even though I was briefly tempted by subjects like biology in high school, I kept excelling in accounting and eventually decided to follow the path I’d been drawn to all along: becoming a CA.
Can you share some key career milestones or defining moments?
I started my articles right after finishing high school and completed my studies at the same time. By the grace of God and with a lot of discipline, I passed all my years and competency exams on the first attempt. Earning my CA designation has definitely been one of the biggest milestones in my career.
What is your role within your company’s finance department?
As an Audit and Accounts Senior, I lead small audit teams, handle the planning phase, and manage communication between clients and the audit team. My work involves both executing and finalising audits, and I also take on occasional projects such as compiling financial statements and performing company or share valuations.
How do you contribute to the overall financial strategy of the business?
The business aims to grow its client base and deliver high-quality audit and accounting services. By performing my role effectively and ensuring clients receive accurate, timely work, I contribute directly to achieving that strategy.
What is one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your role? How did you overcome it?
One of the biggest challenges has been managing multiple projects with tight deadlines. I’ve learned to overcome this by working closely with my team, using progress trackers, and setting clear priorities for each task. Earlier in my career, balancing full-time work and studies was also demanding, but discipline, a solid routine, support from loved ones, regular exercise, and faith helped me stay grounded and focused.
What tools or strategies do you use to manage the financial operations of the company effectively?
I don’t directly manage a company’s financial operations, but to manage my own work effectively, I focus on clear communication, consistent progress tracking, and understanding both the tasks and the people involved. I also prioritise managing my personal life well, as maintaining balance helps me stay efficient and handle work pressures better.
Share your strategies for staying balanced, especially during busy periods
I stay balanced by keeping a consistent routine that includes regular exercise, healthy eating, and enough sleep. I also make time for hobbies and the people I care about, and I prioritise quiet, spiritual moments to recharge and refocus.
What do you enjoy outside of work? Any hobbies or activities that help you recharge?
Outside of work, I enjoy staying active with sports like padel, squash, tennis, running, and swimming. I also like going to the gym, reading, eating out, playing pool, and having braais with friends.
Do you mentor or support other team members in the finance department? How do you help develop the skills of others?
I’m not part of a company’s finance team, but I do have people under me at the firm where I work. I try to mentor juniors and new team members by explaining tasks clearly and sharing how I approach things when I step in. I give them the space to learn and grow, while also taking time to understand their personal lives, strengths, and preferences. Being kind and approachable is important to me in supporting their development.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to work in a finance department?
My advice would be to focus on strong communication skills, both written and, even more importantly, verbal and non-verbal cues. Stay calm and choose your words and body language carefully. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, because there’s always more to learn, even as a CA. And remember to be human, everyone has lives outside of work, so approach interactions with understanding and empathy.
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Also, Nike - Just do it”
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 focus all your energy on what truly matters. Always remember that everyone is dealing with their own challenges, and never give up, there’s always a way forward.
What’s something surprising about you that isn’t in your professional bio?
Something surprising about me is that I have a very dry, wide-ranging sense of humor. I’m also equally fond of both dogs and cats.
If you could have any superpower to help you in your job, what would it be?
If I could have a superpower for work, it would be the ability to understand what matters most to people. I’d also like a glimpse into the future of work-related matters, so I can anticipate challenges and opportunities ahead.
What’s your go-to strategy for staying productive during long workdays?
My strategy for staying productive starts outside of work, regular exercise, power naps, and a good night’s sleep give me the energy I need. During the day, I visualise what I want to accomplish and break tasks into manageable pieces, often tackling the easier ones first to build momentum and keep motivation high.
If you could relive one day from your career, which day would it be and why? What made that day special?
The day I received my APC results stands out as the best day of my career so far. It marked the completion of the CA process and the end of a long, challenging journey.
Behind every clean audit opinion is someone holding chaos at bay with a spreadsheet and a prayer.
Helena’s journey reminds us: you don’t need to shout to lead, you need clarity, consistency, and courage.
Join CIBA and we’ll show you how to build a career that’s calm, credible, and quietly powerful, just like hers.
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