Kimberleigh Naomi Naidoo, Senior Financial Accountant
Senior Financial Accountant
Current Experience:
Senior Financial Accountant at Mason · Full-time Dec 2021 - Present · (4 yrs 2 mos)
Past Experience:
Accounting Bookkeeper at Mercedes-Benz Umhlanga · Full-time Dec 2019 - Nov 2021 · (2 yrs)
Office Administrator at Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicles Durban · Full-time Mar 2017 - Nov 2019 · (2 yrs 9 mos)
Education:
BCom Accounting and Finance
Country of Residence:
South Africa
LinkedIn Profile:
“I hated accounting... until I got 94% in matric.”
Meet Kimberleigh Naomi Naidoo, a financial accountant who once nearly walked away from the profession, only to rise through the ranks with grit, gratitude, and God at her side. From being the only woman in a male soccer club to mentoring her team with training videos, Kimberleigh brings heart, hustle, and humility to every spreadsheet and strategy session.
She’s not just balancing books, she’s balancing motherhood, mentorship, and the mental load of being the go-to financial brain in her firm. Her secret weapons? Excel, prayer, and a killer task checklist.
This is the kind of raw, real story Accounting Weekly exists to tell.
What time do you usually wake up on weekends?
05:30 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 day by giving thanks to God for another morning. As a new mom, the rest of that first hour is mostly about tending to my baby and making sure everyone at home has what they need to get their day going.
What sparked your interest in accounting and finance?
Funny enough, I actually hated accounting when I first took it at school and even got a C in Grade 10. I was ready to drop it altogether until I found a really good tutor who helped me understand it properly. Once it finally clicked, I found it genuinely interesting. I ended up finishing matric with 94%, and that’s when I knew I was doing well because I actually enjoyed learning it. That’s what ultimately led me to choose accounting as my career path.
Can you share some key career milestones or defining moments?
When I started at my current company, I was still quite inexperienced and surrounded by highly skilled professionals. At first, I thought I might be out of my depth, but they turned out to be incredible mentors. I was thrown in the deep end and quickly realised I could actually swim.
From building financial models to writing reports and working with a wide range of clients across different industries, constantly learning and delivering new results has been one of the most defining aspects of my career so far, and continues to be a major milestone for me.
What is your role within your company’s finance department?
I am the Financial Accountant, responsible for managing all of the company’s financial requirements, as well as supporting and attending to our clients’ financial needs.
How do you contribute to the overall financial strategy of the business?
I contribute by preparing financial reports, budgets, and accounts, and by advising on the overall financial health of the business. I also provide input on structure and offer guidance on potential next steps to support and strengthen the company’s financial strategy.
What is one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your role? How did you overcome it?
Time management has definitely been one of my biggest challenges, which I think is fairly common for most accountants. I have a personality where I want everything to balance to the cent, even when it’s not material, and that can sometimes lead to spending too much time on less critical tasks and then needing to work extra hours.
I overcame this by consistently asking myself two key questions: What is the priority of this task? And when does it need to be done by? This has helped me plan my time better and create a more efficient workflow.
What tools or strategies do you use to manage the financial operations of the company effectively?
Excel is definitely my best friend when it comes to tracking and reporting. That said, my company is becoming more AI-focused, and we’re starting to use new tools that allow us to generate reports much more efficiently, sometimes with just the click of a button.
I also rely on structured routines for processing accounts and use checklist-style task lists to make sure everything is completed accurately and on time.
Share your strategies for staying balanced, especially during busy periods
I make a conscious effort to set aside time for things that help me relax. I enjoy playing sport, so I make sure I stay active during the week as it really helps me stay focused and clear-headed.
I also plan ahead for busy periods by setting goals and realistic timelines. Maintaining a healthy balance between work and family life is very important to me, as family provides a lot of motivation and support, especially during demanding times.
What do you enjoy outside of work? Any hobbies or activities that help you recharge?
Outside of work, I enjoy almost all sports, playing pool, and watching a good movie or series. I also love spending time with people who share similar interests, as that really helps me unwind.
I play the keyboard in my church band, and being involved in church is something that truly recharges me and helps me feel refreshed and ready for the week ahead.
Do you mentor or support other team members in the finance department? How do you help develop the skills of others?
Yes, I’ve fully trained and continue to support the other team member in our finance department. She often comes to me for advice, and I provide ongoing guidance and mentorship.
I really enjoy seeing people learn and grow, and I strongly believe that knowledge shouldn’t be kept to yourself. Sharing it helps the entire company improve. One thing that worked especially well was recording training sessions, as it allowed her to go back and review them whenever she needed support while completing tasks.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to work in a finance department?
I’d say it’s essential to have a solid foundation in accounting, including understanding how to process transactions and the impact they have on the business. A strong grasp of financial statements and how they interconnect is also key.
Being comfortable with software and applications, and being able to quickly learn new tools, is important too. Above all, you need to genuinely enjoy what you do, because working in finance requires a lot of motivation, focus, and passion.
“A Bible scripture Proverbs 4:23 ‘Above all else guard your heart as everything flows from it.” It reminds me of what’s important and that I shouldn’t sweat the small stuff”
Share a leadership lesson or a piece of advice that’s been valuable to you in your career.
One valuable leadership lesson I’ve learned is to always stay open to learning and to admit when you’re wrong. You don’t need to know everything, and that’s okay, as long as you’re willing to learn and remain teachable, you’ll be just fine.
What’s something surprising about you that isn’t in your professional bio? A hobby, interest, or fun fact?
A fun fact about me is that I’m the only woman in an all-male social soccer club, I love challenging stereotypes and breaking the mold.
If you could have any superpower to help you in your job, what would it be? Predicting financial trends? Master multitasking?
Having the ability to solve problems quickly.
What’s your go-to strategy for staying productive during long workdays?
Coffee, of course! Haha. I also make sure to take short breaks when needed to recharge. I find it’s more effective to stay task-focused rather than just watching the clock.
If you could relive one day from your career, which day would it be and why? What made that day special?
I’d choose the year-end lunch with the company. Since we all live in different parts of the world, it was really special to come together in person after working remotely. It was also a great opportunity to get to know each other better, which makes collaborating day-to-day much smoother.
Kimberleigh isn’t chasing titles, she’s building trust, developing people, and redefining what a “finance professional” looks like.
She’s the accountant who asks the hard questions: Does it balance? Does it matter? Can we do it better next time?
And if you’re stuck in the same grind, struggling with time, confidence, or career clarity, her advice is clear: love what you do, learn constantly, and share the knowledge.
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