Makhosazana Ntshakala, Accountant
Accountant
Current Experience:Accountant at Esiltuli Recycling · Full-time Apr 2023 - Mar 2025 · (2 yrs)
PAST EXPERIENCE:Customer Service Representative at Price Paradise · Full-time Aug 2022 - Mar 2023 · (8 mos)
Qualifications:Higher National Diploma, Accounting and Finance
Country of Residence:South Africa
LinkedIn Profile: Makhosazana Ntshakala's passion for numbers began with a childhood of selling baked buns after school and budgeting for her dream phone. Now, as an Accountant with over two years of experience, she blends resilience, self-taught grit, and a heart for financial education to make a meaningful impact in every role she takes on.
What time do you usually wake up on weekends?
7:00 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 prayer, then water my plants, do some yoga, take a bath, and have breakfast.
What sparked your interest in accounting or finance?
I’ve always had a passion for numbers. Growing up, I was the one everyone borrowed money from, I’d save and budget just so I could buy the latest phone model within my price range. I think it also stems from being raised by my grandmother, who supported us by baking buns to sell. When I was about 7 or 8, my cousin and I would each grab a bucket after school and head out on different routes to sell them. We’d always come back with empty buckets in under an hour. That’s how I was introduced to money and began understanding income, costs, profit, and reward.
I officially chose accounting in Grade 10. I actually failed it the first time, but decided to try again, this time applying the practical understanding I had of money to what I was learning in class. I enjoy figuring things out and making sure I get it right, which is why accounting just makes sense to me.
What is your role within your company’s finance department?
I’m responsible for preparing management accounts, monitoring the company’s financial activities, ensuring SARS compliance, and overseeing costing and budget management.
How do you contribute to the overall financial strategy of the business?
I contribute to the business’s financial strategy by supporting daily operations and ensuring accurate financial reporting. My problem-solving skills and attention to detail help me manage tasks like bank imports, reconciliations, ledger processing, and handling both accounts receivable and payable. I also assist with preparing financial statements and budget performance reports.
In addition, I ensure compliance with relevant standards such as GAAP and internal controls. I’m adaptable, work well in a team, and regularly identify areas for improvement, helping implement more efficient financial processes.
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 was managing costing. I hadn’t studied it at university, so I had no formal background in it, but it was required in my role. To overcome that, I did my own research, borrowed textbooks from friends who had studied costing, and reached out to people with more experience for guidance. I also consulted with my former employer, who runs a finance consulting firm, to help fill in the gaps. It took time, but I’ve managed to get the hang of it, and while I’m still learning, I’m handling it confidently now.
What tools or strategies do you use to manage the financial operations of the company effectively?
I work with Sage Accounting, Microsoft Excel, and rely on accounting textbooks as additional resources.
Share your strategies for staying balanced, especially during busy periods.
I use time management to help me prioritise tasks, allowing me to focus fully on each one until it's completed.
What do you enjoy outside of work?
Travelling, sleeping, reading and research.
Do you mentor or support other team members in the finance department?
I don’t formally mentor anyone at the moment because I feel I could benefit from having a mentor or strategist myself. However, I often find myself sharing knowledge about personal finance, whether at work, at home, or even during everyday encounters like in a taxi. I enjoy helping others understand how money works and how to manage it better.
Whenever I come across students, especially those studying business or accounting, I make an effort to share what I know about the career path and how to navigate it. Time is often a limitation, but I believe in using what I have, especially my mind and voice, to help develop others. If needed, I’ll even go as far as creating spreadsheet examples to give practical guidance.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to work in a finance department?
Learn how to use accounting software and always keep an accounting book nearby. When you’re starting a new job, make it a habit to do extra research at home. Put in the extra hours to finish tasks, figure things out on your own, and come back with specific questions about anything you didn’t understand the night before.
Be disciplined with your time, manage it well, complete work before deadlines, and teach yourself so you truly understand the processes. Always double-check your work for accuracy before submitting it. Don’t hesitate to ask questions, especially when it comes to every amount on a bank statement, and make sure you know how to create proper journal entries.
What’s your favourite quote or mantra that motivates you?
"“You can lose everything except your mind” _ by me“When the time is right I the Lord will make it happen” _Isaiah 60:22
Share a leadership lesson or a piece of advice that’s been valuable to you in your career.
Take the time to listen, ask questions, and truly understand before you act. Focus on learning through experience, and let each step contribute to your growth. Most importantly, respond thoughtfully, don’t react impulsively.
What’s something surprising about you that isn’t in your professional bio?
I enjoy categorizing and recording transactions using accounting software.
If you could have any superpower to help you in your job, what would it be?
Master multitasking!
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 breaks, sometimes I just walk to the bathroom to stretch and reset.
From grassroots money lessons to managing full sets of accounts and tax compliance, Makhosazana is proof that finance is both a skill and a story. Her journey is a reminder that curiosity, consistency, and community insight are powerful tools in building a career that counts.
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