Marilee-Martline Du Plooy, Accountant
Accountant
Current Experience:
Accountant at Fynbos Accountants Jul 2024 - Present · (1 yr 4 mos)
Past Experience:
Junior Bookkeeper at Premier Hotels & Resorts · Full-time Mar 2023 - Jun 2024 · (1 yr 4 mos)
Qualifications:
Diploma Financial Accounting
Country of Residence:
South Africa
LinkedIn Profile:
"I don’t just do numbers. I decode the chaos."
At just 2 years into the game, Marilee-Martline Du Plooy is already making waves as an early-rising, regulation-wrestling powerhouse at Fynbos Accountants. Her day starts before sunrise, with prayer, coffee, and purpose, and ends only after the numbers are right, the tax returns are in, and the clients can sleep easy.
What sparked her journey? The sheer satisfaction of solving a process someone else found overwhelming. What keeps her going? The fire to grow, lead, and make accounting not just a career, but a calling.
What time do you usually wake up on weekends?
05:00 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 day with my morning prayer, followed by my first cup of coffee. After that, I take a bath and get ready for work.
What sparked your interest in accounting or finance?
What drew me to accounting was the complexity of the work and the satisfaction of helping someone navigate what can feel like an overwhelming process. What excites me most is being able to make a real impact on clients’ financial well-being.
Can you share some key career milestones or defining moments?
Two key milestones in my career were earning my accounting qualification and landing my first job in the field. Both moments marked the start of turning my goals into reality.
What is your role within your company’s finance department?
As an accountant in my company’s finance department, my main responsibilities include recording, analyzing, and managing financial transactions to ensure accuracy and compliance. I prepare key financial reports such as balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements, while also handling accounts payable and receivable, bank reconciliations, and tax calculations and returns. My role helps provide a clear picture of the company’s financial health and supports informed decision-making.
How do you contribute to the overall financial strategy of the business?
As an accountant, I contribute to the company’s overall financial strategy by providing detailed financial analysis, preparing budgets and forecasts, managing cash flow, and identifying areas to reduce costs. I also advise on tax planning and ensure compliance with all financial regulations. My role helps leadership make informed decisions that drive profitability and support the company’s long-term goals.
What is one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your role? How did you overcome it?
One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced in my role is keeping up with the constantly changing accounting regulations and tax laws. The evolving compliance requirements can be complex and time-consuming, and missing an update can have serious consequences. To stay on top of this, I make it a priority to set aside time to review new standards, attend seminars, and stay updated through professional networks and industry resources.
What tools or strategies do you use to manage the financial operations of the company effectively?
To manage the company’s financial operations effectively, I rely on a combination of budgeting, cash flow management, financial reporting, and forecasting. I use accounting software to track expenses, monitor spending, and conduct regular financial analyses. These tools and strategies help identify potential risks early, support informed decision-making, and ensure the business remains profitable and financially stable.
What do you enjoy outside of work?
Outside of work, I make it a point to set clear boundaries, especially during busy periods. I set specific working hours and communicate them to clients so they know when I’m available. This helps me manage expectations, maintain balance, and avoid burnout during demanding times.
Do you mentor or support other team members in the finance department?
Yes, I do support other team members in the finance department. Mentoring others not only helps them build their skills but also allows me to strengthen my own leadership abilities in the process.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to work in a finance department?
Understand your numbers. Before you can identify which areas of your finances are strong and which need improvement, it’s important to have a clear picture of your current financial position.
“You want to, you can and you will.”
Share a leadership lesson or a piece of advice that’s been valuable to you in your career
A key lesson I’ve learned in leadership is the importance of supporting your team’s personal and professional growth. Demonstrating that you value them, respect their ambitions, and genuinely want the best for them helps build trust and a strong, motivated team.
What’s something surprising about you that isn’t in your professional bio?
Something surprising about me is that I’m passionate about instrumental jazz music. I’ve even taken up the violin and attend lessons on Saturdays for about an hour to learn how to play.
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 an app that instantly notifies me whenever accounting or tax laws change.
What’s your go-to strategy for staying productive during long workdays?
My strategy for staying productive during long workdays is to focus on one task at a time, take short breaks to stretch my legs, tackle the biggest tasks first, and set small, achievable objectives throughout the day.
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 September 1st, the day the provisional tax season ends. The relief of knowing that the busy period is over and that we won’t have to tackle it again until next February makes it a particularly memorable and satisfying day.
Marilee isn’t just learning accounting, she’s mastering leadership, one financial statement at a time. Her mantra? You want to. You can. You will.
To every young accountant out there: read her story, feel the hustle, and know this, you don’t need to be a CA to be a change-maker.
Join CIBA and we’ll show you how to turn your role into real recognition.
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