Mary-Anne Claire Klem, Senior Cost and Management Accountant
Senior Cost and Management Accountant
Current Experience:
Senior Cost and Management Accountant at Teichmann Feb 2025 - Present · (8 mos)
Cost and Management Accountant at Teichmann Jan 2020 - Present (5 Yrs 9 mos)
Past Experience:
Financial Accountant and Internal auditor at CHT SA (Pty) Ltd Aug 2016 - Jan 2020 · (3 yrs 6 mos)
Assistant Financial Accountant at Vikeleka Herbal Pharmaceuticals May 2015 - Jul 2016 · (1 yr 3 mos)
Finance and Admin clerk at Mpact Recycling Feb 2013 - Apr 2015 · (2 yrs 3 mos)
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s Degree Accounting and Finance
Post graduate Diploma Management Accounting and Finance
Country of Residence:
South Africa
LinkedIn Profile:
She tracks cashflow like a hawk. Forecasts like a strategist. And still makes time for puzzles with her kids before sunrise.
Meet Mary-Anne Claire Klem, the self-titled “Cash Flow Queen” whose sharp eye on the general ledger could rival any superhero’s x-ray vision. She’s not just another accountant, she’s a financial gatekeeper, mentor, and a force of nature in a world where late payments and lagging data can sink a business.
Here’s how she built her career from a mayonnaise jar piggy bank to being the finance backbone of Teichmann SA.
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 start my mornings with a cup of coffee while checking messages, emails, and exchange rates. I also make breakfast for my kids and catch up with them about their sleep and what they’re looking forward to that day. My 4-year-old enjoys sharing their thoughts, while my almost 2-year-old, Isabella, mostly communicates through hand gestures and babbling.
What sparked your interest in accounting or finance?
My interest in finance started at a young age. With my mother in banking and my father running his own construction business, budgeting and saving were always part of daily life. I even created a piggy bank from an old mayonnaise jar at age five, collecting small ‘entrance fees’ from family friends and challenging my brothers’ friends to pool games to save my winnings. This early discipline and love for working with numbers naturally guided my choice of high school subjects and university specialization, making accounting and finance a natural fit for me.
Can you share some key career milestones or defining moments?
One of my key career milestones was obtaining my CIMA Chartered Global Management Accountant qualification. Being the first in my family to become a qualified professional brought me immense joy and a sense of achievement. The journey was challenging, with many late nights and early mornings, but it taught me the importance of continuous learning and the value of admitting when I don’t know something. This mindset has shaped my career progression positively. Knowing that I add tangible value to businesses, through recognition from supervisors, promotions, and being sought after in the job market, has been incredibly rewarding
What is your role within your company’s finance department?
In my role within the finance department, I handle a variety of responsibilities, including forecasting, mentoring team members, reviewing their work, and authorizing and signing off on completed tasks, among other duties.
How do you contribute to the overall financial strategy of the business?
I contribute to the business’s financial strategy by closely managing and forecasting cash flow. This allows the business to understand its working capital, identify revenue requirements, pinpoint areas of financial strain, and determine which clients need follow-up on payments. Importantly, accurate forecasting helps us assess our short-term financial position and plan strategies for future growth.
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 is managing different personalities. In finance, many tasks depend on receiving information from others, which can be difficult when it’s not readily available. I’ve learned to appreciate that everyone has unique perspectives and approaches. By focusing on the positive and building strong relationships, I’ve been able to overcome these challenges and contribute meaningfully to the business’s success.
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 use a combination of software and team-focused strategies. On the software side, I work with Sage X3 for accounting, SEI and PBI for customized reports created by our in-house IT team, and of course Excel, which remains essential for many finance tasks. From a team perspective, I monitor task progress, identify delays, and provide assistance where needed. I also make it a point to share my knowledge with team members, helping processes run more efficiently and supporting their professional growth.
Share your strategies for staying balanced, especially during busy periods.
To stay balanced during busy periods, I focus on distinguishing between urgent and lower-priority tasks. If something can wait, it frees up time and reduces stress. I use the Eisenhower priority matrix to help manage this, and I also rely on careful scheduling and staying organized to ensure I have the capacity to contribute effectively to projects.
What do you enjoy outside of work?
Outside of work, much of my downtime revolves around my children, building 24 and 48-piece puzzles, watching shows like Miss Rachel, Blippi, Gabby’s Dollhouse, or Cocomelon, and playing fantasy games. When I have some time for myself, I enjoy swimming, catching up on adult series on Netflix, and working on crochet projects.
Do you mentor or support other team members in the finance department?
Yes, I do mentor and support team members. I focus on identifying each individual’s strengths and provide suggestions to both them and my manager for career development. I’m always open to sharing knowledge to help the team build their skills and understanding. I also review process flows as if I were performing the tasks myself, looking for ways to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to work in a finance department?
Finance requires attention to rules and structure. Having a solid foundation, whether from high school, university, or on-the-job experience, helps build knowledge of financial statements, taxes, and standards. While a degree is helpful, it’s not essential to succeed. A love for working with numbers and understanding rules is often what drives a successful career in finance.
“There is a time and season for everything and if it’s not the season, remain glass half full.”
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 never be afraid to ask questions, whether they seem simple or challenging. Real growth comes from seeking a deeper understanding, so always stay open to learning and maintain the right attitude to reach your goals.
What’s something surprising about you that isn’t in your professional bio?
I crochet blankets and teddies, which I find very calming. I actually learned how to crochet at a previous company where the staff would come together during tea breaks to each make a square for the 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day project. That experience introduced me to crocheting, and I’ve continued with it ever since because of the joy and benefits it brings.
If you could have any superpower to help you in your job, what would it be?
Definitely financial X-ray vision. A big part of my role involves reviewing the GL each month, which can mean going through tens of thousands of entries. It’s easy for small things to slip through, so having that superpower would make it possible to catch issues immediately and take proactive action rather than reacting afterward.
What’s your go-to strategy for staying productive during long workdays?
I stay productive by setting up a daily task list and ticking items off as I go. Coffee definitely helps, and if I need to reset, I’ll take a quick five-minute walk to clear my head before getting back to work.
If you could relive one day from your career, which day would it be and why?
I would relive the day my current CEO recognized me as the ‘CFQ Cash Flow Queen’ during his end-of-year speech to the staff. It was a special moment that made me feel proud of the impact I was making and affirmed that my work was truly valued
Mary-Anne isn’t just managing numbers. She’s mentoring teams, mastering Sage X3, and crocheting teddies between board meetings.
Want to lead like her? Start by owning your value, asking the hard questions, and learning to see every line item as a clue.
Join CIBA and we’ll show you how to become the strategic advisor your business can’t live without.
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