Mashadi Moeketsi, Project and Cost Accountant
Project and Cost Accountant
Current Experience:
Project and Cost Accountant at SmartStart South Africa · Full-time Oct 2024 - Present · (1 yr 6 mos)
Past Experience:
Finance Business Partner at Rand Water Feb 2021 - Jul 2024 · (3 yrs 6 mos)
Revenue Accounting Clerk at Rand Water Sep 2022 - Dec 2022 (4 mos)
Education:
BCom Financial Accounting
Country of Residence:
South Africa
LinkedIn Profile:
Mashadi Moeketsi’s journey into finance started with a simple high school market day. Asked to estimate her team’s profit, she predicted R100, and despite the laughter, her estimate turned out to be exactly right.
Today, as a Project and Cost Accountant, Mashadi focuses on ensuring financial resources are allocated effectively and aligned with organisational goals. Her move from the corporate environment into the NPO sector challenged her to rethink financial analysis and adapt her approach — a transition that strengthened her strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
What time do you usually wake up on weekends?
07:30 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 morning by going to the gym, as it helps energise me and sets a positive tone for the rest of the day.
What sparked your interest in accounting and finance?
My interest in finance started during a market day project in high school when my team asked me to estimate the profit we would make from our sales. I predicted we would make about R100, and although the estimate was initially met with laughter, it later turned out to be accurate. That experience made me realise that I enjoy working with numbers and making financial projections, and it helped shape my decision to pursue a career in finance.
Can you share some key career milestones or defining moments?
One of the most important stages in my career was the exposure I gained during my Graduate Training Programme, where I primarily trained in a financial strategy environment. This experience helped me develop a more proactive and creative approach to problem-solving. A defining moment for me was designing a revenue collection strategy that was later adopted by a department. That achievement strengthened my strategic thinking skills and showed me the value of developing solutions that can deliver real, practical impact.
What is your role within your company’s finance department?
In my current role, I am responsible for managing financial activities and overseeing the allocation of resources to various implementing partners. This involves ensuring that funding is distributed in line with the organisation’s strategic objectives.
How do you contribute to the overall financial strategy of the business?
I contribute to the organisation’s financial strategy by helping ensure that financial planning supports broader business objectives. A major part of my role is preparing and providing accurate, timely financial information to support informed decision-making.
What is one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your role? How did you overcome it?
One of the biggest challenges I have faced was adjusting my financial analysis approach when transitioning from a corporate environment to an NPO setting, particularly within a social franchise model. The shift required me to rethink some of the methods I was accustomed to using, as financial analysis in this context is more focused on programme and operational realities.
To overcome this, I invested time in understanding the organisation’s business model as well as the challenges faced by our implementing partners. This helped me develop the ability to ask more meaningful questions during analysis and provide insights that are better aligned with management’s needs.
What tools or strategies do you use to manage the financial operations of the company effectively?
One of the key tools I use to manage financial operations effectively is variance reporting. It helps promote accountability by showing how organisational resources are being utilised and encourages thoughtful financial decision-making. Variance analysis also supports meaningful discussions by prompting the right questions about performance and spending.
Share your strategies for staying balanced, especially during busy periods
During busy periods, I make a conscious effort to step away from work and recharge. Spending meaningful time with family helps me stay grounded, reset my focus, and maintain a healthy balance.
What do you enjoy outside of work? Any hobbies or activities that help you recharge?
I enjoy reading fiction in my spare time, as it allows me to escape into different worlds and stimulates my imagination. At the moment, I am reading The Kite Runner, which I have found both engaging and meaningful.
Do you mentor or support other team members in the finance department? How do you help develop the skills of others?
Yes, I currently mentor two interns in my team. I believe personal initiative plays an important role in development, so I encourage them to first attempt tasks independently before seeking help. This approach allows them to build confidence, think through problems in their own way, and gain a deeper understanding of the work before receiving additional guidance.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to work in a finance department?
I would encourage anyone aspiring to work in finance to always take initiative. This is a valuable and transferable skill that can help you stand out and contribute positively to your team. Showing initiative not only supports the success of the department but also allows you to shape your work in a way that keeps it interesting and meaningful.
“Faith without works is dead too - James 2 verse 26
I believe that God rewards me when I put in the effort toward whatever I pray for.”
Share a leadership lesson or a piece of advice that’s been valuable to you in your career.
I used to be very hard on myself whenever I made even small mistakes, until a colleague shared a perspective that changed how I viewed things. She pointed out that people usually do not spend time thinking about minor mistakes others make at the end of the day. That helped me understand the importance of self-compassion and taught me to treat myself with more kindness when I make errors.
What’s something surprising about you that isn’t in your professional bio? A hobby, interest, or fun fact?
I am quite passionate about aviation and enjoy learning interesting facts about airplanes. I sometimes joke that I can get carried away sharing aviation trivia with friends.
If you could have any superpower to help you in your job, what would it be? Predicting financial trends? Master multitasking?
I would choose the ability to master multitasking. Being able to manage several tasks at the same time while still delivering accurate and high-quality work would make my responsibilities much more efficient.
What’s your go-to strategy for staying productive during long workdays?
I like to stay organised by creating a to-do list to keep track of everything that needs to be done. There’s something motivating about checking off completed tasks, as it encourages me to keep moving through the rest of my work.
If you could relive one day from your career, which day would it be and why? What made that day special?
I would choose my first day at my first job. My father called me every hour just to check that I was settling in and doing well. That day was special because it reminded me that I have a strong support system and that I am never truly facing challenges on my own.
Mashadi believes one skill sets professionals apart: initiative. Whether mentoring interns, managing financial analysis, or keeping herself organised with detailed to-do lists, she focuses on continuous growth and accountability.
Outside of work, she enjoys reading fiction and has a surprising passion for aviation.
Her advice to aspiring finance professionals is simple: take initiative in your development, it will always set you apart.
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