Mpho Khoetha, Cost Accountant
Cost Accountant
Current Experience:Cost Accountant at Multotec Group of Companies · Full-time Apr 2020 - Present · (5 yrs 2 mos)
PAST EXPERIENCES:ERP Consultant: System Accountant React Solutions ZA (Pty) Ltd Aug 2015 - Apr 2020 · (4 yrs 9 mos)
Assistant Cost Accountant at Tau Lekoa Mine Jul 2012 - Aug 2015 · (3 yrs 2 mos)
Bookkeeper at Monyakeng Community Church Jan 2008 - Oct 2009 · (1 yr 10 mos)
Qualifications:Advanced diploma in accounting sciences
Country of Residence:South Africa
LinkedIn Profile: Some accountants balance numbers. Mpho Khoetha balances numbers, systems, and strategy.
With over a decade of experience, Mpho has mastered more than cost accounting, he’s bridged finance and IT to drive deeper insights and efficiency at every level. Whether it’s analyzing gross margins or writing SQL queries, he’s making finance smarter, faster, and more connected.
Mpho, a night owl, starts his mornings by preparing for the workday ahead. Outside of work, he enjoys watching action and horror films, attending local professional soccer matches, and spending quality time with his family.
What time do you usually wake up on weekends?
7:00 AM
Are you an early bird or a night owl?
Night Owl
How do you spend the first hour of your day?
Getting ready for work
What sparked your interest in accounting or finance?
What sparked my interest in accounting and finance was the power of accurate number reporting and analysis. I’ve always been fascinated by how financial data can influence key decisions, which led me to appreciate the vital role this profession plays in guiding businesses and shaping outcomes.
Can you share some key career milestones or defining moments?
A key milestone in my career was transitioning from a purely accounting role into the world of Information Technology, where I focused on developing and aligning financial information systems. This shift not only led to a promotion but also gave me the opportunity to independently lead a project. I gained hands-on access to ERP databases, which deepened my understanding of how information flows within ERP systems and allowed me to write basic SQL queries for customized reporting.
What is your role within your company’s finance department?
My role in the finance department involves maintaining and evaluating standard costs and work center rates, analyzing production variances across factories, and reviewing the gross margin performance of different business divisions.
How do you contribute to the overall financial strategy of the business?
I contribute to the overall financial strategy by consistently analyzing standard costs and production variances. This involves evaluating production and operational performance, which helps identify areas for improvement. It also fosters cross-department collaboration to boost efficiency and reduce overall production costs.
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 balancing multiple projects and exercises alongside my regular responsibilities, especially when working within tight deadlines. Since these tasks often require more focus and time, I’ve learned to schedule them for the mornings when I’m most productive, and then handle my routine duties later in the day.
What tools or strategies do you use to manage the financial operations of the company effectively?
To manage the company’s financial operations effectively, we use an internal Business Intelligence tool that allows for in-depth Gross Profit Margin analysis. I’m also a strong advocate for Microsoft Excel and consistently work on improving my skills with it. Additionally, our ERP system plays a key role by enabling efficient data retrieval, organization, and analysis to support our financial tasks.
Share your strategies for staying balanced, especially during busy periods.
During busy periods at work, I prioritise quality time with my family. I’ve found that the more time I spend with them, the more motivated and confident I feel in my professional responsibilities. This balance between personal and work life helps me stay grounded and driven.
What do you enjoy outside of work?
I’m a big fan of movies especially action and horror genres. I also really enjoy watching local professional soccer and spending time outdoors with my family.
Do you mentor or support other team members in the finance department?
I make it a point to be approachable and open to conversations with my colleagues, both professionally and personally. I believe that every thoughtful discussion, response, or bit of advice I share helps build their skills by offering different ways to approach and solve challenges.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to work in a finance department?
First and foremost, love what you do. When you truly enjoy your work, every challenge becomes an opportunity for growth rather than a burden. Working in a finance department means dealing with tight deadlines, so learning to prioritize is essential. Equip yourself with tools that boost efficiency, start by mastering Microsoft Excel and exploring Power BI. It’s also important to understand the role of Business Information Systems, as this is where your finance and accounting knowledge will be applied in real-world scenarios.
What’s your favourite quote or mantra that motivates you?
"It always seems impossible until it’s done" Nelson Mandela
Share a leadership lesson or a piece of advice that’s been valuable to you in your career.
Always approach your career as a continuous learning journey. Avoid the mindset of thinking you've achieved everything, as staying open to growth and being adaptable is key to long-term success.
What’s something surprising about you that isn’t in your professional bio?
One surprising fact about me is my fascination with the universe. I love watching videos by Neil deGrasse Tyson and am currently studying particles and atoms to deepen my understanding.
If you could have any superpower to help you in your job, what would it be?
It would be the ability to predict financial trends. This would greatly enhance decision-making and add significant value to the company.
What’s your go-to strategy for staying productive during long workdays?
Taking short breaks and drinking a lot of water.
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 the day my internship was shortened to two months, and I was offered the opportunity to join a project focused on integrating a new ERP system. This day was significant because, as a recent university graduate, it marked the beginning of me identifying where I could truly excel in my career.
Mpho’s story proves that the future of accounting isn’t just about reporting, it’s about integrating, innovating, and always learning. He’s turning complexity into clarity, and challenges into career-defining opportunities. Join CIBA and we’ll show you how to build a finance career that adapts, evolves, and leads, just like Mpho.
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