Muhammed Khan Dookhee, Senior Financial Accountant
Senior Financial Accountant
Current Experience:
Senior Financial Accountant at Educor Holdings · Full-time Feb 2022 - Present · (3 yrs 9 mos)
Past Experience:
Accounting Manager at Sultan & Sultan - Chartered Accountants and Auditors · Contract May 2021 - Sep 2021 · (5 mos)
Financial Accountant at Talk Sure Trading · Full-time Feb 2020 - May 2021 · (1 yr 4 mos)
SAIPA Trainee Accountant, Post article clerk and office senior at F.Suleman and Associates - Chartered Accountants & Registered Auditors · Full-time Feb 2014 - Jan 2020 · (6 yrs)
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s Degree Accounting
PGDip Financial Accounting in Practice
Country of Residence:
South Africa
LinkedIn Profile:
“If you’ve ever stared down a SARS audit and walked away victorious, you’ll relate to Muhammed Khan Dookhee.”
From reversing a million-rand SARS assessment to ranking in SAIPA’s Top 30, Muhammed has built a decade-long career on grit, precision, and purpose. Currently serving as Financial Accountant and Hotel Accounting Manager at Frontline Leisure Management, he blends technical excellence with emotional intelligence, mentoring juniors, managing deadlines, and still making time for Bollywood and Excel wizardry.
He’s not just keeping the books. He’s teaching the game.
What time do you usually wake up on weekends?
09:30 AM
Are you an early bird or a night owl?
Night Owl
How do you spend the first hour of your day?
I usually spend the first hour of my morning getting ready for work and trying not to run late.
What sparked your interest in accounting or finance?
I’ve always had a natural interest in numbers, and during my time at UKZN Westville, especially in my first and second year, I really enjoyed learning the fundamentals of accounting. Understanding the principles behind it was both challenging and rewarding, which deepened my interest in the field.
Can you share some key career milestones or defining moments?
Yes, absolutely. During my articles at F. Suleman and Associates, I received a 100% rating for my audit work performed on behalf of the Auditor General of South Africa.
I was ranked among the top 30 candidates provincially based on my SAIPA board exam results and went on to qualify and register as a Professional Accountant (SA) in 2019.
After completing my articles, one of my key achievements was successfully objecting to SARS audit findings during an income tax review, resulting in the reversal of assessments amounting to R1 million.
I’m also skilled in Microsoft Excel at an intermediate to advanced level, which I’ve used to improve efficiency in monthly reporting and analysis.
Overall, I’ve built over a decade of experience in the accounting and finance field, and I currently serve as the Vice Chairperson of the SAIPA Ethekweni District Association.
What is your role within your company’s finance department?
I’m a Financial Accountant and also serve as the Accounting Manager for one of the hotels my company currently manages. In this role, I oversee the finance team, monitor their work and deliverables, and report directly to the Financial Manager and General Manager. My responsibilities include managing the accounts up to the trial balance and audit stages, as well as handling all daily and monthly financial deadlines and queries.
How do you contribute to the overall financial strategy of the business?
I contribute by ensuring that all accounting records I prepare are accurate, valid, and complete to the best of my knowledge and ability.
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 my time effectively. In accounting, there’s always urgent work and multiple deadlines to meet, but it’s not always possible to handle everything at once. To overcome this, I’ve learned to prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance, and to stay proactive rather than reactive when managing deadlines.
What tools or strategies do you use to manage the financial operations of the company effectively?
I manage financial operations by ensuring my team works efficiently and has the support they need to perform at their best. I focus on developing their skills through ongoing guidance and training to improve productivity and accuracy. I also make use of technology and digital tools to streamline processes and produce meaningful reports for stakeholders. Additionally, I strive to maintain a positive, professional work environment that encourages collaboration and helps us consistently meet the company’s goals.
Share your strategies for staying balanced, especially during busy periods.
I try not to stress during busy periods and make sure to eat well and get enough rest, since you can’t function at your best without taking care of your body. I also focus on delegating tasks where possible and taking proactive steps to stay organized and balanced throughout demanding times.
What do you enjoy outside of work?
Outside of work, I enjoy listening to music and watching movies or series, especially from Hollywood and Bollywood. I love going to the cinema for a bit of an escape. I’m also a big car enthusiast and keep up with the latest motoring news, often watching related content on YouTube. I’m a foodie at heart and enjoy trying new restaurants or experimenting in the kitchen when I can. Most importantly, I value spending time with my family, they mean a lot to me, and I make the most of every moment with them. YouTube is probably my favorite platform overall, and I spend quite a bit of time there exploring different types of content.
Do you mentor or support other team members in the finance department?
Yes, mentoring and supporting my team has always been important to me, and it’s something I’ve done since my article days. When team members don’t have a formal accounting background, I take the time to explain the reasoning behind their work and teach them basic accounting principles relevant to their roles. For others, I focus on helping them improve their reports and workflows to enhance efficiency and accuracy. Over time, I also delegate more responsibility to team members to help them grow and gain broader experience.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to work in a finance department?
My advice would be to first complete your articles and, if possible, gain some post-articles experience at your accounting firm. It’s important to be comfortable with Microsoft Excel, including intermediate to advanced formulas. The skills and knowledge you build during your articles are invaluable and will guide you as you navigate your way through a finance department.
“You rather try and fail , than fail to try.”
Share a leadership lesson or a piece of advice that’s been valuable to you in your career
One valuable leadership lesson I’ve learned is that honesty is always the best policy, and maintaining professional ethics should never take a back seat.
What’s something surprising about you that isn’t in your professional bio?
Something surprising about me that isn’t in my professional bio is that I’m left-handed.
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 at work, it would be the ability to freeze time.
What’s your go-to strategy for staying productive during long workdays?
I stay productive by keeping the bigger picture in mind and not letting myself get overwhelmed. I make sure to plan ahead, prioritize tasks, and maintain a balanced approach 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 my SAIPA graduation day, the day I officially qualified as a Professional Accountant (SA). It was made even more special when I found out I had placed in the Top 30 provincially. That day also marked the moment we took the Professional Accountant’s Pledge, a commitment that continues to guide me in everything I do.
Muhammed’s story is proof that the path from articles to leadership is built on resilience, ethics, and never forgetting where you started. If you’re navigating finance with a small team and big dreams, take a page from his book. Master Excel, serve your team, and fight for compliance wins that actually matter.
Join CIBA and we’ll show you how to turn your everyday finance hustle into a profession worth more.
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