Namile Mchunu, Finance Manager
Finance Manager
Current Experience:
Finance Manager at Thebe Foundation Trust · Full-time Nov 2025 - Present · (5 mos)
Past Experience:
Financial Accountant at Nelson Mandela Foundation · Full-time Jun 2017 - Nov 2025 · (8 yrs 6 mos)
Assistant Accountant at Barloworld transport · Full-time Jul 2015 - Apr 2017 · (1 yr 10 mos)
Creditors clerk at Total Coal South Africa · Full-time Jul 2012 - Jun 2015 · (3 yrs)
Debtors clerk at Airports Company of South Africa · Contract Dec 2011 - Jun 2012 · (7 mos)
Education:
BCom Financial Management
Advanced Certificate in Accounting Sciences
Advanced Diploma Accounting Sciences
Postgraduate Diploma Accounting
Country of Residence:
South Africa
LinkedIn Profile:
In finance, many careers begin with careful planning. Others begin by simply stepping into an opportunity and discovering a passion along the way. For Namile Mchunu, that opportunity came during a gap year when a temporary role as a creditors clerk revealed something unexpected, a genuine love for working with numbers and solving financial challenges.
Her journey reflects resilience, continuous learning, and the courage to take on leadership when it matters most, including leading a team to achieve a clean audit opinion while acting as Finance Manager.
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 getting my mind in the right space and focusing on gratitude to set a positive tone for the day ahead.
What sparked your interest in accounting and finance?
I didn’t have much career guidance when I was choosing my path. In high school, I studied Accounting and Mathematics, and initially I planned to pursue a degree in IT after matric. That didn’t work out as expected, so I took a gap year and found temporary work as a creditors clerk at a large lift and escalator company. That experience helped me discover my enjoyment of working with numbers, and from that point on, I knew I wanted to build my career in finance.
Can you share some key career milestones or defining moments?
One of my key career milestones has been managing external audits that resulted in consecutive clean audit opinions for the organisation, which I consider a significant professional achievement.
What is your role within your company’s finance department?
As a financial accountant, my role focuses on engaging with external finance stakeholders, coordinating with internal and external auditors, and preparing the group’s annual financial statements. I am also responsible for supporting the training and development of team members, overseeing financial reporting, and managing tax payments to ensure compliance with applicable tax regulations.
How do you contribute to the overall financial strategy of the business?
As a financial accountant, I contribute to the organisation’s overall financial strategy by ensuring compliance with tax laws and regulations, preparing reports and presentations that communicate financial performance to management and other stakeholders, and helping to prevent cash flow challenges that could impact operations. These efforts support informed strategic decision-making and help optimise the organisation’s financial performance.
What is one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your role? How did you overcome it?
One of the biggest challenges I faced was stepping into a temporary management role with very little onboarding or guidance. To overcome this, I relied on the technical knowledge I had built over the years, combined it with what I had learned through my studies, and applied it to the tasks at hand. The outcome was positive, as I successfully helped achieve a clean audit opinion while leading the organisation through the process.
What tools or strategies do you use to manage the financial operations of the company effectively?
I use detailed budgeting and forecasting, effective cash flow management, and adherence to established policies and procedures to help ensure the smooth and efficient management of the company’s financial operations.
Share your strategies for staying balanced, especially during busy periods
I stay balanced during busy periods by setting clear goals and creating to-do lists with specific, actionable tasks. I also prioritise work based on urgency and importance, take short breaks and go for walks to recharge, and make sure I get enough rest at the end of the day.
What do you enjoy outside of work? Any hobbies or activities that help you recharge?
Outside of work, I enjoy cooking and spending quality time with my family, as these activities help me relax and recharge.
Do you mentor or support other team members in the finance department? How do you help develop the skills of others?
Yes, I support and mentor other team members in the finance department. I have trained interns and colleagues by explaining tasks clearly and then allowing them to take the lead on those tasks so they can practise, build confidence, and continue working on them until they gain full mastery.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to work in a finance department?
My advice would be to stay open to learning and be willing to take on new challenges. It’s also important to develop strong interpersonal, communication, and collaboration skills, as these are essential for working effectively within a finance team and across the organisation.
“A ship in a harbour is safe but that is not what ships are built for - John A. Shedd”
Share a leadership lesson or a piece of advice that’s been valuable to you in your career.
One piece of advice that has stayed with me throughout my career is to choose the path that challenges or scares you the most, because it is often the one that pushes you to grow and develop the most.
What’s something surprising about you that isn’t in your professional bio? A hobby, interest, or fun fact?
One thing that might surprise people about me is that I really enjoy listening to jazz music.
If you could have any superpower to help you in your job, what would it be? Predicting financial trends? Master multitasking?
If I could have a superpower to help in my job, it would be the ability to process and replicate transactions at lightning speed.
What’s your go-to strategy for staying productive during long workdays?
My go-to strategy for staying productive during long workdays is planning my day in advance with clear goals for what I want to accomplish. I also make sure to step away for a short walk, even if it’s just 10 minutes, to clear my mind and reset my focus.
If you could relive one day from your career, which day would it be and why? What made that day special?
If I could relive one day from my career, it would be 23 November 2023. On that day, I achieved a clean audit opinion for the organisation while acting as Finance Manager. It was especially meaningful because it was my first time leading the team, and the result reinforced my belief that nothing is impossible when you approach it with the right mindset and determination.
Namile’s story is a reminder that growth often happens when we step outside our comfort zone. From mentoring team members to maintaining strong financial governance, her approach reflects dedication, curiosity, and a commitment to excellence in the profession.
At CIBA, we believe professionals like Namile represent the future of accounting — skilled, resilient, and driven to make a difference in the organisations and communities they serve.
Join CIBA and we’ll show you how to strengthen your professional standing and unlock new opportunities in your accounting career.
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