Netisha Moodley, Management Accountant and Reporting
Management Accountant & Reporting
Current Experience:
Management Accountant & Reporting at Africa International Advisors · Full-time Aug 2024 - Present · (1 yr 4 mos)
Past Experiences:
Senior Administrative Support Manager at Teach Me 2 Aug 2023 - Jun 2024 · (11 mos)
Scrum Master at Teach Me 2 Jul 2023 - Jun 2024 · (1 yr)
Customer Account Manager at Teach Me 2 Mar 2022 - Jun 2024 · (2 yrs 4 mos)
Finance and Admin Assistant at Water IQ · Full-time Sep 2020 - Sep 2021 · (1 yr 1 mo)
Debt review Administrator at National Debt Counsellors · Full-time Apr 2019 - Jan 2020 · (10 mos)
Qualifications:
BCom Accounting
Country of Residence:
South Africa
LinkedIn Profile:
Netisha Moodley doesn’t wait for systems to be perfect, she builds them. From running her grandfather’s books in high school to managing full-scale financial operations solo, she’s turned grit into strategy. Her story isn’t about titles, it’s about taking ownership, mentoring through action, and proving that you don’t need a ‘big four’ logo to drive real impact.
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?
I use the first hour to map out my day and set my priorities.
What sparked your interest in accounting or finance?
My interest in finance and accounting started early. In high school, I handled my grandfather’s bookkeeping, and I genuinely enjoyed it. That experience gave me a real feel for how financial management works and showed me how much I liked working with numbers.
I also did well in maths, so moving into accounting felt like a natural step. I was drawn to the structure, the problem-solving, and the way financial decisions can shape a business. Over time, that early curiosity grew into a commitment to helping businesses manage their finances, use their resources wisely and support long-term growth.
Can you share some key career milestones or defining moments?
A big milestone for me was earning my debt counselling accreditation, which gave me a solid grounding in financial advisory work. Another defining moment was learning how to manage stakeholders well, balancing different priorities and keeping everyone aligned taught me a lot about communication and patience.
I also had to build the confidence to hold my own in rooms with people much older than me. Getting past that barrier strengthened my leadership style and helped me speak with more clarity and conviction.
Along the way, I’ve sharpened my financial analysis and reporting skills, learned to operate in fast-paced environments and made continuous learning a priority. Each of these steps has shaped me into a more strategic and resilient professional.
What is your role within your company’s finance department?
I serve as the company’s Management Accountant.
How do you contribute to the overall financial strategy of the business?
I support the company’s financial strategy by managing the processes that keep our cash flow healthy and our planning accurate. That includes handling debtors and creditors, overseeing project finances, and preparing budgets and forecasts that align with our goals.
I also produce financial statements that show how the business is performing and work on cost-focused initiatives to improve efficiency and profitability. On top of that, I build financial models and dashboards that give stakeholders clear, real-time insight into key metrics.
Overall, my role is about strengthening our financial processes, reducing risk and providing insights that help guide long-term decisions.
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 learning, implementing and managing our financial processes all at once, with only my director for support. I had to get up to speed quickly while keeping everything accurate and running smoothly. I handled this by upskilling, using financial tools to simplify the work and refining our processes to improve reporting and decision-making.
Another challenge was managing upwards, sharing financial insights with leadership while staying firm but approachable with debtors and other stakeholders. I focused on building strong relationships, sharpening my negotiation skills and keeping our reporting transparent. That helped build trust, encourage collaboration and lead to better financial outcomes for the business.
What tools or strategies do you use to manage the financial operations of the company effectively?
To manage the company’s financial operations, I use a mix of tools and practical strategies that help keep everything accurate and efficient.
Excel is my main tool for daily tracking, budgeting and forecasting, and I use its more advanced functions for deeper analysis. Power BI helps me build dashboards and visual reports that give stakeholders clear, real-time insight into key financial figures.
I also work with financial models to test scenarios and guide resource planning, and our project management system, StratXE, helps me track project budgets and keep financial plans aligned with wider business goals.
Alongside the tools, I focus on tightening processes, managing costs and keeping a close eye on our numbers to support stronger decision-making and long-term growth.
Share your strategies for staying balanced, especially during busy periods
To stay balanced during busy seasons, I rely on a few simple habits that help me stay productive without burning out:
Clear boundaries – I prioritise my workload and set limits, so I know when to switch off. It keeps me focused during work hours and gives me space to unwind.
Time blocking – I plan my day in focused blocks for deep work, meetings and admin. It cuts down on distractions and helps me stay organised.
Taking breaks – Short breaks make a big difference. A quick walk, a coffee, or just stepping away from my screen helps me reset and stay sharp.
These routines help me handle heavy workloads while still looking after my well-being.
What do you enjoy outside of work? Any hobbies or activities that help you recharge?
Outside of work, I focus on things that help me reset and keep a healthy balance. Getting enough sleep is a big one for me, it keeps my energy and concentration up. I also enjoy a slow day at home with a comfort meal and a classic Disney movie when I need to unwind.
I love baking too. Making something sweet from scratch is relaxing and satisfying. On weekends, I tutor, which lets me spend time with kids and share what I’ve learned over the years. Teaching has always been close to my heart, and helping others grow is something I find really fulfilling.
Do you mentor or support other team members in the finance department? How do you help develop the skills of others?
I don’t have a finance team at the moment, I handle the department on my own. But I work closely with our operations manager, and we collaborate often to improve workflows, strengthen our processes and find better ways to manage and enhance our financial operations.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to work in a finance department?
If you’re considering a career in a finance department, my main advice is to pursue it only if you have a genuine interest in the field. Finance demands focus, discipline, and strong analytical skills.
Key areas to develop include:
Financial knowledge – Understand accounting principles, financial statements, and budgeting thoroughly.
Analytical thinking – Be able to interpret data, spot trends, and provide meaningful insights.
Attention to detail – Accuracy is critical, as small errors can have big consequences.
Time management and organization – Balancing multiple deadlines and cycles requires careful planning.
Cost management – Learn to optimize costs and improve efficiency wherever possible.
Soft skills and communication – Effectively share financial insights, collaborate with teams, and handle feedback professionally.
Finance can sometimes feel routine, but if you enjoy problem-solving, streamlining processes, and contributing to business growth, it’s a highly rewarding and impactful career.
“What you go through, grows you”
Share a leadership lesson or a piece of advice that’s been valuable to you in your career
One of the most important leadership lessons I’ve learned is how to handle criticism while recognizing your own achievements. Not everyone will notice or acknowledge your efforts, so it’s crucial to build resilience and confidence in your work.
I’ve learned that hard work pays off, even if the results aren’t immediate. Taking time to reflect, recognize your progress, and celebrate your own successes helps maintain motivation. Leadership isn’t just about external recognition, it’s about having the inner strength to keep moving forward, learn from feedback, and continually grow.
What’s something surprising about you that isn’t in your professional bio?
Something people might find surprising is that I was a Girl Scout.
If you could have any superpower to help you in your job, what would it be?
The ability to instantly analyze complex data and generate insights, eliminating manual processing and enabling faster, more accurate financial decisions.
What’s your go-to strategy for staying productive during long workdays?
My go-to strategy is time-blocking and prioritizing tasks, so I can focus on what’s most urgent without feeling overwhelmed by everything on my plate.
If you could relive one day from your career, which day would it be and why? What made that day special?
I’d relive the day when a team member, who was going through a really tough time both at work and personally, checked in to tell me how my leadership had helped them. They shared that my guidance and story had motivated them to grow, inspired them to strive to be better, and made them believe that anything is possible with the right support. That moment was incredibly rewarding and unforgettable.
Netisha’s story is one of many proving that Chartered Business Accountants aren’t just number crunchers, we’re builders, leaders, and change agents.
Join CIBA and we’ll show you how to turn your solo hustle into recognised leadership, with the tools, validation, and income strategies to match.
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