Nicholas Thompson, Audit Senior
Audit Senior
Current Experience:
Audit Senior at KPMG in Bermuda · Full-time Aug 2025 - Present · (4 mos)
Past Experiences:
Accountant at Protea Financial · Full-time Jan 2025 - Jul 2025 · (7 mos)
Supervisor at KPMG South Africa Oct 2024 - Dec 2024 · (3 mos)
Senior Accountant at KPMG South Africa Oct 2023 - Oct 2024 (1 Yr 1 mo)
PRIDE Network Champion and Commitee Member at KPMG Jan 2023 - Dec 2023 (1 Yr)
Qualifications:
BCom Accounting
Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting
Country of Residence:
South Africa
LinkedIn Profile:
Meet Nicholas Thompson, accountant by day, off-road adventurer by weekend.
He didn’t stumble into finance by accident. He excelled in high school, cracked SAICA’s ITC exam with distinction, and ranked as a top performer at KPMG. Now, as he steps into a new accounting role, Nicholas is quietly redefining what excellence looks like, even when it means lying in bed with TikTok before tackling client mailboxes with military precision.
If you’ve ever felt like the underdog in a new role or wondered whether passion still matters in finance, read on. Nicholas proves it does.
What time do you usually wake up on weekends?
10:00 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 still in bed, catching up on TikTok.
What sparked your interest in accounting or finance?
I got into it because it came naturally to me in high school, and I’ve always enjoyed working with numbers.
Can you share some key career milestones or defining moments?
Here are a few highlights from my career so far:
Finishing second in my year for Project Alpha hosted by EY.
Tutoring at NMU and consistently getting great feedback each semester.
Being named a Leading Performer at KPMG in both my first and second year of articles.
Earning a distinction in my SAICA ITC benchmarking exam.
What is your role within your company’s finance department?
I’m an Accountant, so I handle client mailboxes, flag anything important for my managers, take care of AP, AR and bank processing, and support the month-end work. The role is still fairly new for me, so I’m still getting exposure to the full scope.
How do you contribute to the overall financial strategy of the business?
I add value by working carefully and efficiently, making sure the work I deliver is accurate and done in good time.
What tools or strategies do you use to manage the financial operations of the company effectively?
I use our internal email system to organise and assign tasks to myself.
Share your strategies for staying balanced, especially during busy periods
Here’s how I try to stay balanced, especially when things get busy:
Get proper rest, because you can’t do much with an exhausted mind.
Eat during the day, even if you don’t have a set lunch break, you need the energy.
Once you leave work, switch off. Don’t let it spill into your personal time.
Keep your boundaries in place and make time for a social life. Work supports your life, not the other way around.
What do you enjoy outside of work? Any hobbies or activities that help you recharge?
I recently got a Jimny, so I’ve been enjoying taking it off-road and going on trips. I’m also a big Xbox fan.
Do you mentor or support other team members in the finance department? How do you help develop the skills of others?
I’m currently in the most junior role in the team, so I’m the one being mentored right now.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to work in a finance department?
Here’s my advice for anyone looking to work in a company’s finance department:
Pay attention to detail and learn to spot patterns quickly. Much of finance work can be repetitive, but the differences are often subtle. Focus on the similarities and apply that knowledge rather than memorising every scenario.
Have a genuine interest in finance and understand why you want to pursue it. The pay is attractive, but passion will drive your success more than salary alone.
Don’t let others’ mistakes or setbacks influence your path. Finance can be challenging, but with the right mindset and dedication, you can succeed.
“We rise by lifting others.”
Share a leadership lesson or a piece of advice that’s been valuable to you in your career
Always gather all the facts before reacting. Something might look like a problem at first, but once you have the full picture, you may realize no action is even needed.
What’s something surprising about you that isn’t in your professional bio?
I own a 4x4, which surprises most people!
If you could have any superpower to help you in your job, what would it be?
I’d love the ability to read my clients’ minds.
What’s your go-to strategy for staying productive during long workdays?
When I feel my focus slipping during long workdays, I take short breaks from the screen, sometimes just a walk to the kitchen for water. Staying hydrated and eating regularly also helps keep me productive.
If you could relive one day from your career, which day would it be and why? What made that day special?
The day I passed my APC stands out. It was nerve-wracking, but it’s also when I realized I was officially on my way to becoming a CA(SA).
Nicholas might be the junior on paper, but his mindset is anything but.
From off-roading in a Jimny to mentoring through example, he’s bringing firepower to the finance floor. His story is your reminder: professional growth doesn’t start with titles. It starts with hunger, heart, and a quote that sums him up: “We rise by lifting others.”
Want to turn that same energy into income, confidence, and compliance mastery?
Join CIBA and we’ll show you how to turn ambition into recognition, and your role into a career.
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