Rinaldo Josie, Operations Executive
Assistant Manager
Current Experience:
Operations Executive at Unconventional CA · Part-time Apr 2025 - Present · (8 mos)
Part-time APC tutor at Back2BasicsCulture · Part-time Mar 2024 - Present · (1 yr 9 mos)
Past Experiences:
Group Financial Accountant at Assore Group · Full-time Nov 2024 - Apr 2025 · (6 mos)
Senior Accountant at FAW · Full-time May 2024 - Nov 2024 · (7 mos)
Supervisor - 3rd year articles CA(SA) at EY · Contract Jan 2021 - Dec 2023 · (3 yrs)
Qualifications:
Bachelor of Applied Science Accounting
Postgraduate Degree Accounting
Bcom Finance and Financial Management Science
Country of Residence:
South Africa
LinkedIn Profile:
Meet Rinaldo Josie, Group Financial Accountant at Assore, and proof that leadership isn’t about title, it’s about ownership. At under one year in the game, he’s already managing AP, AR, general ledger, and daily cash flow, and doing it with discipline, strategy, and grit.
He wakes at 6am, cycles, reads, and tackles his day with one mantra: Look good doing it, someone’s always watching.
From shadowing a CA as a teen to beating out a crowd for a key appointment, Rinaldo’s story is a case study in how hard work and humility still matter.
What time do you usually wake up on weekends?
06:00 AM
Are you an early bird or a night owl?
Early Bird
How do you spend the first hour of your day?
I usually spend my first hour cycling or catching up on some reading.
What sparked your interest in accounting and finance?
My interest started when I was younger and had the chance to job shadow a Chartered Accountant. It gave me a clear picture of the field and drew me in.
Can you share some key career milestones or defining moments?
One of the standout moments in my career was being chosen to serve on the trainee representative forum during my articles. It was an early break that helped shape my path in the industry.
What is your role within your company’s finance department?
I’m the Group Financial Accountant and oversee my entire division. That includes managing Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Cash Management, and the General Ledger.
How do you contribute to the overall financial strategy of the business?
In my role, I oversee the timing of outgoing costs, handle invoicing for incoming funds, and make sure the books are accurate and balanced. I also manage the business’s daily cash requirements.
What is one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your role? How did you overcome it?
One of my biggest challenges has been managing a growing workload within the same amount of time. Learning to delegate and focus on working smarter rather than harder helped me get more done without burning out.
What tools or strategies do you use to manage the financial operations of the company effectively?
I rely on careful planning, the resources available to me, and a habit of learning as much as I can before tackling any task. I see everything as an opportunity to learn, which helps me manage the company’s financial operations more effectively.
Share your strategies for staying balanced, especially during busy periods
I try to keep a healthy balance between work and the rest of my life. Making time to disconnect and recharge helps me stay grounded, especially when things get busy.
What do you enjoy outside of work? Any hobbies or activities that help you recharge?
I recharge by spending time with my partner and family, and I’m usually busy with something active. I enjoy jiu-jitsu, running, cycling and a good game of chess when I want to slow things down.
Do you mentor or support other team members in the finance department? How do you help develop the skills of others?
I support the team wherever I can, especially when it comes to their professional growth. I’m also an APC mentor, so I help coach candidates working toward their CA(SA) qualification and guide them through the process.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to work in a finance department?
For anyone coming from an auditing background, my main advice would be to stay open and willing to learn, that’s key. The core skills from auditing will carry over, and most other knowledge can be gained through study or on-the-job experience. Being professionally qualified provides a strong foundation, and the rest can be built with curiosity and practical exposure.
“Anything you do in life, you should look good doing it because you don’t know whose watching ”
Share a leadership lesson or a piece of advice that’s been valuable to you in your career
One important leadership lesson I’ve learned is to always be open to learning from others, no matter their position. Valuable advice can come from anyone, and you never know which insight might make a real difference in your career.
What’s something surprising about you that isn’t in your professional bio?
Something people might find surprising about me is that I really enjoy discovering and trying out new, interesting dishes to cook with my partner.
If you could have any superpower to help you in your job, what would it be?
If I could have any superpower for work, it would be the ability to clone myself.
What’s your go-to strategy for staying productive during long workdays?
To stay productive during long workdays, I take small breaks, stay hydrated, keep a positive mindset, and treat myself to a chocolatey snack now and then.
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 in my career, it would be the day I was selected as a Group Accountant at my firm. The process was competitive, and being chosen from a long list of candidates made the achievement feel especially meaningful.
Rinaldo’s advice? Be open to learning, the rest can be taught.
Whether he’s mentoring APC candidates, digging into daily numbers, or cooking something bold with his partner, he brings purpose to everything he does.
We see you, Rinaldo.
Join CIBA and we’ll show you how to lead like this, no matter your title.
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