Sonwabile Nombiba, Cost and Management Accountant
Cost and Management Accountant
Current Experience:Cost and Management Accountant at Ferro South Africa (Pty) Ltd. · Full-time Jan 2024 - Present · (1 yr 5 mos)
PAST EXPERIENCES:Group Accountant at Corruseal Corrugate Group · Full-time Mar 2022 - Dec 2023 · (1 yr 10 mos)
Senior Accountant at DADO Manufacturing · Full-time Dec 2020 - Mar 2022 · (1 yr 4 mos)
Risk Advisory - Junior Consultant (Financial Crimes) Deloitte South Africa · Contract Oct 2019 - Dec 2019 · (3 mos)
SNG Grant Thornton Audit Consultant - Contract Mar 2019 - Jul 2019 · (5 mos)
Audit Senior March 2018 - Feb 2019 (1 Year)
Trainee Accountant March 2016 - Feb 2018 (2 Years)
Qualifications:Bcom Accounting, Auditing, Taxation, and Finance
Advanced diploma in accounting science
Country of Residence:South Africa
LinkedIn Profile: Meet Sonwabile Nombiba, a Cost and Management Accountant with a passion for efficiency, mentorship, and meaningful impact. With 4–5 years in the field and an ACMA qualification under his belt, he’s driving smarter financial decisions through data analysis and performance management. Outside the office? He’s a traveller, hiker, and proud Kaizer Chiefs supporter.
What time do you usually wake up on weekends?
5:00 AM
Are you an early bird or a night owl?
Early bird
How do you spend the first hour of your day?
Listening to audio books while getting ready for work.
What sparked your interest in accounting or finance?
I’ve always been drawn to finance because of how important it is in helping people and businesses make smart decisions. I find it really rewarding to be able to look at financial data and use it to guide choices that can make a real difference, not just in business, but in everyday life and even in communities. I also love that finance is constantly evolving. It’s a mix of analysis, planning, reporting, and governance, so there’s always something new to learn and challenges to take on.
Can you share some key career milestones or defining moments?
Completing my SAICA articles and getting my ACMA qualification withing 15 months has been the highlight of my career.
What is your role within your company’s finance department?
In my role, I manage the day-to-day operational finance tasks, including everything from production costing to developing inventory management strategies. I also support the team with financial analysis and reporting to help drive informed decision-making.
How do you contribute to the overall financial strategy of the business?
I contribute to the financial strategy by providing data-driven insights that support quicker, more informed decision-making. I’m actively involved in cost management initiatives, helping to pinpoint areas where we can reduce expenses and improve efficiency without compromising on quality. I also play a key role in performance management by monitoring production performance, analyzing costs and operating expenses, and reviewing processes to spot and address inefficiencies.
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 has been standardizing operations across different branches. The key to overcoming this was developing clear Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), followed by continuous team training and regular monitoring to ensure consistent implementation across all locations.
What tools or strategies do you use to manage the financial operations of the company effectively?
To manage our financial operations effectively, we rely on robust internal controls, conduct regular financial reviews, and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to stay aligned with our goals and ensure everything runs smoothly.
Share your strategies for staying balanced, especially during busy periods.
Planning ahead and Prioritising works best for me.
What do you enjoy outside of work?
Travel, sport and hiking.
Do you mentor or support other team members in the finance department?
Yes, I mentor other team members within the finance department by providing both formal training and informal coaching to help them grow in their roles. Outside of my organization, I also support a few CIMA mentees, offering guidance and mentorship as they progress through their professional journeys.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to work in a finance department?
My advice would be to focus not just on building strong technical skills because those will definitely help you get your foot in the door but also on developing your soft skills.
What’s your favourite quote or mantra that motivates you?
”It always seems impossible until its done.”
Share a leadership lesson or a piece of advice that’s been valuable to you in your career.
It doesn't matter how talented you are, what matters is how persistent you are.
What’s something surprising about you that isn’t in your professional bio?
Haha, a fun fact about me, I’m still a loyal Kaizer Chiefs supporter
If you could have any superpower to help you in your job, what would it be?
Master multitasking
What’s your go-to strategy for staying productive during long workdays?
Coffee!!!!
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 20 June 2024, the day I rolled out my first project in my current role. It was a real turning point for the team and made a noticeable impact, which made it especially rewarding.
Sonwabile’s journey reminds us that persistence often outpaces talent and that consistency builds credibility. Whether you’re improving a system, guiding a team, or just brewing that next cup of coffee, how you show up matters. Join CIBA and we’ll show you how to turn your everyday work into long-term impact.
Profile sponsored by the Chartered Institute for Business Accountants
Not yet a professional designated accountant?
CIBA is the professional body for all accountants.
We offer designations for each stage of your finance career:
➥ Bookkeeper
➥ Financial Administrator
➥ Financial Accountant
➥ Financial Manager
➥ Chief Financial Officer
➥ Accountant-In-Practice
Become a CIBA Member
Your first step towards a professional designation
