Stephen Smith, Senior Manager
Senior Manager
Current Experience:
Senior Manager at MPVR Cloud Accountants Mar 2025 - Present · (7 mos)
Past Experience:
Sales and Business Development Manager at MPVR Cloud Accountants Sept 2024 - Mar 2025 (7 mos)
Financial Manager at Joseph Grieveson · Full-time Jul 2020 - Dec 2022 · (2 yrs 6 mos)
Financial Manager at Caskets Galore · Full-time Nov 2019 - Jun 2020 · (8 mos)
Manager Financial Reporting at Hudaco Industries Ltd Sep 2017 - Oct 2019 · (2 yrs 2 mos)
Financial Manager at Elias Mechanicos Building and Civil Engineering Contractors (Pty) Ltd Mar 2017 - Aug 2017 · (6 mos)
Qualifications:
Bcom Honours Accounting
Country of Residence:
South Africa
LinkedIn Profile:
“From Berg fly fishing to London boardrooms, Stephen Smith is building bridges across borders.”
He’s not just a Senior Manager at MPVR Cloud Accountants, he’s the kind of leader who closes deals, mentors teams, and still makes time to tie his own flies before a fishing trip. Whether he’s auditing in the UK or strategizing for growth back home, Stephen is proving that South African talent belongs on the global stage.
What time do you usually wake up on weekends?
07:00 AM
Are you an early bird or a night owl?
Early Bird
How do you spend the first hour of your day?
I spend the first hour of my morning catching up on the news and preparing for the day ahead.
What sparked your interest in accounting or finance?
My interest in accounting and finance was inspired by my dad, who is a CA and runs his own business. I felt that having a strong foundation in accounting would be valuable for pursuing business opportunities.
Can you share some key career milestones or defining moments?
Completing my articles was a major milestone, as it exposed me to a wide range of businesses and prepared me well for auditing in the UK market. More recently, I was appointed to a senior leadership position at MPVR Cloud Accountants. I’ve also had the opportunity to travel internationally in my current role and will be heading to England in May to exhibit at the Accountex London show.
What is your role within your company’s finance department?
I serve as the Senior Manager of Audit Operations within the finance department.
How do you contribute to the overall financial strategy of the business?
I contribute by acquiring new clients and serving as a liaison with existing clients. Additionally, I support budgeting and long-term strategic planning for the business.
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 is entering overseas markets and adapting to new methods and practices, both culturally and professionally. Success in these situations requires flexibility, a willingness to learn, and embracing change.
What tools or strategies do you use to manage the financial operations of the company effectively?
We focus on maintaining a sustainable model that benefits our clients, staff, and MPVR as a business. To guide our operations, we follow the methodologies outlined in Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman, which I consider essential reading for business owners at any stage.
Share your strategies for staying balanced, especially during busy periods.
I stay balanced by resting when possible, getting enough sleep, and setting aside quality time for family and friends. I also make time for personal passions like fishing, going to the gym, or watching movies, and ensure I take time off during quieter periods. Maintaining this balance is essential.
What do you enjoy outside of work?
Outside of work, my main passion is fly fishing, there’s nothing better than escaping to the 'Berg with friends and family. I also enjoy going to the gym, watching rugby, and reading.
Do you mentor or support other team members in the finance department?
I regularly check in with our team to ensure they’re doing well, identify any challenges they’re facing, and help them find solutions. As part of the leadership team, we also hold regular tech talks and share tips to help develop the skills of all our staff.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to work in a finance department?
My advice would be to stay up-to-date with the latest technological advances, keep learning continuously, and don’t hesitate to ask for help. It’s also important to be well-rounded enough to review a set of management accounts and quickly identify the key issues.
“The wise man knows what he doesn’t know.”
Share a leadership lesson or a piece of advice that’s been valuable to you in your career
One valuable leadership lesson I’ve learned is that surrounding yourself with the right people makes running a business much easier.
What’s something surprising about you that isn’t in your professional bio?
Something surprising about me is that I’m an identical twin, and I also enjoy tying my own flies for fly fishing.
If you could have any superpower to help you in your job, what would it be?
If I could have any superpower to help in my job, it would be super speed to quickly clear any backlog of work.
What’s your go-to strategy for staying productive during long workdays?
My go-to strategy for staying productive during long workdays is taking regular breaks and keeping my energy up with plenty of 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 the day I was offered the job at MPVR and realized I had the opportunity to work internationally, a truly pivotal moment.
Stephen’s story isn’t about luck, it’s about readiness.
From articles to international expansion, every step was earned. His advice? Stay curious, stay tech-savvy, and surround yourself with people who sharpen your thinking.
Want to build a practice that’s globally credible and locally rooted?
Join CIBA and we’ll show you how to grow beyond borders.
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