Tendani Maphari, Junior Finance Officer
Junior Finance Officer
Current Experience:
Junior Financial Officer at Goodbye Malaria · Contract Jul 2022 - Dec 2025 · (3 yrs 6 mos)
Past Experience:
Finance Internship at Key Accounts · Contract May 2021 - Jun 2022 · (1 yr 2 mos)
Education:
Bachelor’s Degree Accounting and Finance
Country of Residence:
South Africa
LinkedIn Profile:
Two to three years into her career.
Big audits. Tight deadlines. Real pressure.
Meet Tendani Maphari, Junior Finance Officer at Goodbye Malaria, and proof that you don’t need 20 years’ experience to think like a leader.
From excelling in a Big Four external audit to navigating complex year-end reconciliations under pressure, Tendani represents the next generation of finance professionals who are building credibility the right way: accuracy first, teamwork always, growth daily.
What time do you usually wake up on weekends?
08:00 AM
Are you an early bird or a night owl?
Night Owl
How do you spend the first hour of your day?
I usually start my morning with stretching or a short workout to get energised, and then I begin getting ready for work.
What sparked your interest in accounting and finance?
My interest in accounting and finance started at a young age when I began to understand how important financial decisions are for both businesses and individuals. I was always curious about how companies manage their money and how people plan to reach their financial goals.
In high school, I took my first accounting class and really connected with the structure behind it — especially how assets, liabilities, and equity work together to form the foundation of a business. I was drawn to the clarity that accounting brings, and how finance builds on that by adding strategic thinking to support long-term growth.
Since then, I’ve been motivated to deepen my understanding of how these fields influence decision-making and shape broader economic outcomes, and that interest has continued to grow throughout my studies.
Can you share some key career milestones or defining moments?
One of the key milestones in my career was being part of a team that successfully delivered a strong outcome during an external audit conducted by one of the Big Four firms. It was a defining moment because it demonstrated my ability to contribute effectively in a high-pressure environment while maintaining attention to detail and accuracy.
The experience reinforced the importance of preparation, collaboration, and clear communication. It also strengthened my ability to stay composed under pressure and think strategically when addressing audit queries. Most importantly, it deepened my appreciation for the role finance and accounting play in supporting business integrity and long-term success.
What is your role within your company’s finance department?
Within the finance department, my role focuses on supporting daily accounting operations and ensuring financial information is accurate and up to date. I assist with preparing financial statements, managing accounts payable and receivable, and reconciling general ledger accounts to maintain accuracy across records.
I also contribute to the preparation of monthly and quarterly reports, making sure transactions are properly recorded and aligned with relevant accounting standards. In addition, I work alongside senior accountants on budgeting, forecasting, and audit preparation.
This role has provided me with practical experience in financial reporting and analysis, while allowing me to continuously strengthen my technical skills and contribute meaningfully to the department’s overall objectives.
How do you contribute to the overall financial strategy of the business?
As a Junior Accountant, I support the company’s overall financial strategy by ensuring that financial information is accurate, reliable, and delivered on time. Accurate data forms the foundation for sound decision-making, so my role in preparing reports, monitoring expenses, and tracking cash flow helps management stay aligned with budgets and financial targets.
Through regular reconciliations and careful review of transactions, I help identify and resolve discrepancies early, which protects the integrity of the financial records.
What is one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your role? How did you overcome it?8
One of the biggest challenges I faced was during the year-end close, when we had to reconcile a high volume of transactions across multiple accounts within a tight deadline. A few discrepancies surfaced that were not immediately clear because of the complexity of the entries, which added pressure to an already time-sensitive process.
To manage this, I approached the task methodically by breaking the reconciliations into smaller, more manageable sections and prioritising the most material accounts first. I collaborated closely with my team and reached out to other departments where necessary to clarify supporting information.
By staying organised, keeping clear notes, and maintaining consistent communication, I was able to trace the source of the discrepancies and help ensure an accurate and timely year-end close. The experience strengthened my attention to detail, time management skills, and reinforced the value of teamwork in high-pressure situations.
What tools or strategies do you use to manage the financial operations of the company effectively?
I use a combination of practical tools and structured processes to help manage financial operations effectively. I regularly work with accounting platforms such as Xero and Lightspeed to record transactions, monitor expenses, manage inventory, and generate accurate financial reports.
Share your strategies for staying balanced, especially during busy periods
During busy periods, particularly around month-end or year-end, I stay balanced by focusing on structure and clear prioritisation. I create a detailed daily plan, breaking larger responsibilities into smaller, manageable steps so nothing feels overwhelming.
What do you enjoy outside of work? Any hobbies or activities that help you recharge?
Outside of work, I enjoy reading, staying active, and spending quality time with family and friends. Those moments help me switch off, reset, and maintain a healthy balance alongside a busy schedule.
Do you mentor or support other team members in the finance department? How do you help develop the skills of others?
While I am still at an early stage in my career, I make an effort to support and guide newer or less experienced colleagues in the finance team. I enjoy sharing the knowledge I have gained, particularly around accounting systems, processes, and software tools. For instance, I have assisted colleagues in using certain features of accounting software and demonstrated good practices for performing account reconciliations.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to work in a finance department?
I would advise someone interested in a finance career to focus on developing a strong understanding of accounting fundamentals, financial reporting, and data analysis. It is also important to become comfortable using accounting and financial software, as these tools are widely used in daily operations. Gaining experience with platforms such as Excel, Xero, or other industry-relevant systems can help improve efficiency in handling financial information.
In addition, strong communication and problem-solving skills are valuable, particularly when explaining financial information to colleagues who may not have a finance background and when working across different departments. Above all, staying curious and committed to learning is important, as the finance field continues to evolve.
“My favorite quote that motivates me is, ‘Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.’ – Robert Collier. I find this quote inspiring because it reminds me that achieving long-term goals in finance, or any career, doesn’t happen overnight. It’s the consistent, small efforts that lead to big results.”
Share a leadership lesson or a piece of advice that’s been valuable to you in your career.
One of the most valuable leadership lessons I’ve learned in my career is the importance of leading by example. By staying organised, meeting commitments, and maintaining a positive and professional attitude even under pressure, you help create a standard that encourages the same behaviour within the team.
What’s something surprising about you that isn’t in your professional bio? A hobby, interest, or fun fact?
A fun fact about me is that I enjoy collecting unique and cute bookmarks. It adds a personal touch to my reading and makes the experience even more enjoyable.
If you could have any superpower to help you in your job, what would it be? Predicting financial trends? Master multitasking?
If I could choose a superpower to support my work, it would be the ability to accurately predict financial trends. Being able to anticipate market movements and economic changes would improve decision-making, strengthen forecasting, and help the organisation stay well prepared for future shifts.
What’s your go-to strategy for staying productive during long workdays?
My approach to staying productive during long workdays is to break tasks into smaller, manageable steps and focus on setting short, realistic goals throughout the day. I prioritise the most important tasks when my energy levels are at their peak and handle less demanding tasks later on. Taking brief, regular breaks also helps me stay focused and maintain my energy.
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 from my career, it would be the day I successfully contributed to the completion of a major audit project. That day was special because it marked the culmination of months of hard work, collaboration with colleagues, and learning. I was able to apply everything I had learned up until that point and saw how my contributions directly impacted the final outcome. It was rewarding to see the results of our efforts, and it gave me a deep sense of accomplishment and pride in what we had achieved as a team. It reinforced my passion for finance and motivated me to continue growing in my career.
Tendani reminds us of something simple:
Accuracy builds trust. Consistency builds credibility. Skill builds income.
But working hard isn’t enough in today’s regulated environment.
You need recognition. You need positioning. You need backing that protects your career.
Join CIBA and we’ll show you how to turn your technical skill into professional credibility that grows your income.
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