Thapelo Monyemohonoe, Accountant
Accountant
Current Experience:
Accountant at Netcare Group (Pty) Ltd, Medicross · Full-time Jan 2018 - Present · (8 yrs 2 mos)
Past Experience:
Head of the Accounting Department at Lunosi Chartered Accountants - t/a BM Global (Pty) Ltd · Full-time Jan 2016 - Jan 2018 · (2 yrs 1 mo)
Financial Analyst at Standard Bank South Africa · Full-time May 2015 - Dec 2015 · (8 mos)
Accountant at Innovent Rental & Asset Management Solutions · Full-time Sep 2010 - Apr 2015 · (4 yrs 8 mos)
Credit Controller at The Citizen News Paper · Full-time May 2008 - Aug 2010 · (2 yrs 4 mos)
Accounting Officer at Liparm Corporation · Full-time Aug 2007 - Oct 2007 · (3 mos)
Education:
BCom Accounting
Postgraduate Degree Business Administration and Management
Country of Residence:
South Africa
LinkedIn Profile:
Thapelo Monyemohonoe didn’t just climb the finance ladder, she built the staircase.
From managing petty cash as a kid to resolving five-year billing disputes as a Senior Accountant, her story is one of grit, strategy, and spiritual depth. She’s turned finance departments from chaos to structure, brought calm to team conflict, and somehow still makes time for family hikes, kids’ outings, and monthly date nights.
Her secret weapon? Clarity. Whether it’s aligning budgets with business strategy or resetting her mindset with a quote from The Art of War, Thapelo shows what real leadership looks like, firm, focused, and fiercely balanced.
What time do you usually wake up on weekends?
06:00 AM
Are you an early bird or a night owl?
Night Owl
How do you spend the first hour of your day?
I spend the first hour of my morning reading two pages of a book. At the moment, I’m reading The Art of War.
What sparked your interest in accounting and finance?
My interest in accounting began early on, influenced by my father’s entrepreneurial background. From a young age, I helped count money and manage petty cash, which taught me discipline and attention to detail. As time went on, I realised that working with numbers and overseeing finances came naturally to me. That early exposure shaped my understanding of how important sound financial management is to a business, making a career in accounting a natural and rewarding choice.
Can you share some key career milestones or defining moments?
Some key career milestones for me include taking on full accounting responsibilities and leading a finance team at Innovent. With the support and guidance of the CFO and Finance Manager, I developed the skills needed to manage the department effectively and with confidence.
At BM Global, I was instrumental in building and strengthening the finance function by implementing accounting policies and introducing structured processes. This work improved reporting accuracy, ensured compliance, and supported the company’s overall financial stability.
During my time at Netcare, I gained valuable experience working with a wide range of stakeholders and managing teams from diverse backgrounds. This role strengthened my ability to navigate complex organisations, encourage collaboration, and align different management perspectives toward shared financial and operational objectives.
What is your role within your company’s finance department?
I am a Senior Accountant responsible for financial reporting, budget development, and monitoring the company’s financial performance.
How do you contribute to the overall financial strategy of the business?
I contribute by developing budgets and financial forecasts that align with the business’s objectives, helping ensure resources are used effectively to support profitability. I also review financial operations and apply internal controls to improve efficiency, minimise waste, and maintain accurate, reliable reporting.
What is one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your role? How did you overcome it?
One of the biggest challenges I faced was resolving a complex financial dispute involving five years of unpaid billing linked to expired contracts. I addressed this by successfully disputing the charges for the most recent three years and negotiating a settlement for the remaining two. This required close collaboration with legal teams and multiple stakeholders to reach a solution that was fair and acceptable to all parties.
What tools or strategies do you use to manage the financial operations of the company effectively?
I use SAP systems to manage accounts payable and receivable, the general ledger, and financial reporting, ensuring accuracy and consistency across financial data. To support effective cash flow management, I also apply segregation of duties, with payments reviewed and approved by multiple parties before being released.
Share your strategies for staying balanced, especially during busy periods
I stay balanced by setting clear, realistic targets and deadlines, allowing buffer time for unexpected issues. I prioritise tasks based on urgency and impact, delegate where appropriate, and make a conscious effort to maintain physical activity and proper rest to keep my energy and focus during busy periods.
What do you enjoy outside of work? Any hobbies or activities that help you recharge?
Outside of work, I focus on family and personal growth. As a wife and mother of two, I make a point of creating balance by committing each month to a family activity, a kids’ outing, reading a book, completing a training course, and spending quality time on a date. These routines help me recharge and stay grounded.
Do you mentor or support other team members in the finance department? How do you help develop the skills of others?
I support and mentor team members by providing ongoing training and gradually introducing new responsibilities. This approach helps them develop professionally while fostering a culture of continuous learning within the team.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to work in a finance department?
My advice would be to stay resilient, maintain a strong curiosity, and continually build on your existing knowledge. Additionally, pay attention to gaps and opportunities, particularly in challenging situations, as these often present the best chances for growth and meaningful improvement.
“There is nothing wrong with you; the issue lies in your surroundings and the approach you’re taking. Simply change your strategy.”
Share a leadership lesson or a piece of advice that’s been valuable to you in your career.
A valuable leadership lesson I’ve learned is that the past cannot be changed, not even by God, so it’s important to focus on the present and make the most of what you have, appreciating each moment and opportunity.
What’s something surprising about you that isn’t in your professional bio? A hobby, interest, or fun fact?
Something surprising about me is that I’ve been on a journey of spiritual growth, developing a deeper understanding, greater grace, and the ability to trust in God completely and without doubt.
If you could have any superpower to help you in your job, what would it be? Predicting financial trends? Master multitasking?
If I could have a superpower at work, it would be the ability to instantly resolve team dynamics, using AI to assess situations objectively and help address behavioural challenges within the team.
What’s your go-to strategy for staying productive during long workdays?
My go-to strategy for long workdays is to identify the most urgent and high-impact tasks and focus on those first, taking advantage of peak energy levels. I stay motivated by acknowledging small wins along the way and keeping in mind the bigger purpose behind the work.
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 a day in 2016 at BM Global, when I built a department from the ground up and saw it succeed. Watching something I created grow and thrive was an incredibly rewarding experience.
Thapelo doesn’t just report numbers, she builds financial engines that power companies forward.
She’s trained teams, overhauled systems, and still finds the time to read, grow spiritually, and lead with humility. Her message to the next generation is clear: resilience, strategy, and constant upskilling are the game-changers.
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