Thumeka Julia, Financial Advisor
Financial Advisor
Current Experience:
Financial Advisor at Old Mutual South Africa · Full-time Jul 2024 - Present · (1 yr 7 mos)
Past Experience:
Financial Management Accountant SA Government · Full-time
Education:
Diploma Financial Management
Country of Residence:
South Africa
LinkedIn Profile:
When Thumeka Julia wakes up at 4am to pray, she’s not just starting her day, she’s gearing up for a bigger battle. As a Financial Advisor at Old Mutual, she doesn’t just sell life and funeral cover. She rebuilds trust where others broke it. Clients come to her wounded by bad experiences, and she turns those “I’ll never trust again” stories into “I’m glad I met you” moments.
This is a story of purpose, pressure, and perseverance, and it deserves your full attention.
What time do you usually wake up on weekends?
08:00 AM
Are you an early bird or a night owl?
Early Bird
How do you spend the first hour of your day?
I usually start my day very early, around 4am, taking some quiet time to pray.
What sparked your interest in accounting and finance?
My interest started with balancing company books and managing budgets. I enjoyed making sense of the numbers and seeing how they shape business decisions.
Can you share some key career milestones or defining moments?
A defining moment for me was learning the value of money and understanding how to manage it wisely, which shaped the way I approach my career and financial decisions.
What is your role within your company’s finance department?
I work as a Financial Advisor within the company’s finance department.
How do you contribute to the overall financial strategy of the business?
At the moment, I contribute by selling life and funeral cover and advising clients on our products to help them make informed financial decisions.
What is one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your role? How did you overcome it?
One of the biggest challenges is when clients share negative experiences they’ve had with the company. I work through this by listening carefully, staying polite, and explaining things clearly in a way that makes sense to them and helps rebuild trust.
What tools or strategies do you use to manage the financial operations of the company effectively?
In my role at Old Mutual, my focus is mainly on sales, where I manage my work through structured sales processes and clear client communication rather than direct financial operations.
Share your strategies for staying balanced, especially during busy periods
I stay balanced by focusing on what needs to be done and giving my full attention to one task at a time, especially during busy periods.
What do you enjoy outside of work? Any hobbies or activities that help you recharge?
Outside of work, I enjoy worshiping God.
Do you mentor or support other team members in the finance department? How do you help develop the skills of others?
Yes, I support new team members by guiding them on how to sell and helping them build confidence and practical skills in their roles.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to work in a finance department?
I would advise someone aspiring to work in a finance department to focus on learning the systems, like how to use payroll software or manage BAS submissions, as these skills are essential for the role.
“Stay positive no matter what you situation you in but be positive”
Share a leadership lesson or a piece of advice that’s been valuable to you in your career.
A valuable lesson I’ve learned is to always share the knowledge you have, offering guidance helps others, and there’s nothing to lose by sharing what you know.
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 enjoy going to the gym.
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 any superpower for my job, it would be the ability to attract new clients every week.
What’s your go-to strategy for staying productive during long workdays?
My go-to strategy for staying productive during long workdays is to maintain a positive mindset.
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 I had to call a client who wasn’t paying on time. It was a challenging experience that taught me patience and effective communication.
Thumeka reminds us that being a finance professional in South Africa is about more than spreadsheets and sales, it’s about resilience. It’s about protecting clients, even when they walk in doubting your company. It’s about mentoring new advisors, staying grounded in faith, and chasing that next win, one client at a time.
She’s early to rise, quick to listen, and ready to defend the value of her work. And that makes her exactly the kind of voice we need more of in this profession.
Join CIBA and we’ll show you how to turn real-world grit into recognition, income, and impact.
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