Profile: Ahmed Haffejee, Financial Manager
In our mission to highlight exceptional finance professionals, Accounting Weekly presents Ahmed Haffejee, a dedicated Financial Manager with over nine years of experience in accounting and finance. Ahmed embodies a passion for leadership and strategic thinking, delivering insightful contributions in his role.
Ahmed starts his day early at 5:30 AM with prayer, setting a reflective and focused tone to ensure a productive day ahead.
Ahmed Haffejee
Financial Manager at SANI Van Rental
Past Experience:
Finance Manager at SANI Van Rental (Jun 2024 – Present, 7 months)
Advanced Senior Audit Consultant at Makosi (Feb 2022 – Apr 2024, 2 years 3 months)
Group Accountant and Financial Manager at LUXE Holdings Limited and Arthur Kaplan (Feb 2019 – Jan 2022, 3 years)
Accountant at PRN Accountants (May 2018 – Sep 2018, 5 months)
Audit Trainee/Senior at Grant Thornton (Feb 2015 – Apr 2018, 3 years 3 months)
Qualifications:
Bcompt Accounting Sciences Certificate in the theory of accounting CA(SA)
Country of Residence:
South Africa
LinkedIn Profile Link:
What time do you usually wake up on weekends?
5:30 AM
Are you an early bird or a night owl?
Early Bird
How do you spend the first hour of your morning?
Prayer
What sparked your interest in accounting or finance?
Money
Can you share some key career milestones or defining moments?
Working for a listed entity and being promoted to Financial Manager were key milestones in my career
What is your role within your company’s finance department?
As Financial Manager, I oversees financial reporting, compliance, and strategic planning
How do you contribute to the overall financial strategy of the business?
Actively involved in strategy sessions and forecasting
What is one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your role? How did you overcome it?
Managing people. Overcome with kindness
What tools or strategies do you use to manage the financial operations of the company effectively?
Trust
Share your strategies for staying balanced, especially during busy periods.
Planning, in order to have a work-life balance
What do you enjoy outside of work? Any hobbies or activities that help you recharge?
Fishing, outdoors, and travelling
Do you mentor or support other team members in the finance department? How do you help develop the skills of others?
Share knowledge and skills with team members to upskill them
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to work in a finance department within a company? What skills or knowledge should they focus on?
Soft skills – Always be kind and willing to listen to fellow team members
Technical skills – Always upskill yourself with knowledge. Knowledge indeed is power
What’s your favourite quote or mantra that motivates you?
”And do good; indeed, God loves the doers of good”
Share a leadership lesson or a piece of advice that’s been valuable to you in your career.
A positive attitude goes a long way in the workplace. Be kind
What’s something surprising about you that isn’t in your professional bio? A hobby, interest, or fun fact?
I’m a coffee addict
If you could have any superpower to help you in your job, what would it be?
Forecasting results perfectly
What’s your go-to strategy for staying productive during long workdays?
Short breaks in between tasks
If you could relive one day from your career, which day would it be and why? What made that day special?
Being promoted to Financial Manager
Ahmed’s story is a testament to the power of knowledge, kindness, and determination in building a successful career in finance. Connect with Ahmed on LinkedIn to follow his journey.
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: BookkeeperFinancial AdministratorFinancial AccountantFinancial ManagerChief Financial OfficerAccountant-In-Practice.
