Audrey Oosthuizen, Finance Manager
Finance Manager
Current Experience:Finance Manager at Dainfern College · Full-time: Apr 2023 - Present (2 yrs)
PAST EXPERIENCE:Finance and Payroll Manager at Kyalami Schools NPC: Jul 2016 - Mar 2023 (6 yrs 9 mos)
Financial Bursar at Reddford House Northcliff: Oct 2015 - Jun 2016 (9 mos)
Senior Accountant at Bezandco (Pty) Ltd:
Jun 2014 - Sep 2015 (1 yr 4 mos)
Qualifications:Bachelors in Accounting Science
Country of Residence:South Africa
LinkedIn Profile: In our mission to highlight exceptional finance professionals, Accounting Weekly presents Audrey Oosthuizen, a highly skilled Group Accountant with 10 Years of experience in finance and accounting. She brings expertise in cash flow management, tax preparation, fixed assets, managerial finance, and payroll, ensuring businesses stay financially sound and compliant.
Audrey begins her day at 7:00 AM, savoring a cup of coffee while reflecting and planning for the day ahead.
What time do you usually wake up on weekends?
7:00 AM
Are you an early bird or a night owl?
Night Owl
How do you spend the first hour of your day?
Reflection over a cup of coffee, and planning for the day ahead
What sparked your interest in accounting or finance?
I was fortunate to be chosen for a "working bursary" straight out of matric within an auditing firm, thanks to my accounting marks. Blessed with a natural flair for accounting, I still had to work hard as a part-time student attending night classes and completing my articles at the firm during the day. I graduated later than my friends who attended university full-time, but I had the upper hand in terms of work experience.
Can you share some key career milestones or defining moments?
Becoming a member of SAIPA as a post-graduate gave me the flexibility to manage my own client base, which was particularly valuable when I became a mother to my two sons.
My article years were invaluable, exposing me to many different industries and clientele types during audits, there's a little story for each one! This exposure helped me grow my skill set and develop a deeper understanding of the accounting and auditing field.
What is your role within your company’s finance department?
I currently work at Dainfern College as the Finance Manager, within a team of skilled colleagues managing all aspects of the finance function.
How do you contribute to the overall financial strategy of the business?
The role of a Finance Manager can often be seen as the "middle man" responsible for tying together all aspects or sub-fields of accounting and presenting them in a clear format for the Business Director and Board Members.
What is one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your role? How did you overcome it?
Challenges often arise from mistakes and incorrect judgments. Accounting is only as reliable as the information available at the time, and it’s crucial for any Board to understand the evolving nature of financial data. With new information, business strategies should be periodically reviewed and adjusted as needed.
What tools or strategies do you use to manage the financial operations of the company effectively?
Consistency is key when applying accounting tools but leaving room for new strategies is essential for growth.
Share your strategies for staying balanced, especially during busy periods.
Errors happen when people are fatigued, so rest is essential. Stepping back from a completed task for later review or outsourcing the final review to a colleague can help maintain accuracy and efficiency.
What do you enjoy outside of work?
Lazy Saturdays spent with family and friends are a great way to recharge for a focused workweek.
Do you mentor or support other team members in the finance department?
Mentorship is vital in an accounting team, given the introverted nature of the work. Even a 10-minute personal conversation can uplift a colleague’s spirits and open the door to work-related discussions and collaboration.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to work in a finance department?
Len de Vos, CA (a past mentor), once told me: "No man is an island." I didn't fully understand it in my twenties, but I do now. The strength of your colleagues directly reflects your own success or failure—so take the time to invest in them.
What’s your favourite quote or mantra that motivates you?
Another day, another dollar.
Share a leadership lesson or a piece of advice that’s been valuable to you in your career.
Mr. Tom Hamilton once told me that in life, we are not met by inherently good, bad, competent, or talented people—just people. It’s up to us to work with them, balance their strengths and weaknesses, and find a way to succeed together.
What’s something surprising about you that isn’t in your professional bio?
I am left-handed and enjoy arts, crafts, and creativity.
If you could have any superpower to help you in your job, what would it be?
I’d love the ability to see a little further into the future, to mitigate small hiccups along the way, but not too far ahead!
What’s your go-to strategy for staying productive during long workdays?
A clear list of deliverables is satisfying to check off, and a short break or stroll outside helps reset focus.
If you could relive one day from your career, which day would it be and why?
Any day spent at my article accounting firm. The audit clerks were a close-knit family of young, like-minded students—we had some great laughs.
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