I’ve had a natural aptitude for numbers ever since my schooldays, where I am proud to say I earned the maths award every year. I decided to become an accountant and took the AAT exams before pursuing my ACCA, qualifying in 2012. I was driven by a desire to advance my career and take a seat at the top table, where decisions are made.
I started working in the banking sector in 2013 with Standard Chartered Bank Botswana as a management accountant, which is when my career took off. It was a crucial role that paved the way to my current position, where I lead a team of professionals in reporting, risk and finance operations.
I believe AI has great potential to positively impact finance in the corporate world. There are endless opportunities to automate repetitive processes, improve data analysis, optimise processes and increase accuracy. Therefore, the skills that are becoming more relevant relate to providing insights, to data, and to strategic and tactical thinking.
I stepped out of my comfort zone when I moved from banking to the mining industry
Earlier in my career, while working at a major bank, I led the automation of finance reports for regulatory reporting, reducing the turnaround time for reporting by 40%. I also managed an automated reconciliation system which helped to manage team capacity and reduce human error. However, these opportunities are not without their challenges, and it is important to allocate sufficient resources to AI solutions. Organisations will only reap the full benefits if they are prepared to make sufficient investment.
I stepped out of my comfort zone when I changed industries. I went from banking, where had I spent more than a decade, into the mining industry, as I wanted to broaden my experience.
This is my favourite mantra: ‘Work, don’t worry’. I have been in environments that are fast paced, with demanding workloads and rapid regulatory changes. That means focusing on the work at hand and not getting stuck on the desired outcomes.
What I enjoy the most about my role in the diamond industry are the challenges and benefits it has to offer. I am part of a team that is the main revenue contributor to Botswana’s GDP, and the global collaboration and opportunities that my job offers make it enjoyable and exciting.
If I had law-making powers, I would extend maternity leave from 12 to 20 weeks
My biggest professional achievement was leading a project to enhance governance processes for a bank. This centred around validating the balance sheet to safeguard assets and ensure accurate reporting. The role required collaboration with teams across the organisation, which gave me increased visibility, and led ultimately to an opportunity to lead the finance team of the corporate banking business at a major bank.
If I had law-making powers, I would extend maternity leave in Botswana from 12 to 20 weeks. I recently welcomed my second baby and was afforded five months’ maternity leave by my employer; now, as I return to work, I feel refreshed and ready to rejoin the workforce. I believe that all mothers deserve this.
If I was not a qualified accountant, I would have liked a career in risk and compliance. I have had some exposure to this area and enjoyed the experience thoroughly.
In my own time, I enjoy cooking, particularly trying new dishes with my family. I also love to travel and see new places.
