Karen Odendaal
CA(SA)
Murrayfield
Summary
I am a Chartered Accountant with experience in financial management and exposure to ERP implementation and optimisation. I have a strong interest in data, automation, and improving business processes to support efficient and reliable financial reporting.
Tech-savvy innovator with hands-on experience in emerging technologies and passion for continuous improvement. Skilled in identifying opportunities for technological enhancements and implementing effective solutions.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
13
13
Certifications
Work History
Financial Manager
Magneto Renewable Energy
06.2025 - Current
- Optimized cash flow management strategies, ensuring sufficient funds were available for daily operations while maximizing returns on idle cash balances.
- Enhanced financial reporting accuracy through regular audits and reconciliations, leading to improved decision-making capabilities.
- Prepared comprehensive financial statements for executive review, aiding in effective decision-making processes regarding growth opportunities and resource allocation.
- Analyzed budgets, financial reports, and projections for accurate reporting of financial standing.
- Created refreshable SQL/Excel reports for leadership for use in strategic planning and decision making.
- Developed and transformed finance and operations team from transactional to analytical to provide enhanced business support.
- Created and implemented effective accounting systems, best practices, and policies.
- Delivered timely internal reports to various stakeholders detailing key aspects of the company''s financial health, ensuring transparency and clear communication.
- Managed accounting-team data using Syspro, entering and organizing payroll, adjustments and monthly accrual information.
- Developed reporting for executive financial reviews.
- Oversaw implementation and maintenance of our Radar system.
- Drove process improvements and transformations to organization by leading system implementation, Syspro accounts setup, streamlining data, contracting and processes implementation
- Analyzed business processes to identify cost savings and operational efficiencies.
- Established and checked coding procedures, monitored reports and updated internal files by reviewing reconcilliations and implementing internal controls
Financial Manager
Diamond Club
10.2021 - Current
- Manage and oversee accounting processes
- Automation of accounting processes
- Identify risks and implement Internal Controls
- Month end review and Balance sheet recons
- Monitor and analyse financial performance and identifying trends and areas for improvement
- Present & prepare Packs for Management Accounts meetings, Investor meetings and Exco meetings
- Ensure compliance with Accounting Standards and Legal requirements (IFRS, National Credit Act, POPI Act, FIC Act, Companies Act, VAT Act, Tax Act etc.)
- Cash Flow Management
- Budgeting
- Develop and implement financial strategies to support business growth and sustainability
- Conduct financial analysis and modelling to support strategic decision making
- Positively impact performance of peers by training and providing support tools
- Annual Audit facilitation
- Credit vetting and arrears collections including preparation of Credit Policies, Credit Vetting Standard Operating Procedures, External Debt Collectors’ appointment and monitoring of performance.
Team Lead
Simplexity Services
09.2020 - 09.2021
- Manage a team of 4 Accountants
- Review and Approve bills daily
- Review month end closes
- Perform Profit and Loss and Balance sheet analysis
- Review weekly Cashflows
- Assist with United States Tax filings and registrations
- Onboarding of new clients (Setting up Chart of accounts, linking applications and bank accounts to Quickbooks and Xero, allocation of transactions etc.)
- Reason for leaving: Career advancement and increased compensation
Sage X3 ERP Consultant
SynergERP
01.2019 - 04.2020
- Gain an understanding of business process requirements, analyse them and configure an ERP solution
- Test case scenarios and communicate errors or improvements to the developers
- Present User Approval training and assist the client with testing the ERP solution
- Create step-by-step user guides to assist the client with training and implementation
- Build Excel Import Templates with Macros to import master data from the legacy system into Sage X3
- Train and assist the client in using these Excel Import Templates
- Use SQL queries to build dashboards and to test data and transactions
- Mentor new consultants
- Budget adherence and communicating delays to the Project Manager or Lead Consultant
- Reason for leaving: Restructuring due to adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic
Financial Planning Analyst
FutureLearn Operations
06.2017 - 07.2018
- Budget and Budget update
- Update and build new budget templates
- Arrange and oversee meetings with Heads, General Managers and EXCO regarding budgeting for Operating Expenses, Revenue, Cost of Sales and Capital Expenditure
- Consolidation of all the above-mentioned line items into a budget
- Ratio analysis to ensure reasonability of the budget
- Presentation of the budget for EXCO approval
- Budget process training for new employees
- Monthly reporting to the Holding Company (PSG) on financial performance, operations and other metrics
- Preparation and presentation of MANCO and EXCO packs
- Revenue analysis
- Cost of Sales analysis
- Operating Expenses analysis
- Chart of accounts setup
- Reason for leaving: Retrenchment due to automation of reports and budgets
Assistant Financial Manager
ASG Sport
01.2017 - 05.2017
- Implementing internal controls in the Paarl retail store
- Assisting the Debtors Clerk with reconciliations
- Daily report on bike sales to the CEO
- Cycle counts
- Reason for leaving: Professional development and Career advancement
Trainee Chartered Accountant
KPMG
01.2014 - 12.2016
- Documenting and updating business processes and identifying risks
- Control testing and communication of results to management
- Substantive testing and communication of results to management
- Mentoring and coaching of junior team members
- Stock counts
- Cash counts
- Budget monitoring
- Drafting of management reports
- Engagement completion
- Reason for leaving: Training contract expired
Education
Postgraduate Diploma - Applied Accounting Sciences (CTA level 2)
University of South Africa
Postgraduate Diploma - Accounting Sciences (CTA level 1)
University of South Africa
Bachelor - Accounting Sciences
University of South Africa
Skills
Affiliations
South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA)
Certification
Data Analysis
Timeline
Financial Manager
Magneto Renewable Energy
06.2025 - Current
Financial Manager
Diamond Club
10.2021 - Current
Team Lead
Simplexity Services
09.2020 - 09.2021
Sage X3 ERP Consultant
SynergERP
01.2019 - 04.2020
Financial Planning Analyst
FutureLearn Operations
06.2017 - 07.2018
Assistant Financial Manager
ASG Sport
01.2017 - 05.2017
Trainee Chartered Accountant
KPMG
01.2014 - 12.2016
Postgraduate Diploma - Accounting Sciences (CTA level 1)
University of South Africa
Postgraduate Diploma - Applied Accounting Sciences (CTA level 2)
University of South Africa
Bachelor - Accounting Sciences
University of South Africa
References
- Robert, Simon, Senior Account Manager, +27 82 337 8645, Simplexity
- Deon, Nagel, Lead Consultant, +27 82 650 9019, SynergERP
- Germari, Pieterse, Former CFO, +27 84 409 7105, FutureLearn
- Steyn, Du Plessis, Former Director, +27 82 499 2225, ASG
- Celeste, van Wyk, Former Audit Manager, +27 83 440 8578, KPMG
Professional Qualifications
- 2015 South African Institute of Chartered Accountants Initial Test of Competence SAICA
- 2015 South African Institute of Chartered Accountants Assessment of Professional Competence SAICA