Zakiya Sheikjee
Sandton,South Africa
Summary
Accomplished finance professional with extensive experience in external auditing, IFRS compliance, financial reporting and management consulting. Demonstrates expertise in risk assessment, audit planning, and operational finance management. Proficient in Caseware, Microsoft Excel, Teammate, and Odoo. Adept at stakeholder engagement, team leadership, and inspiring team performance. Skilled in data analysis, budget management, cost control, and cash flow management. Committed to ensuring financial reporting accuracy and implementing robust internal controls. Career goal: to leverage extensive skills in a senior finance role to drive organisational success through strategic financial management and cost-reduction strategies.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
11
11
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work history
Finance Manager
Alouette Investments
Midrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
2026.02 - Current
- Facilitated accurate tax submissions to prevent penalties and interest charges.
- Collaborated with finance and other departments to enhance teamwork.
- Supported strategic budget planning to boost company profitability.
- Optimised financial procedures for improved efficiency and accuracy.
- Assisted in documenting and implementing new financial systems to enhance data accessibility.
- Executed cost-control measures to manage spending effectively within budget.
- Reviewed bookkeeping and management accounts to ensure clarity in reports.
- Examined complex financial data to offer insights for leadership regarding debtor recoverability.
- Contributed to reducing operational costs through cost-saving initiatives.
Operations Finance Manager
XLink Communications
Sandton, Johannesburg
2025.08 - 2026.01
- Oversight and preparation of financial reports including monthly management report and financial operations pack for submission to Vodacom
- Oversight of onboarding of suppliers as well as BEE reporting and financial due diligence
- Conducting variance analysis and provide commentary on financial performance on a monthly basis
- Ensuring compliance with statutory requirements, tax legislation and audit standards
- Maintaining of internal controls and ensuring adherence to financial policies through monitoring of workflows and adherence to reporting structures and processes
- Monitoring of cash flow, liquidity and working capital to support operational needs of the business and approvals of payments
- Implementation of effective management of accounts payable and receivable by means of ongoing reconciliations and reviews
- Preparation of accounting opinions as well as financial information to Vodacom such as insurance submissions and judgements and estimates
- Leadership, mentoring and development of the finance team and providing guidance in accurately recognizing transactions and compiling financial information
- Guiding the finance team in terms of setting performance goals and monitoring the achievement thereof
- Driving efficiency through process optimization and automation and collaboration with the Systems team to achieve desired outcomes
- Ensuring data integrity and accuracy across all finance platforms, namely Navision and Papertrail
- Partnering with other divisions within the business to provide financial guidance and support operational decision-making
- Conducting weekly operations meetings to ensure that all issues and queries are being addressed and escalated timeously with management
- Completion of bi-annual appraisals of team members
- Review of VAT reconciliations and accounts
- Analysis of courier and subcontractor accounts
- Conducting mid-month and month-end reviews for the team
- Review of fixed asset reconciliations, tax registers, capitalizations and disposals as well as monitoring of internal controls relating to the recognition of assets within the entity
- Monitoring of purchase quotes and purchase orders
- Review of accruals for month-end reporting and follow-ups on invoices and statements
- Review and approval of credit card information
Group Head of Finance
Chemvulc Marketing (Pty) Ltd
Robertville, Gauteng
2024.10 - 2025.07
- Submission of statutory returns for 7 entities (EMP201’s, EMP501’s, VAT, Income tax, provisional taxes, CIPC, Workman’s compensation)
- Daily bank reconciliations, payments and cashflow management
- Debtors, creditors, asset and working capital management
- Compilation and analysis of management reports at group level
- Payroll management for head office and manufacturing entity
- Analysis of costing, pricing, material inputs and overheads at factory
- Procurement budgeting and control of finances relating to exports
- Preparation of audit information and AFS for 6 entities
- Management of the finance team and correspondence with other departments, bankers and stakeholders in the group
- Processing of financial information on Odoo Accounting software
Accountant
Doors Galore (Pty) Ltd (STC)
Sandton, Gauteng
2024.07 - 2024.09
- Assisted in project management for systems implementation and three-tier integration for Maxidor franchise group.
- Supported training initiatives for staff to enhance operational efficiency.
- Facilitated compliance management of franchisee agreements and account management on Apple Business Management platform.
Financial Manager
Ranis Herbalist (Pty) Ltd
Lenasia, Gauteng
2024.04 - 2024.07
- Assisted in preparation and review of financial statements and payroll management.
- Supported engagement with various stakeholders and provided advisory on strategic decisions regarding company group structure and franchising.
- Contributed recommendations and basic analysis of projects for capital raising.
- Helped prepare and review analysis for sales cost of sales and expenditure.
- Aided in expenditure management and cost containment procedures and assisted in implementing expenditure reduction through sourcing alternative suppliers.
- Facilitated optimisation of cash flows through effective cash conversion cycles.
- Participated in reconciliation of debtors, creditors, cash, and bank as well as liabilities.
- Assisted with preparation of fixed asset register and analysis of fixed and intangible assets, recognising useful lives and realizable values.
Cost Reporting Consultant
Trigger Professional Services (STC)
Bryanston, Gauteng
2024.02 - 2024.04
- Preparation and review of cost reports for healthcare in the US.
- Worked with team at Marcum LLP to determine total costs for skilled nursing facilities
- In-depth analysis of expenditure for reporting period
Senior Financial Accountant
Future Chartered Accountants
Mokopane, Limpopo
2023.03 - 2023.12
- Acting as a Senior Financial Consultant at Mogalakwena Municipality as part of Future Chartered Accountants’ team to perform the following duties:
- Preparation and Review of GRAP compliant Annual Financial Statements
- Engaging with various stakeholders to ensure effective governance and compliance with laws and regulations (specifically MFMA and MSA)
- Monitoring of post-audit action plan
- Assist with the financial function of the municipality
- Assessing the effectiveness of internal controls
- Streamlining of the audit process and responding to audit queries
Investment Advisory Consultant
Palcofon Projects (Pty) Ltd
Johannesburg, Gauteng
2021.04 - 2022.09
- Preparation and review of financial models for various projects in the energy, infrastructure and mining industries.
- Engaging with various stakeholders to raise capital including investors and private equity partners and drafting of investment proposals
- Recommendations and in-depth analysis of projects for capital raising
- Brokering of financial transactions and negotiation with suppliers
Associate Director
Trilord Consulting (Pty) Ltd
Pretoria, Gauteng
2020.10 - 2021.04
- Head of business development for the firm
- Part of management team developing turnaround strategies for businesses in distress as well as risk mitigation
- Capital raising for projects and businesses
- Development and assessment of business proposals
- Compliance advisory for mines and private entities
- Transaction advisory including merger
Senior Financial Accountant
Future Chartered Accountants
Mokopane, Limpopo
2019.05 - 2020.02
- Acting as a Senior Financial Consultant at Mogalakwena Municipality as part of Future Chartered Accountants’ team to perform the following duties:
- Preparation and Review of GRAP compliant Annual Financial Statements
- Engaging with various stakeholders to ensure effective governance and compliance with laws and regulations (specifically MFMA and MSA)
- Monitoring of post-audit action plan- Assist with the financial function of the municipality
- Assessing the effectiveness of internal controls
- Streamlining of the audit process and responding to audit queries
Senior Trainee Auditor/Audit Supervisor
Auditor General of South Africa
Polokwane, Limpopo
2012.04 - 2018.03
- Regularity audit of government entities and statutory review of AFS.
- Audit planning, risk assessments, substantive procedures on various components of the AFS, evaluation of audit evidence and reporting.
- Engaging with various stakeholders to ensure compliance with laws and regulations (MFMA, MSA, IAS, etc.) including attending weekly audit steering committee meetings and meetings with MEC’s and senior management.
- Communication of audit queries to clients, issuing of management reports and audit of performance information.
- Supervision and direction of team and training of audit trainees.
- Budgeting of audit fees, project management, allocation of components to team members and monitoring of internal controls.
- Audit of compliance information and assessment of fulfilment of key performance indicators as per the annual reports.
- High level review of team members work and assessment of deliverables.
Trainee Auditor
MasengViljoen Inc
Krugersdorp, Gauteng
2011.01 - 2012.02
- Audit of Financial Statements and financial records, application of taxation and financial accounting knowledge with exposure to engineering, financial services, media, property and manufacturing companies
- Audit of Financial Statements and financial records, application of taxation and financial accounting knowledge with exposure to engineering, financial services, media, property and manufacturing companies
Trainee Auditor
GL Palmer and Co
Bruma, Gauteng
2010.07 - 2010.12
- Audit of private companies and statutory review of AFS and client records
- Audit planning, risk assessments, substantive procedures on various components of the AFS and evaluation of audit evidence.
- Engaging with various stakeholders to ensure compliance with IFRS and IAS.
- Drafting of AFS on Caseware audit software and filing of client tax returns.
Education
Grade 12 -
Nirvana Secondary School
Johannesburg 2004.01 - 2008.12
Bachelor of Accounting Sciences - Financial Accounting
UNISA
South Africa 2009.01 - 2015.06
Chartered Certified Accountancy - ACCA - Chartered Accounting
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
UK 2017.12 -
Skills
- Financial auditing
- IFRS compliance
- Financial reporting
- Risk assessment
- Audit planning
- Caseware proficiency
- Taxation
- Operational finance management
- Communication skills
- Data analysis
- Attention to detail
- Budget management
- Cost control
- Microsoft Excel
- Teammate
- Odoo
- Stakeholder engagement
- Team leadership
- Fixed asset accounting
- Inspiring team leadership
- Management accounts reports
- Financial statement preparation
- Cost-reduction strategies
- Compliance understanding
- Cash flow management
- Financial reporting accuracy
- Internal controls implementation
- Asset Management
Certification
- SAICA Articles - Completed SAICA articles - Jul 2015
- First Aid Level 2 - Certified as a Level 2 First Aider - Dec 2024
- EF SET English Proficiency Certification - Obtained C2 Proficiency Certification with EF SET - Oct 2023
Languages
English
Native
Afrikaans
Advanced
References
References available upon request.
Affiliations
- Racing
- Creative Arts
- Gym
- Martial Arts
- Baking
- Reading
- Traveling
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Finance Manager
Alouette Investments
2026.02 - Current
Operations Finance Manager
XLink Communications
2025.08 - 2026.01
Group Head of Finance
Chemvulc Marketing (Pty) Ltd
2024.10 - 2025.07
Accountant
Doors Galore (Pty) Ltd (STC)
2024.07 - 2024.09
Financial Manager
Ranis Herbalist (Pty) Ltd
2024.04 - 2024.07
Cost Reporting Consultant
Trigger Professional Services (STC)
2024.02 - 2024.04
Senior Financial Accountant
Future Chartered Accountants
2023.03 - 2023.12
Investment Advisory Consultant
Palcofon Projects (Pty) Ltd
2021.04 - 2022.09
Associate Director
Trilord Consulting (Pty) Ltd
2020.10 - 2021.04
Senior Financial Accountant
Future Chartered Accountants
2019.05 - 2020.02
Chartered Certified Accountancy - ACCA - Chartered Accounting
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
2017.12 -
Senior Trainee Auditor/Audit Supervisor
Auditor General of South Africa
2012.04 - 2018.03
Trainee Auditor
MasengViljoen Inc
2011.01 - 2012.02
Trainee Auditor
GL Palmer and Co
2010.07 - 2010.12
Bachelor of Accounting Sciences - Financial Accounting
UNISA
2009.01 - 2015.06
Grade 12 -
Nirvana Secondary School
2004.01 - 2008.12