ACCOUNTANCY
THE QUEEN BEE WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS PROFESSION? My favourite subjects in school were Mathematics, Accountancy and Biology. We tend to excel at the things we enjoy doing so I kind of knew that I would be crunching figures for a living. Either that or living out my parents’ dream of me becoming a nurse!
WHAT TRAINING DID YOU UNDERGO? I completed Practical Accounting & Accounting I & II at Damelin. I have also completed various accounting-related refresher courses since.
WHAT IS IT THAT YOU DO? My primary task is that of being the accountant, and all related financial responsibilities. I must make sure all suppliers are paid timeously. I’m always on the lookout for competitive pricing for services. The second half of my job title means that the entire admin responsibility falls under my portfolio: anything from arranging a driver, to following up on travel arrangements with the travel agent to arranging visas at very short notice. I am faced with anything that needs to be done to ensure the bureau runs smoothly and the staff have the resources. to function efficiently.
FAVOURITE PARTS... I will NEVER be bored. I enjoy the fact that I have no idea what my day will be like and that I must always be prepared to face the challenge as and when it surfaces.
ANYTHING YOU DON’T LIKE? I often find myself in a situation where I am unable to finalise a job because I need third party input. This becomes really frustrating for me, but like everything else, I find ways to work around it.
CAREER HIGHLIGHT? I have to mention the bureau’s month-long coverage of the 2010 Soccer World Cup as an event all of us will remember. It was really hard work for
Marlene Pillay
ACCOUNTANT & BUREAU MANAGER CNN, JOHANNESBURG BUREAU
all concerned, the logistics proved to be a nightmare. The coverage was brilliant.
YOUR FUTURE GOALS? I want to complete my BCom Degree. Also our bureau is growing at a very healthy pace and a growing office comes with the obvious growth in admin. I am working on streamlining processes to ensure smooth operation.
EXPERIENCE OR TRAINING? Experience is definitely more important than formal training. No amount of training can ever teach you about handling stress, having patience when you feel like you don’t have any, and being tolerant under very tense conditions. I have learnt a great deal from our Bureau Chief, who has been working in the industry for over 25 years.
WHAT DEFINES A ‘GOOD’ ACCOUNTANT? You must be very flexible. Also, irrespective of what position you hold in an office, all levels of respect are very important. There are some situations that require me to play very hard ball.
ADVICE FOR NEWCOMERS? Be prepared for hard work. You have got to accept that you win some and you lose some, but you must never lose sight of what your purpose is. Always do your best.
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