Fund Accountant | Nutritionist

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS PROFESSION? After the introduction to the profession, I did my research, took a psychometric test and found it to be a great match – and also due to a greater chance of securing employment post qualification.

WHAT TRAINING DID YOU UNDERGO? For the technical training part, I completed my Bachelor of Accounting Sciences Degree (3 years) and my Postgraduate Diploma in Accountancy (1 year). For the professional training, I trained at a medium-sized audit firm, as an external auditor for 3 years.

IS THERE A TYPE OF PERSONALITY BEST SUITED TO THIS WORK? You need to have an analytical mind! Whether you are an introvert or extrovert, during training you will learn to communicate effectively and efficiently. IS EXPERIENCE AS IMPORTANT AS FORMAL TRAINING? The chartered accountancy profession is designed in a way that grants you the opportunity to gain formal training before you qualify, which also counts as experience post qualification.

DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY AS A SENIOR FUND ACCOUNTANT 09:00-09:30 – Read emails and prepare for the day; 09:30-10:00 – Attend a team meeting; 10:0012:00 – Prepare the financial statements of the funds that are listed on the London Stock Exchange; 12:00-13:00 – Lunch; 13:00-15:00 – Review and authorise payments; 15:00-16:00 – Meet with the board of directors; 16:00-17:00 – Respond to emails from external auditors.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE THE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB? Seeing my hard work (financial statements) published on the London Stock Exchange for worldwide stakeholders to make decisions.

WHICH ASPECTS ARE YOU LEAST ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT? When the tasks I do become repetitive. When this happens, I ask for a new challenge.

WHAT’S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR CAREER TO DATE? The opportunity to work internationally: I have been an external auditor in Dublin, Ireland, and I am currently a senior fund accountant in Jersey, Channel Islands.

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE FUTURE? I’d like to continue being beneficial to society – as a chartered accountant, I am a business leader and a responsible, ethical citizen. I also have my coaching and mentoring venture that I run after 5pm and over the weekends. My goal is to expand my coaching and mentoring venture and help more varsity ZANELE MADUNA CA(SA) SENIOR FUND ACCOUNTANT

BNP PARIBAS, JERSEY CI

students and young professionals with self-leadership, peak academic performance and future-proofing their careers.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE STARTING OUT IN YOUR CAREER? It can and will be challenging, however, in the words of Henry Ford: “Whether you think you can or you can’t, you are right.”

DESCRIBE YOUR JOB IN THREE WORDS Challenging, engaging, empowering

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS PROFESSION? My love for seeing people experiencing good health and happiness, after witnessing them suffering through ill health and disease.

WHAT TRAINING DID YOU DO? I did a Clinical Nutrition Diploma through IAN in Australia, Health Coaching Certificate through Zest 4 Life, UK, and a Functional Medicine Certificate through IFM in the USA. Currently, there is no NT qualification available in SA, but health coaching is available with Health Coaches Academy.

DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY My morning starts off with admin: checking emails, ordering supplements, paying suppliers, social media posts. Then online consulting with my clients. When lockdown lifts, I hope to work 1/2 days at a nearby health clinic too. After an initial consult with a new client, I work out a health protocol, have a few follow-up consultations to support them in implementing the lifestyle changes. I also offer food demos and workshops where we prepare healthy foods.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST? Seeing the improvements in my clients’ health, which can have a big impact on their lives and the achievement of their goals.

WHAT DON’T YOU LIKE? Being bogged down with admin; it can be quite consuming and not income generating.

WHAT HURDLES HAVE YOU HAD TO OVERCOME? I’ve worked in this field for over 10 years now. Being self-employed can be much harder than regular employment. You need to be disciplined so you are able to ride out the quiet times. You have to always be re-inventing yourself and keeping up to date with new trends, new studies, new supplements in order to stay current. WHAT’S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT? Running health retreats at various beautiful locations around the country and having my food and recipes featured on TV and in Food & Home magazine.

ANY FUTURE GOALS? To continue to instill the value of good health and lifestyle medicine to all in our country, and to spread the message, that when it comes to our genes, prevention is better than cure. What we do in our youth impacts our health destiny.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE STARTING OUT? If you plan on working in private practice, decide who your target audience will be, then set up some health packages and programmes that you can sell to your clients. This will make your life so much easier. Be open to giving free talks and demos in your community to get yourself

LYNNE MACCALLUM FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE NUTRITIONIST & HEALTH COACH

OWNER @ NOURISH BY NATURE

out there. Or go the social media route of promoting your business online.

IS THERE A TYPE OF PERSONALITY BEST SUITED TO THIS WORK OR CHARACTER TRAITS YOU NEED TO HAVE (OR NOT HAVE)? A caring empathic nature will be most supportive in this field, along with being a good listener and really ‘hearing’ what your clients’ needs are. Sometimes people just want to be heard.