Page 93 - KZN Top Business Women 2019 eBook

If the vision is clear,

the how-to will be invented.

Inspirational parents teaching them about financial records, bookkeeping,
External Audit Associate Director,
KPMG Durban Marileen’s biggest inspiration in life came from her and general financial principles. She enjoys KPMG
parents who have been married for 49 years. “They as a training environment where coaching and
ARILEEN PRETORIUS, a chartered are an example of what can be achieved when a mentoring are offered, and finds it fulfilling to help
accountant and registered auditor, is couple works together.” people learn and grow.
Man external audit associate director for Being more than your job title
KPMG Durban, and is part of the leadership team. Her father was in the SA Defence Force, and he taught
She maintains responsibility and oversight of the her to work hard, be loyal and persevere. She values Marileen is happy with her accomplishments and
external auditing division leading a team of audit his professionalism and ‘can-do’ attitude. He taught where she is, yet adamant that it is far from the end
professionals, providing assurance to shareholders, her: ‘If the vision is clear, the how-to will be invented’, of her journey. She believes, “A job title does not
reflect who you are, or what you have accomplished.
financiers, and third parties. and she often reminds herself of this mantra. One’s values are more important”. She tries to leave
Her mother was ‘a stay-at-home mom’ and the
Marileen says the route to where she is today started any place better than it was when she found it.
when she was still in grade eight and she just fell in backbone of the family. They often moved between
love with accounting. Even at that young age, she cities due to her father being transferred, and her One of her aspirations is for her teenage children to
dreamt of being a chartered accountant and made mother always supported him, ran the household, grow up anchored in their faith, able to handle life’s
challenges successfully and become responsible
a conscious decision to make this her goal and to and raised the children. Her mother has been helping adults contributing to society.
work towards it. “In the end, lots of hard work, people in the community as long as Marileen can
perseverance, and dedication were required, as the remember and her mother’s unwavering faith has She comments, “A work-life balance is becoming
road to becoming a chartered accountant is a long helped the family through difficult times, keeping increasingly difficult in a fast-paced world where
and hard one, involving studies and articles that them all close to this day. immediate results are demanded.” For her, the
many give up on,” she reflects. Supporting people’s progress quantity of time available to spend with the people
you love and doing things you value is less important
Along the way, Marileen received significant input In reflecting on the approach of men and women than the quality of such time and being present in
into her professional life from ‘the great leaders’ at to business, Marileen does not believe that there the moment.
KPMG. Since it is a learning environment, she can should be differences. The accounting profession
always discuss issues with fellow professionals. has been male-dominated in the past but has As a family they have regular breakaways and
Marileen is grateful that she has benefitted from the recently grown and developed into an environment participate in Parkruns over weekends, helping them
mentoring and coaching she received from people where men and women can be successful. “The to stay connected.
who had crossed her path. diversity brought by different genders strengthens She feels fortunate to have a good circle of friends,

Marileen admits KPMG has gone through tough times, teams, and the different qualities of the genders, and they have an annual ‘women only’ event. She
but she is committed to working with the leadership if used together, contribute to overall success,” believes it is important for her as a woman to make
team to rebuild the firm, showing the world who they she explains. enough time for herself, do something she loves and
really are and restoring their public image. However, Marileen enjoys supporting the progress get recharged to be the best she can be.
Since moving from East London to the Durban of women in business. She was involved with the If she could give advice to her younger self, it would
practice during 2018, Marileen has been embraced Business Women’s Association in East London, be not to take life so seriously and stress less. She
by the partners like a family member. She added, “I providing businesswomen with professional support. would encourage herself to take more chances and
would not have been able to achieve what I have She played an active part in the “Coca Cola 5by20 constantly look for ways to diversify, innovate and be
without the support of my family – a committed project”, mentoring and empowering women entre- prepared for changes, “the only constant in life”. She
husband and my two children – as well as my circle preneurs working in rural communities. Most of the would implore herself to value every day and spend
of amazing friends.” Marileen also gives credit to women did not have accounting knowledge, and it it doing the important things with the people who
her team for helping her to function effectively. was fulfilling for Marileen to share her knowledge, matter most to her.

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