Senzo Ndlangamandla CA(SA) has been described as a visionary leader igniting excellence in accounting and beyond and as a rare gem who excels in his chartered accountancy and demonstrates visionary leadership.

Yet, emerging as the 2023 overall winner of the esteemed SAICA Top 35-under-35 competition late last year, the now 35-year-old UJ alumnus Ndlangamandla did at no point imagine his name would be called out.

“I did not expect it. Absolutely zero expectations! We had a diverse team of fellow finalists doing amazing things in their respective spaces. Judging from each profile, I did not think I stood a chance. My heart is full of gratitude,’ he says.

He attributes his success to a culmination of contributions to the profession, his role as the head of the department, and his prior managerial experiences. His humility and gratitude towards the judging panel echo his commitment to continuous improvement and recognition of the collective efforts that led to this significant accolade.

He humbly cites his most significant achievement thus far as having found his passion.

“It might be more accurate to say that accounting chose me. I ended up in my high school  commerce class because I registered late and the science class was already full. I ‘answered’ to the calling and embraced commerce, and that is how a very strong passion for the accounting profession grew.

“I have been able to view my work as a hobby because of how passionate I am about what I do through the fulfilling moments but also extremely challenging and difficult moments,” he says.

Ndlangamandla is currently head of the Department of Accounting Sciences at Walter Sisulu University  (WSU) and managing director at his audit practice SnB Chartered Accountants & Registered Auditors. At the latter, he addresses the critical issue of youth unemployment in South Africa and contributes to the country’s socio-economic development by managing a staff complement of 11, all youth.

From 2015 to 2018, he was the JSE Investment Challenge coordinator in the Mthatha region, where he introduced students and learners from predominantly rural communities to the stock exchange dynamics.

After that, his career progressed rapidly, and he was formally appointed head of the department in 2022.

Leadership challenges

Leadership at a young age comes with its challenges, he says.

“In academia, leadership is often characterised by seniority, but not in the department I lead. My three predecessors were also young. At my relatively young age, I have more than half the staff complement of 43 who are older than me, including a professor, and a good number of staff members with more academic experience than I have. This is compounded by the fact that this is a team of intellects and brilliant individuals, making it the most dangerous and complex space in which to lead.

“There is a constant need for diplomacy in dealing with differences and attempting to align them, a special skill that I have had to learn fast,” he says.

In meetings, Ndlangamandla is often the youngest person in the room, and it takes a lot of courage to give input in discussions, wondering whether his views will meet the standards of the learned and experienced people in the room.

“At first, it was a struggle. However, over time, I realised that WSU has created an enabling and developmental environment that does not discriminate against junior staff. Institutional support has been one of the significant enablers in the role, something you don’t find everywhere.”

Ndlangamandla leads with the people, fostering inclusivity and empowerment within his team. His approach facilitated effective strategy development and implementation and created an environment where every team member plays a meaningful role.

He believes this people-centric leadership is vital in guiding and maintaining his department’s excellence.

Shaping the future

Ndlangamandla’s achievements range from academic leadership to community projects and practical application of his expertise in the business realm and paint a comprehensive picture of a leader who excels in his field while actively shaping the future of accounting education and practice.

Among other things, he:

• Initiated the WSU Accountancy Alumni Association to foster a sense of community and continuity among alums, approved at an institutional level and set to launch in March 2024.
• Coordinated the relocation of the faculty from one campus site to a new location, a complex process that showcased his ability to manage intricate organisational changes effectively.
• Initiated an annual academic excellence awards ceremony to recognise and celebrate students who have excelled academically. It is poised to create a lasting culture of excellence among students, with other departments and faculties within the university expressing inspiration and intent to follow suit in 2024.
• Launched a Facebook page for the department in 2023, making it the only academic department within WSU with an official and university-approved presence on social media (Accounting Sciences WSU).
• Was involved in community projects such as the Masifundisane Career and Development Campaign, the JSE Investment Challenge, the School Governing Body project by SAICA, and the Learn Accounting project by the University of Cape Town.

Ndlangamandla obtained a BCom in Accounting (2009) and BCom Honours in Accounting: Chartered Accountancy (2010) from the University of Johannesburg.