Wearing the supervisor hat to manage the team efficiently

MICHELLINE NAWATISES

Laina Haihambo was born and raised in Windhoek, where she attended St Andrew’s Primary School and completed high school at Academia Secondary School. After that, she attended the University of Namibia, where she completed the Bachelor of Accounting degree, followed by an Advanced Diploma in Accounting Sciences from the University of South Africa.

Haihambo decided to join one of the Big Four audit firms after obtaining her degree, where she was able to complete her Public Accountants' and Auditors' Board (PAAB) articles. She is now the accounts receivable accountant at MultiChoice Namibia.

Her main job is to increase business revenue. Her day-to-day duties involve assuring the timely collection of money due to the company, ensuring timely and accurate invoicing, conducting credit checks, and resolving customer queries.

When asked about her biggest challenges and accomplishments, she mentioned her daily interaction with many customers.

“My biggest challenge so far has to be learning to not take what customers say personally,” she says.

“When working in the credit-control environment, one needs to develop a thick skin and remember the customer is not upset with you but with the situation. “Eventually, you start creating positive relationships with the customers which is very rewarding,” she says.

Haihambo’s biggest accomplishment would be obtaining her degree and completing the PAAB articles. This has opened many opportunities for her, including working for a reputable company like MultiChoice Namibia.

Her day at the office consists of dealing with a host of emails and answering queries from customers. From these queries, there are usually issues that need to be sorted out. She spends a lot of her time handling those. Then, she usually gets on the phone with overdue clients and try and get them to make payments.

“Throughout the day, I have my supervisor’s hat on and ensure I manage my team efficiently,” she says.

The advice she would give young people is to study. “School is very important and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. You can achieve so much in life after your studies. And if school is not for you, at least have a passion for something,” she says.

Haihambo plans to continue developing her skills and knowledge and one day become an expert in one of the fields of accounting.

One thing she wishes she knew how to do was to draw. “Like most accountants, I do not have one creative bone in my body,” she says jokingly.

If she had an opportunity to change something in the world, she would get rid of judgement, greed and corruption. “I could never understand how one person can have so much, knowing that has caused someone else to have nothing,” she says.