What name are you known by and why (nickname)?

My name is Neo Malefahlo. I don’t really have a nickname, but my tax team calls me Omncane, the IsiZulu version of “little one” because I am the youngest member of the team.

Tell us about your role and how you became interested in working in the Finance sector.

I’m a tax accountant graduate based in Johannesburg, South Africa. I’m responsible for preparing and filing tax returns and ensuring that the company complies with tax rules and regulations in Weir Minerals Africa and the Middle East. That also means that I work closely with the Deloitte and EY teams globally.

Taxation is constantly changing, so I must make sure that my knowledge on legislation and developments is current. For instance, earlier this year I had to read Dubai's new corporation tax legislation to determine how Weir may be affected.

In this position you need accounting and tax skills, as well as extensive knowledge of current law, regulations and tax obligations. As Weir is a multi-national company, I have been fortunate to learn about different tax laws in Africa, so I’m learning and expanding my knowledge all the time.

What’s the most exciting/innovative project you’ve worked on?

I have worked on many exciting projects. One of them was a collaboration with the Deloitte team to introduce Intela - an integrated, creative tech environment that enables smarter data collection and analysis, allows you to track work in real time and collaborate virtually. As the youngest member of the team, I bring a different perspective on technology, so the team values my fresh, inventive ideas.

What would you say to other young people who may be considering a finance career in the engineering sector?

Have an open mind and be prepared to dive in. Taxation is complex and constantly changing which can be difficult. So, you’ll constantly be learning and developing your knowledge. You have to work well under pressure and enjoy working to time-sensitive deadlines. And engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including Revenue Authorities to gather data for audits. The engineering sector is an interesting industry to work in – and through the graduate programme with a global company like Weir, I have been able to learn about the various tax rules around the world at pace.

What makes you feel that you can be yourself and belong at Weir?

I really appreciate Weir’s welcoming and friendly atmosphere. It is a great work environment, which is crucial for me to be able to do my best every day.

How do you see your future career?

I would ultimately like to become a tax manager and progress in other areas of taxation, like technology. I absolutely see myself having a future at Weir. The graduate programme has pushed me in a variety of ways. I've only been with Weir for a year, but I've seen tremendous growth in myself. Having a team that pushes and believes in me, motivates me to give my all every day.

Sustainability is at the heart of what we do at Weir. Why is it important to you?

I believe that the best way to predict the future is to create it. I am proud to work for a company that is helping create a better world and future.

What is your greatest achievement/most exciting thing you’ve done outside of work?

In my spare time, I attend acting and commercial auditions. I adore the performing arts and have appeared in various television commercials.