Texon Mungombe

Texon Mungombe graduated with a Master of Professional Accounting from UNE and is now studying a Bachelor of Laws.  He works as a Senior Financial Accountant for one of Sydney’s most successful restaurants in Sydney, Café Sydney.

What was your UNE qualifications?

Master of Professional Accounting

Online or on-campus study?

Online

How was your experience with UNE lecturers?

This was a time before we had access to recorded lectures. The calibre and dedication of the lecturers was unquestionable, they were always available for questions and some went out of their way to accommodate emails even when they were on holidays.

What was your reason for studying at UNE?

I had just migrated to Australia from Zimbabwe. I cast my net country wide searching for a good and affordable University. The moment I opened the UNE website I kept going back, checking the courses, the courses layout, etc. Eventually, I was happy with the 3 terms per year and the fact that I could be awarded a certificate if I decided to drop out before finishing the whole course.

The Website was so easy to navigate too.

Any plans for future study with UNE?

I did not need to wait too long. I am studying an LLB degree with UNE now which I started in 2018.

Your current job?

I am currently employed as a Senior Financial Accountant with one of the most successful and progressive restaurants in Sydney – Customs House Café Pty Ltd T/A Café Sydney. I celebrated my 9th year anniversary in this capacity with the company on the 4th of September.

The personal qualities needed to do your job?

Highly organised, strong technical competence, hardworking, reliable and willing to roll the sleeves. One must also be starting to shift focus from accounting rules to facilitating the drive for business success.

If you weren’t in this line of work, what do you think you’d be doing instead?

I am a qualified chartered secretary and that gives me a wide spectrum of what I would be doing instead of my current line of work. I could be a company secretary, human resources manager or any other job that requires my general managerial skills, common sense and physical abilities.

Your advice for anyone interested in pursuing this type of career?

Accounting degree and professional qualification (a prerequisite).

Accountancy, besides auditing, in Australia is industry and accounting package specific.  One has to be clear with the industry of interest and obtain knowledge of the associated accounting packages or big brands like SAP.

The biggest challenge and biggest achievement you’ve experienced in your work or life in general?

The biggest achievement in my life is to do with looking back at how I transformed myself from the time I completed my ordinary level of education (Year 10) to being what I am now without any face-to-face lectures or on-campus learning at a university.

How has your UNE qualification aided you in your career?

When I arrived in Australia I was already a qualified chartered secretary. Accounting was a foundational training within the chartered secretarial course and I was already an experienced accountant after my internship in a mining company and working in a power generation company. However, it was not easy to break into the Australian job market and doing my Master of Professional Accounting with UNE bridged that gap.

What inspires you inside work and outside work?

At work I get inspired by a professional space with a great exchange of ideas.

Outside work I enjoy reading, especially about successful and prominent people. As an individual, my background plays a big inspirational role.

Do you volunteer your time for a community project or organisation?

I do volunteer for community projects. I used to be a volunteer treasurer for a pre-school and also a football club. I also worked as a church youth advisor for years. I am currently not involved in any volunteer work due to juggling a young family, work and studies.

In this time of Covid-19, how has the virus impacted your work?

The pandemic has had an unforeseeable and dreadful impact on businesses and people in general. My company (a restaurant) suffered the full effect of the pandemic as it was subjected to the government directive to close certain businesses in March. We are picking up the pieces and all hinges on our hope that we will be back and better when it all settles down when the pandemic is gone.