Reaching for the stars

Punehi Tjikuua’s job is all about people, as it involves managing relationships to ensure the company delivers excellent quality audits.
Octavia Tsibes
Elizabeth Joseph



Punehi Tjikuua has always been driven, whether by her parents or her own ambitions.

She is now the audit manager at Deloitte Namibia, one of the ‘Big Four’ accounting organisations and the largest professional services network in the world by revenue and number of professionals.

Tjikuua describes herself as an introverted extrovert. She is hardworking and focused, but also very bubbly.

Born and raised in Windhoek, Tjikuua completed her matric at Delta Secondary School and then pursued her tertiary education at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa.

“I returned to Namibia, to complete my three-year articles at Deloitte Namibia and qualified as a chartered accountant in 2016. After completing my articles I got an amazing exchange opportunity to work for Deloitte Dubai for three months in 2017 and returned after three months to work as an audit manager at Deloitte Namibia,” she says.

Tjikuua’s job involves delivering quality audits to her portfolio of clients. Her job is all about people, as it involves managing relationships to ensure the company delivers excellent quality audits.

“I work with highly dynamic and smart individuals, which is real privilege, as it constantly challenges me to grow. I am also responsible for learning within Deloitte Namibia. As the learning manager, I am responsible for scheduling and facilitating all the required training,” Tjikuua adds.

She is very passionate about mentoring individuals and the most fulfilling part of her role for her is seeing these individuals grow into seasoned chartered accountants at the end of their articles.

Challenges and rewards

“My greatest challenge has been working tight deadlines and long working hours, which is often required in a professional career. However, what makes it worthwhile is that impact that it makes on our clients.

“My biggest accomplishment in my career is qualifying as a chartered accountant. Other key accomplishments are being part of the Deloitte family, and constantly making an impact that matters on our clients and people,” She said.

Tjikuua is always either learning or teaching and has interest in the financial services, real estate and mining sectors.

She enjoys the process of generating new ideas and driving the implementation of these new ideas or processes, while also driving the learning process of others.

“Complexities fascinate me as they enable me to apply critical thinking. I enjoy solving complex problems. I am a strong communicator and love speaking in front of a crowd,” she adds.

Inspirations and aspirations

“My greatest inspiration is God, my husband and my family. In addition, strong successful women who have made an impact really inspire me, because many of them have made a difference despite the odds they have found themselves in.”

She loves dancing and music, and is currently learning to play the piano.

Tjikuua says she is still exploring her future plans as she continues to grow in her career and in her current role.

“We all have a story, we all have a background but we all have a chance to make a difference in this world. The advice I would give is don’t let your circumstances limit you from reaching for the stars. I managed to complete my studies and qualify as a chartered accountant because I had a bursary from Deloitte.

“So keep pushing, keep trusting, keep working hard and you will find the right opportunities. Last but not least, nothing comes without hard work, you need to work hard and you need to have the right attitude,” Tjikuua adds.