Michelle Hignett

Dynamic, tech-forward professional combining a decade of high-level financial control with hands-on project management and web development skills. Proven ability to oversee massive budgets, streamline operations, ensure legal compliance, and build custom digital tools to solve complex logistical problems. Looking to leverage my diverse skill set in a remote or freelance capacity

Independent Consultant: Project Management & Financial Administration at Self-Employed (2025-01 – Present)

• Construction & Renovation Management: Managed three major property renovation projects, including a full garage-to-flat conversion and a fire-damage rebuild.
• Budgeting & Procurement: Handled all project costings, successfully keeping the total build and furnishing budget for a flat conversion to just R70,000. Managed all buying, contractor payments, and physical material collections.
• Legal Compliance (POPIA): Consulted for the HR department at Homemark to align internal records with the POPI Act, organizing the secure auditing and legal destruction of sensitive personnel information.
• Digital Entrepreneurship: Founded and manage an online digital storefront, handling product design, marketing copy, and customer fulfillment.
• Secure Logistics: Contracted as a trusted driver to securely transport and deliver official international voting papers under strict deadlines.

Junior Accountant / Cost of Sales Controller at Emit Reversing Time (Logistics) (2014-01 – 2025-01)

• Controlled Cost of Sales for a logistics company generating R50 million in monthly revenue.
• Directly managed R30 million in monthly expenses across 80+ suppliers, negotiating rates and actively cutting wasted internal spending to keep overall costs strictly to 61% of turnover.
• Acted as the primary data problem-solver, manually cleaning and correcting over 100,000 lines of complex data across incompatible software systems.

Shop and Petty Cash Controller / Night Supervisor at Homemark (PTY) Ltd (FMCG) (2009-01 – 2014-01)

• Controlled daily retail sales and petty cash for 28 branches using Sage Pastel Evolution.
• Analysed company expenses and successfully cut the monthly budget for stationery, entertainment, and staff welfare by 50%.
• Created and managed internal security procedures to eliminate theft across the branch network.

Junior Bookkeeper at Hammondpole Attorneys (2007-01 – 2009-01)

• Processed and released high-value trust and creditor payments (R10 million to R15 million daily).
• Handled daily cash books, journals, and full reconciliations for 3 main bank accounts.

BCompt in Commerce – UNISA (2013-01 – 2013-01)

Financial Accounting Qualification in Accounting – Damelin (2010-01 – 2010-01)

National Certificate in Grade 12 – Springs Girls High School (2000-01 – 2000-01)