Rebecca van Helsdingen earns top-five spot in IAC

Balancing full-time employment, professional studies and personal responsibilities requires discipline and determination.

Rebecca van Helsdingen has demonstrated these qualities by securing a place among the top five candidates in the January 2026 Initial Assessment of Competence (IAC), an important milestone in her pursuit of becoming a chartered accountant.

Born and raised in Windhoek, Van Helsdingen attended Windhoek Afrikaans Private School from Grade 1 to Grade 12, matriculating in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. Her interest in accounting developed in high school, inspired by her teachers and her parents’ backgrounds in the field.

Her career path became clearer during her final year, when a recruiter from an auditing firm visited her school and, impressed by her academic record, offered her a bursary.

After learning more about the profession, she signed a contract with BDO Namibia, where she began working in 2021.

Van Helsdingen enrolled for a bachelor of commerce in financial accounting through the University of South Africa in 2022, graduating cum laude in 2024. She subsequently completed a postgraduate diploma in accounting science through the Institute of Accounting Science.

Studying part-time, achieving top results

Preparing for the IAC, which took place from 27 to 29 January, involved a month of intensive studying, following a detailed schedule, reviewing summaries and practising previous examination papers.

“One of the biggest challenges I had during the preparation was mental,” she told Careers, describing how overwhelming it felt to cover a year’s worth of work in one month.

Her support system helped her manage the pressure. BDO provided study leave, while colleagues assumed additional responsibilities to meet work deadlines. At home, her husband took on household duties, allowing her to concentrate on her studies.

Initially, her goal was simply to pass. Placing among the top five candidates was therefore a source of immense pride.

“For me, the result meant that it is possible to achieve top position even if someone has studied part-time," she said, adding that she wanted to demonstrate that it is possible to balance work, studies and a social life while achieving good results.

Van Helsdingen is now preparing for the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC), scheduled for 2 December. She hopes to become a registered auditor and potentially pursue further studies in forensic accounting.

Her advice to aspiring accountants is to persevere through challenges and remain committed to their goals.

“Put in the effort today and reap the fruits tomorrow,” she said.