Hortense Lukusa, CPA, CA(SA), MBA
Hortense Lukusa is an international accounting and finance leader whose career spans public accounting, government, Tribal Nations, and global advisory work. She founded HK CPA LLC on the principles that shaped her from childhood: integrity, excellence, and purpose.
Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Hortense was inspired early by her father, a mining entrepreneur who credited his success to two tools: Accounting and English. That simple truth became the compass for her future. As a young girl, she created small ventures to support her ambitions, planting the first seeds of the entrepreneurial mindset that still guides her today.
Her pursuit of education carried her to South Africa, where she arrived not speaking English. Through discipline and determination, she mastered the language by translating every lesson from English to French word by word. Under the mentorship of a dedicated accounting teacher, she discovered the path of Chartered Accountancy and earned her Bachelor of Accounting Sciences from the University of the Witwatersrand, one of Africa’s most prestigious institutions.
After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant (South Africa), Hortense built a distinguished international career in finance, audit, and executive leadership. In the United States, she served as Director of Audit & Assurance at a Minnesota public accounting firm, a senior leadership position just below Partner. She later became the CPA for a federally recognized U.S. Tribe in South Dakota — one of the largest in the region. There, she led budgeting, forecasting, internal-control design and implementation, audit readiness, financial reporting, and direct presentations to Tribal government leadership.
Today, Hortense leads HK CPA LLC, a Minnesota-licensed CPA firm specializing in fractional CFO services, governance advisory, audit support, internal controls, and financial reporting for Tribal governments, nonprofits, and mission-driven organizations. Her practice reflects her commitment to transparent, high-quality financial leadership grounded in service and accountability.
Beyond her firm, Hortense serves her second three-year term as a Member of the Finance Misconduct Committee of the Compensation Fund under South Africa’s Department of Labour — an appointment endorsed at the Commissioner and Director-General level. She is a lifetime member of the Golden Key International Honour Society, and she also holds membership in a U.S. Honor Society with invitation-only admission, recognizing individuals who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, leadership, and professional excellence.
Shaped by a cross-continental journey and driven by purpose, Hortense brings global expertise, disciplined leadership, and unwavering integrity to every client she serves.