Member Profile: Fatima Mamod
In this edition of our CFO Spotlight series, we feature Fatima Mamod, CA(SA), a finance strategist with more than 15 years of experience across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. Currently serving as Head of Group Finance at RTT and Non-Executive Board Member at Steve Biko Hospital, Fatima has led multi-country finance functions, driven […]
Finance Leadership in a Regulated Economy: Insight into financial compliance and market regulation, especially in public-private partnerships
Economic regulation shapes the way businesses operate, invest, and compete. For Chief Financial Officers (CFOs), it is not just another compliance requirement. It is a landscape of rules, risks, and opportunities that must be navigated with precision. Whether dealing with utilities, financial services, infrastructure, or emerging industries, regulation determin
Muted Growth, Rising Unemployment: What CFOs Must Take from Treasury’s Warning
When Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana addressed the Macro Fiscal Workshop this past week, his message was direct: South Africa is entering a difficult period marked by muted economic growth, stubbornly high unemployment, and limited fiscal space. These headwinds are not confined to government. They ripple into the private sector and directly shape the decisi
Unlocking Growth Where Numbers Alone Cannot Reach
When businesses face disruption, most instinctively turn to the numbers. Margins shrink, forecasts wobble, and cash flow models are pulled out to see where efficiencies can be found. But sometimes, the numbers alone are not enough. Real transformation often begins not in spreadsheets but in vision, trust, and bold collaboration. The recent partnership between
Beyond the Balance Sheet : CFOs leading cross-functional transformation projects such as ERP implementations and legal frameworks
A business can invest in the best technology available, employ highly skilled people, and still struggle if its transformation projects are not led with clarity and discipline. Behind every successful shift, whether it is a new enterprise system, a regulatory framework, or a compliance overhaul, there is usually one person ensuring that the pieces fit […
Pipeline Dreams, Paperwork Nightmares, and Profit: A Guide to Gas, Governance, and Growth
Pipeline Dreams, Paperwork Nightmares, and Profit: A Guide to Gas, Governance, and Growth The scene is familiar. You are in the boardroom, coffee in hand, when the CEO announces: “We’re considering investing in a gas infrastructure project.” The room buzzes. Executives talk about energy security, sustainability, and beating load-shedding. Then silence,
Crunching Numbers or Crystal Ball? Why Financial Modelling is the CFO’s Secret Weapon
Crunching Numbers or Crystal Ball? Why Financial Modelling is the CFO’s Secret Weapon Picture this: You’re at a braai, someone asks what you do, and you reply, “I build financial models.” Their eyes glaze over faster than the boerewors burns. To them, a model is something on a runway, not an Excel sheet with 27 […]
Women Leading in Male-Dominated Industries: Overcoming gender bias and leading with authority in finance and energy
It is no secret that industries like finance and energy have long been dominated by men. Boardrooms, executive committees, and industry conferences often reflect a gender imbalance that has barely shifted in decades. For women who step into these spaces, the challenges are not only about doing the job well. They are also about proving, […]
CFOs Who Grew from the Ground Up:
The advantages of internal career progression and deep organisational knowledge In boardrooms across South Africa, many CFOs carry impressive titles and equally impressive qualifications. But ask a few how they arrived at the seat they now occupy, and you will notice two clear paths. Some joined the company already holding the CFO title. Others started [&hell
From Student Loan to Boardroom Seat: How financial barriers can forge financially savvy leaders
From Student Loan to Boardroom Seat: How financial barriers can forge financially savvy leaders When we picture a Chief Financial Officer, we often think of someone who has always been good with numbers, someone who climbed the corporate ladder through careful career choices and smart strategic moves. What we often forget is that some of […]