Corporate Ethics Under Pressure: Lessons from South Africa’s FATF Grey Listing Experience
Ethics in business has never been an abstract idea in South Africa. It is survival. Every time the country’s governance systems are questioned, the cost of doing business rises, credit ratings falter, and investors grow cautious. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey listing in 2023 was one such moment—a wake-up call that revealed how […]
The Trust Dividend: Why Integrity is the New ROI
Profit can be measured in numbers. Trust cannot. Yet in today’s economy, the organisations that earn the most trust are also the ones that achieve the most sustainable growth. Investors, clients, and employees are all asking the same question: can I depend on this business to do what it says it will do? For financial […]
From Grey to Growth: The Role of Financial Leadership in Restoring Investor Trust
South Africa’s economy does not only need growth; it needs trust. Investors no longer respond to optimism alone. They look for proof of discipline, transparency, and ethical management. In this context, the financial leader has become a symbol of credibility. The actions and words of a CFO now influence how the market perceives the entire […]
Making AI Work for Finance Teams
AI is no longer a futuristic concept or a boardroom buzzword. It has become a practical tool in finance departments where accuracy, control, and speed matter most. For CFOs, the real opportunity lies in using AI to make daily operations simpler, cleaner, and more reliable. The goal is not to replace people but to remove […]
Guardians of the Public Purse: Where Efficiency Meets Integrity
In public finance, accountability is more than a professional duty. It is a promise to citizens that their money will be used honestly, efficiently, and for the good of the country. Every CFO working in the public sector stands at the intersection of purpose and pressure. The challenge is not only to keep the numbers […]
Leadership and Legacy: What Sets Exceptional CFOs Apart
Numbers tell a story, but people remember the person who gave those numbers meaning. The mark of an exceptional CFO is not only accuracy or technical mastery, but the ability to lift others through clarity, confidence, and purpose. Great financial leaders don’t just drive results; they move people to believe that better is always possible. […]
Life After AGOA – Diversification as a CFO Imperative
The expiry of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) on 30 September 2025 has created a defining moment for South African businesses. For years, AGOA offered preferential access to U.S. markets, but with its conclusion and the uncertainty of new tariffs, reliance on a single trade relationship has become a liability. This is not […]
Liquidity Made Simple
When you hear “decentralised finance” (DeFi), your first thought might be: “That’s something for crypto enthusiasts, not CFOs.” But here’s the reality: ignoring DeFi today could mean missing out on tools that drastically cut costs, speed up cross-border transactions, and simplify liquidity management. In a country where treasury teams are constantly
The Price of Permission: Why Some Harms Can Never Be Monetised
Finance has long been obsessed with measurement. If something can be priced, it can be managed. But when it comes to social harm such as child labour, forced evictions, or cultural erasure, a dangerous idea creeps in: that once a cost is assigned, it can be paid off and permitted. This is the Price of […]
When Culture Becomes the CFO’s Greatest Asset: Why culture, purpose, and people drive financial performance
For decades, the CFO’s role was defined narrowly: keep the numbers accurate, manage compliance, secure funding, and protect the balance sheet. It was about discipline, order, and stewardship. Those responsibilities have not disappeared, but they are no longer enough. The modern CFO is not only a guardian of financial integrity but a catalyst for transformatio