What time do you usually wake up on weekdays? 

I get up most mornings between 4:00 and 5:00, I am an early bird but push though from 22:00 to 23:00. I manage my sleep around 6 hours per day. 

How do you spend the first hour of your day? 

Coffee and quiet time with Bible study. Final planning for the day ahead. 

What sparked your interest in finance? 

Since high school I have loved accounting and mathematics. I still clearly remember how I’ve enjoyed doing my own bookkeeping of my small garden service business which I’ve started in grade 8 and kept going until I’ve matriculated. My dad soon saw my potential and requested me to help him with his bookkeeping of his business. Yes, if I think back now my career in accounting and business started then, at the age of 13. 

Can you share some career highlights and defining moments? 

The obvious choice for tertiary Education for me was a BCompt degree. I was so excited to learn more about accounting and business that when I’ve received the opportunity to work at PwC Bloemfontein (Coopers and Lybrand at that stage), in January 1998, I’ve decided not to go ahead with full time studies at UFS in 1998, but start my career as an article clerk and study part time through UNISA. At the age of 28 I’ve acquired more than 10 years’ work experience in accounting, auditing, taxation, statutory and secretarial. During the 10 years I’ve had the opportunity to test my skills on an international level when I was seconded by PwC to work in Namibia and the USA. I ended my career at PwC as a manager and built up 5 years of management experience to prepare myself for my next journey as Financial Manager at Darling Romery. 
 
The last 16 years were an unbelievable and rewarding experience. Which started as Financial Manager at Darling Romery on 1 June 2008, doing all the normal monthly and annual financial work of a manufacturing company, ended up being Head of Finance of the whole Darling Group and other related parties to the group. I am a member of the Executive Committee of Darling Romery. Under my management the Finance department grew from one qualified accountant with 8 supporting staff members providing financial and other related services to 1 entity to 9 qualified accountants and 12 supporting staff members providing financial and other related services to 28 entities. 
 
Since my journey started in 2008, I’ve work very closely with the Chief Executive Officer and owners of the Darling Group. My focus changed from only finance to be involved in all departments and my role changed to be a reliable Business Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer, the rest of the Directors of the group and in the process 
look after the investment of the shareholders. 
 
In December 2021 my role changed to Chief Operational Officer and February 2022 I was appointed as Chief Executive Officer and Director of Darling Romery and its depots. 

How do you handle professional challenges?  

I lead by example. I believe a leader should employ good ethical values to create a positive work environment. I actively aim to create a culture of honesty and fairness towards customers, suppliers and staff, whilst also fostering mutual respect between management and staff. 

What future goals are you excited about? 

• To drive and live our company culture. To help the management team to bring the X-factor with their leadership skills.
  
  • To identify all risks in our company’s departments. 
   
  • To create an action plan for each risk. 
   
  • To focus on the top 5 risks of each department which will have the biggest positive impact on our company. 
   
  • To evaluate and measure us against our company vision and goals from where we will identify training to staff and mentor staff to unlock their full potential and become the best they can be. 
   
  • To keep our management team and staff aligned with our procedures and goals. 
   
  • Work together as a team to grow our Darling Brand, it is not just about yourself or your department. 
   
  • To make our staff realize that each division, region and depot is unique. To realize that we as humans are unique. So be practical, get simple and effective solutions.  

Have you had any international or different cultural experiences in your career?  

During the 10 years I’ve had the opportunity to test my skills on an international level when I was seconded by PwC to work in Namibia and the USA. 

What key skills should a newly qualified accountant develop on their path to becoming a CFO? 

• Know the different department’s / company’s people and their abilities. Your people are important, keeping them positive so that the gears can run smoothly.
  
  • Understand the business (Go into the engine-room), it will help the numbers to make sense. 
   
  • Be practical, think on your feet and keep things simple so that everyone can understand. 
   
  • Integrity, always do the right thing, though it’s so difficult. 
   
  • Know the senior management, their needs and abilities. 
   
  • Be proactive. Stay calm even if your diary is scratched completely. Prioritize and start again. 
   
  • Focus on D-Dates, making important financial and other information available on time. 
   
  • Lead your department / company by example. Step last out of office. Work together on weekends and after hours. 
   
  • Be humble, honest, disciplined, hardworking and respect people. 
   
  • Good communication: 1st face to face, 2nd phone, 3rd e-mail/WhatsApp. 
   
  • Listen carefully and respond, if necessary, do not make hasty decisions. 
   
  • Stick to your principles, treat everyone the same. Have the wisdom to know when to make an exception. 
   
  • Take time to think about the business, see where you can improve systems and controls. Identify risks. 
   
  • Give people enough space in their work to be themselves but stay close enough to keep them effective (Focus on D-Dates and correctness of numbers). 
   
  • Cash flow: Accurate cash flow projections 5 years ahead, always think wide, think for everyone in the business. 
   
  • Management statements: Know your numbers so that you can give the right recommendations and advice. 
   
  • Debtors: Make sure all debtors pay on time, do not feel bad to put customers on hold. 
   
  • Creditors: Pay suppliers on time, creating good relationships for hard negotiations. 
   
  • Stock: Accurate figures are important, manage losses and costings. 
   
  • Know IT systems. Do not build your business on IT but use it to make your business more effective. IT cannot manage a business; people manage a business. 
   
  • Keep track of your industry, accounting standards and taxes  

How do you balance your personal and professional life? 

Be very intentional and make sure time spent together is quality time. 

 
I enjoy spending time at church and to be involved with God’s work. 
 
On a regular basis I love to go for a mountain bike ride and to attend CrossFit classes. Other outdoor and sport activities I enjoy doing are jogging, swimming, hiking, touch rugby, rowing, fishing, camping and hunting. 
 
We love to spend time on our Family farm in the Moordenaars Karoo outside the town of Laingsburg, 60km into the mountains with no electricity and a lot of nothing, except you and Mother Nature. 
 

What are your interests outside of work? 

On a regular basis I love to go for a mountain bike ride and to attend CrossFit classes. Other outdoor and sport activities I enjoy doing are jogging, swimming, hiking, touch rugby, rowing, fishing, camping and hunting. 

I love to spend time with my wife and 3 kids (2 boys and a girl). Family time is very important to me, and I value my time with them. It is not that important what we do, if it is together, and we enjoy ourselves. 
 
I love gardening and watching movies with my family. 
We love to spend time on our Family farm in the Moordenaars Karoo outside the town of Laingsburg, 60km into the mountains with no electricity and a lot of nothing, except you and Mother Nature. 

How do you contribute to the development of others in your field? 

I am a natural leader and can be confirmed from my various leaderships roles that I had since school up to date ending up being the CEO of a large dairy manufacturing company. 
 
I lead by example and focus on the following towards other people: 
 
THINK POSITIVE 
BE HONEST 
DELEGATE 
COMMUNICATE 
INSPIRE 
ALIGN THE TEAM 
BE BALANCED 
GIVE CREDIT 
ENCOURAGE GROWTH 
PRAISE 
MENTOR 
FAIR 
ENCOURAGE GREAT HABBITS  

What advice would you give to someone aspiring to be a CFO? 

Know yourself. Believe in yourself. Remember integrity, hard work and common sense will take you further than any qualifications or family history. 

What’s your favorite quote or mantra? 

Philippians 4:13 – The giant in front of me is never bigger than God inside me. 

Share your favorite leadership lesson. 

Lead by example. Ask people how I can help, rather than telling them what to do. 

What’s something surprising about you that isn’t in your business bio? 

I love gardening and being creative. 

What’s your favorite non-business app on your phone? 

None, I do not like to spend time on my phone. I would rather experience something outdoors in nature that is real and alive. 

If you could have any superpower to help you in your job, what would it be? 

Create more time 

What’s your go-to strategy for staying productive during long workdays?  

Positive mindset, mind over matter. 

If you could relive one day from your professional career, which day would it be and why?  

There is no specific day I want to relive. Every day in my career contributed in a positive manner to my development and helped me to built my career.