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 […
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 Jo’burg to Jakarta: The CFO’s Passport to Global Control
From Jo’burg to Jakarta: The CFO’s Passport to Global Control Your board decides to expand into another country. The CEO announces growth into Africa or Europe. Everyone’s excited. But in the back of your mind, you know the hard work starts now, because you, as CFO, are the one who must bring order to financial […]
Boardroom Vision Meets Backroom Precision
Boardroom Vision Meets Backroom Precision There’s a reason people look at you when things go wrong, and a different reason they look at you when things go right. Welcome to life as a CFO. You are steering strategic direction in the boardroom while also making sure the day-to-day numbers add up. This is not just […]
Plant to Boardroom: Why Operational Finance Experience is a Strategic Advantage
Plant to Boardroom: Why Operational Finance Experience is a Strategic Advantage In the race to become CFO, many finance professionals focus on roles that offer visibility. These often include corporate reporting, investor relations, or strategic finance. These positions bring exposure to the executive team and are closely aligned with the top end of the busin
Climbing the Ladder Without Changing Ladders
Climbing the Ladder Without Changing Ladders It is easy to romanticise the modern finance career as a fast-paced journey filled with lateral moves, high-impact projects, and strategic leaps across industries. But behind many successful CFOs lies a very different story. One shaped by consistency, trust, and years of growth within a single organisation. Stayi
If It Doesn’t Earn, It Doesn’t Stay!
If It Doesn’t Earn, It Doesn’t Stay! There is no shortage of new ideas in business. Teams love a pilot, executives love innovation, and everyone loves the promise of “the next big thing.” But when those ideas turn into cost-heavy, low-impact distractions, it becomes the CFO’s job to draw the line. Vanity projects do not […]
Too Many Cooks or Just One Overpaid Chef? Rethinking Who Calls the Shots
Too Many Cooks or Just One Overpaid Chef? Rethinking Who Calls the Shots When a business is trying to recover from financial strain or operational failure, structure matters more than most leaders realise. The way decisions are made can either help the business respond faster or trap it in red tape. During a recovery, choosing […]
If You Left Tomorrow, Would Anything Break?
If You Left Tomorrow, Would Anything Break? If your finance team is unable to make decisions without first asking you, your risk exposure is higher than you think. You may be technically excellent, have a sharp grasp of reporting standards, and maintain control of every budget, but if your ability to lead and think does […]
You Cannot Lead If You Are Still Closing Last Month’s Book
You Cannot Lead If You Are Still Closing Last Month’s Book The finance function is not judged by how well it reports the past, but by how quickly it can help the organisation move forward. Businesses do not just want accurate numbers. They want insight, delivered when it matters, in a way they can act […]