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 […]
Stop Counting the Rands, Start Creating Them!
Stop Counting the Rands, Start Creating Them! South African CFOs are under no illusion: the job is getting tougher. Costs are rising, talent is tight, and every boardroom conversation ends with the same question – how do we do more with less? But there’s opportunity in that pressure. The right moves now can reposition the […]
When M&A Dreams Meet Budget Reality
When M&A Dreams Meet Budget Reality Why the Real M&A Value Lies in Your Hands When the board signs off on a merger or acquisition, the room is filled with optimism. Synergies, growth, market share – all the usual buzzwords fly. But as any seasoned CFO knows, the real work starts once the lawyers leave […]
Playing It Smart with Idle Cash
How CFOs Are Turning Treasury into a Strategic Growth Engine If you’re still treating your treasury function like a glorified savings account, you’re leaving strategic value—and hard cash—on the table. Today’s corporate treasurer isn’t just keeping the lights on. They’re quietly driving value, managing risk, and influencing your ability to fund
Turning the Financial Tuning Fork – Mastering Instruments for Strategic Impact
Turning the Financial Tuning Fork – Mastering Instruments for Strategic Impact When a CFO makes the wrong call on funding, risk, or liquidity, it doesn’t just dent the balance sheet—it rattles the entire business. Financial instruments are the tools of your trade. But in today’s market, they’re more than that—they’re strategic weapons. Used well