Built by Ghosts: How Past Leaders Still Run the Finance Office
Built by Ghosts: How Past Leaders Still Run the Finance Office No one arrives in the CFO seat without help. Somewhere along the line, someone gave you a break. Someone shared context you weren’t yet ready to see. Someone offered a challenge you didn’t yet know you could handle – and then stood back to […]
If You Think Honesty Is Risky, Try Hiding the Truth
If You Think Honesty Is Risky, Try Hiding the Truth Clear communication has always been important, but in today’s environment, it has become critical. Finance professionals are being asked to lead under pressure, often while navigating rapid change, tight margins, and tough trade-offs. In these moments, transparency is not just a leadership trait. It is [&h
The CFO Confessional: Bless Me, Market, For I Have Sinned
The CFO Confessional: Bless Me, Market, For I Have Sinned When a corporate scandal breaks, it sends shockwaves far beyond the headlines. Stakeholders lose faith, employees question their future, and market confidence deteriorates. The organisation is no longer assessed solely on its performance but also on its integrity. In these moments, the role of the [&he
The Budgeting Process Is Broken-Here’s How to Fix It
The Budgeting Process Is Broken-Here’s How to Fix It If you are a CFO, you have likely outgrown the old budgeting drill. Once-a-year spreadsheets. Static assumptions. Hoping nothing changes too much. That approach belongs to a world that no longer exists. Markets shift. Costs rise. Customers change direction. Disruption hits before the board even signs [&he
Reporting Rules That Make or Break Your Reputation
Reporting Rules That Make or Break Your Reputation Financial reporting is often thought of as the final step in the business process, the box to tick at the end of the quarter or financial year. But experienced CFOs know better. They understand that reporting, when done right, is not just a reflection of past performance. […]
Playing the Global Tax Game Without Getting Burnt: What Every South African CFO Must Get Right
Playing the Global Tax Game Without Getting Burnt: What Every South African CFO Must Get Right It’s no longer enough to know your way around a balance sheet. Today’s CFO is the nerve centre of every strategic decision, from pricing to expansion, and increasingly, international tax planning. If your company operates across borders, the tax […]
Risk Without Reward? How Savvy CFOs Evaluate Investment Risks
Risk Without Reward? How Savvy CFOs Evaluate Investment Risks As a CFO, you know that investment decisions can be a game of high stakes. Whether it’s expanding into a new market, acquiring a promising technology, or simply diversifying your organisation’s portfolio, every opportunity comes with a side of risk. But while some risks are worth […]
Budget Like a Boss Forecast Like a Fortune Teller
Let’s be honest—most budgets are born in spreadsheets, tweaked to death in boardrooms, then promptly forgotten until Q2 panic sets in. But for a CFO worth their salt, budgeting and forecasting aren’t just admin—they’re power tools. The difference between riding the wave and being swallowed by it. Here’s how you turn those numbers into weapons [&he
Forecast Like a CFO, Not a Fortune Teller
Forecast Like a CFO, Not a Fortune Teller If your forecast still fits neatly on a spreadsheet tab and assumes the world will behave, it’s time for a rethink. Because let’s face these days, planning the future on a single-track projection is like betting the farm on a weather forecast. As a CFO, you aren’t […]
Fraud Happens — Hopefully Not on Your Watch
Fraud Happens — Hopefully Not on Your Watch You don’t need a full-blown scandal to put your career on the line. Sometimes, all it takes is one case of fraud missed under your watch. As CFO, you’re not just managing the numbers—you’re the last line of defense between your organisation and reputational, regulatory, or even […]