Muted Growth, Rising Unemployment: What CFOs Must Take from Treasury’s Warning
When Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana addressed the Macro Fiscal Workshop this past week, his message was direct: South Africa is entering a difficult period marked by muted economic growth, stubbornly high unemployment, and limited fiscal space. These headwinds are not confined to government. They ripple into the private sector and directly shape the decisi
Crunching Numbers or Crystal Ball? Why Financial Modelling is the CFO’s Secret Weapon
Crunching Numbers or Crystal Ball? Why Financial Modelling is the CFO’s Secret Weapon Picture this: You’re at a braai, someone asks what you do, and you reply, “I build financial models.” Their eyes glaze over faster than the boerewors burns. To them, a model is something on a runway, not an Excel sheet with 27 […]
Dancing with Chaos: Why Smart CFOs Say Yes to Unstructured Work
Dancing with Chaos: Why Smart CFOs Say Yes to Unstructured Work For many years, the role of the Chief Financial Officer was defined by order, certainty, and structure. It was about budgets, forecasts, monthly closes, and audits. Everything had its place. Everything had a process. But something has shifted. In today’s world, the most impactful […]
Vision Without Execution is Just Delusion
Vision Without Execution is Just Delusion There is a quiet epidemic spreading through executive boardrooms, and CFOs are not immune. It is called Strategic Posturing. It looks impressive from the outside, sounds inspiring in meetings, and feels productive when documented in a glossy strategic plan. But underneath the surface, most of it is just hot […]
The CFO Needs a Map, a Voice, and a Spine!
The CFO Needs a Map, a Voice, and a Spine! The numbers said hold back. The gut said, “lean in”. The boardroom held its breath. The CFO closed the spreadsheet and spoke with quiet confidence. We are not here to preserve the past. We are here to invest in the future. And with that, the […]
From Gut Feel to Real-Time, Why CFOs Must Build Finance Teams that Think in Dashboards
From Gut Feel to Real-Time, Why CFOs Must Build Finance Teams that Think in Dashboards There was a time when the finance function was purely backward-looking. Month-end meant printing reports, stacking spreadsheets, and explaining the past. But that era is gone, and frankly, good riddance. Modern CFOs are expected to know what’s happening in the […
You Can’t ‘Hope’ Your Way to a Turnaround. This Isn’t Load Shedding!
You Can’t ‘Hope’ Your Way to a Turnaround. This Isn’t Load Shedding! If you are waiting for the dust to settle, you are already behind. A financial recovery is not something you manage when it is over. It is something you lead while everything is still uncertain. And as the finance lead, the responsibility lands […]
The Board Bought a Fantasy. You’re Living the Nightmare!
The Board Bought a Fantasy. You’re Living the Nightmare! When a business model stops working, the signs are everywhere. Decisions take too long. People argue over priorities. Teams duplicate work because no one is sure who is responsible for what. Clients feel the disconnect before the board does. And often, finance is the first to […]
From Red to Black: CFO Strategies That Drive Organisational Turnarounds
From Red to Black: CFO Strategies That Drive Organisational Turnarounds When an organisation faces financial distress, the Chief Financial Officer becomes a pivotal figure in determining whether the business continues to decline or begins the path to recovery. Leading a company from financial loss to profitability requires far more than cost-cutting or boosti
From Boardroom to Broadcast: The CFO as Company Spokesperson
From Boardroom to Broadcast: The CFO as Company Spokesperson For many years, the Chief Financial Officer was viewed as the quiet operator behind the scenes. They were known for their precision with spreadsheets, their cautious tone in meetings, and their largely invisible presence to the outside world. That view no longer applies. Today’s CFO is […]