From a small Free State town to head of finance at Bidvest Protea Coin, Helen Yiga’s journey is one of resilience, adaptability and purpose. Drawing on over two decades of cross-industry experience, she blends sharp commercial acumen with a deep commitment to people, mentoring future finance leaders while steering the business through uncertainty, transformation and growth.
Helen Yiga, CFO at Bidvest Protea Coin, was born in Uganda and moved to South Africa in 1982 when her parents immigrated to Mzansi. They settled in the small Free State town of Thaba Nchu, where she spent her early years. From boarding school in Mafikeng to the University of Cape Town, Helen always kept her eyes fixed on a future far beyond the borders of her upbringing.
“I was relatively independent from a young age, so I was quite comfortable with being far away from home,” she reflects.
Although she initially considered a career in electrical engineering, a job-shadowing programme during high school changed everything. As part of their career guidance curriculum, Helen’s school encouraged students to explore industries beyond their initial interests. It was during this time that she had the opportunity to do holiday work with EY, who were then conducting an audit at North-West University (formerly University of Bophuthatswana).
“That was when my affinity for accounting started. I couldn’t wait to go back to school and tell my teachers I wanted to be a chartered accountant,” she says.
Despite her high school not offering commercial subjects, Helen pursued a BCom at UCT, where she was introduced to accounting at university level. She completed her articles at Forvis Mazars (formerly Moores Rowland), a mid-sized audit firm where she developed strong professional and problem-solving skills early in her career.
Working closely with business owners gave her unique insight into the operational side of finance and the value of adaptability.
A career built on versatility and vision
Helen’s career could have taken one of two paths, as a partner at an audit firm, or as a commercial finance leader. The latter became her reality.
With over two decades of experience spanning sectors including oil and gas, healthcare, retail, logistics and private security – across both local operations and global multinationals, Helen has built a reputation as a versatile, commercially astute finance leader. Her ability to quickly understand diverse operational models and adapt to culturally varied environments has set her apart.
Leading through uncertainty
Helen joined Bidvest Protea Coin during the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Just three months into the role, lockdowns began and she was tasked with guiding her team through an unprecedented period of uncertainty.
“As an essential service provider, we were allowed to work from the office. I believed the finance team should go through the same experience as our frontline guards. If they were showing up, we needed to as well,” she explains.
The emotional toll of the pandemic added another layer of complexity. With a third of her team experiencing personal loss, including herself, Helen had to lead not only as a CFO, but as a compassionate human being. It was during this time that she sharpened her communication skills and strengthened her ability to lead with empathy while maintaining clarity and direction.
“In times of uncertainty, being transparent with clients, managing expectations and staying close to cash flow are non-negotiable.”
A commercially-minded CFO
In a country facing serious security challenges, Helen views private security not as a luxury but a necessity. At the same time, she acknowledges the industry’s competitiveness, and the need for Bidvest Protea Coin to maintain its edge – which she helps drive by aligning finance with opportunity.
“We do fascinating work here. The people are incredibly hands-on and show up every day with purpose. It’s a highly operational business and that keeps you engaged.”
Today, finance is no longer about reporting the past. It’s about enabling the future. Helen believes today’s finance leaders must act as strategic business partners to sales, marketing and operations. Gone are the days when finance was limited to reporting and compliance. Her team now enables real-time, insight-driven decision-making.
“Finance needs to be agile. We’re expected to guide the business, validate opportunities, and ensure they make financial and compliance sense. When something looks good on paper, it’s our job to make sure it stacks up in practice too.”
Growing future finance leaders
Helen is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of finance talent. She is currently mentoring several individuals and takes pride in identifying and nurturing potential.
“One of my biggest strengths is recognising talent and helping it grow. I’m passionate about education and helping people find their ‘why’. Sometimes, asking the right question is all it takes to unlock someone’s purpose.”
She encourages her team to challenge themselves, reminding them that every one of them could be a future CFO. For Helen, success is when other departments begin to understand how financial concepts improve their performance and decisions – a true sign of cross-functional influence.
Technology, transformation and tomorrow
Always future-focused, Helen and her team are piloting robotic process automation (RPA) to streamline routine tasks and improve efficiency.
“These bots never sleep – they can run 24/7. But the real challenge is change management. People often fear that technology will take their jobs, rather than seeing it as a tool that removes repetition and frees them up to add more value.”
She believes finance leaders have a role to play in preparing teams for jobs of the future and navigating the cultural shift that comes with digital transformation.
Beyond the numbers, Helen is a beach-and-bush lover, can be a spontaneous traveller and a woman of deep faith. Her spiritual grounding reminds her to stay humble, teachable and accountable.
“It’s always important to remember that you didn’t get where you are on your own. Pay it forward. Be open to learning.”
To aspiring finance leaders, her advice is clear: “Go for it. Don’t hold yourself back. Surround yourself with people who believe in you. And take it one step at a time. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!”
