Sheldon Friedericksen, former group CFO at FedGroup and 2021 Young CFO of the Year, is now making significant strides in high-risk investment as the founder of Archelon Private Capital.
Sheldon’s desire to work in finance was spurred by his love of numbers and solving problems, but his CA(SA) father’s financial literacy lessons helped him become the person he is today.
“My dad being a CA(SA) had always shown me how financial decisions impact businesses, governments and individuals, turning what many see as a seemingly dry topic into something that could be dynamic while essential within the world, and underpin many aspects of our lives,” he shares.
Sheldon is the founder and managing director of Archelon, a financial services firm established to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns for investors. In this role, he uses his extensive financial experience and industry knowledge to develop a disciplined capital allocation strategy for his investors.
“Through Archelon Private Capital, investors are provided with exposure to tailored and bespoke private capital transactions, designed to outperform current benchmarks offered by most fixed-return providers,” he shares.
The journey in finance began at Deloitte, a company he holds in high regard even today.
Exposure and opportunity
Famously known as “Big Daddy Deloitte”, it is one of the Big Four professional services firms that own the market on tax, audit and advisory services.
“Deloitte, being one of the ‘Big Four’ accounting firms, is renowned for its rigorous standards and high expectations, involving being part of a fast-paced environment where precision, analytical skills, and a deep understanding of financial principles are paramount,” says Sheldon.
His time at Deloitte also provided him with valuable exposure and opportunities for growth, as he was exposed to various industries and clients.
“I am inquisitive by nature, seeking to try to understand the environment and the world around me. This approach to my time at Deloitte, as well as the experience in the financial analysis, risk management and the strategic thinking of the executives at my clients, set a fantastic foundation for my development and approach to business,” he shares.
In October 2014, Sheldon moved to a smaller family company and joined Fedgroup as the group financial manager. It was a significant departure from his previous role at Deloitte, allowing him to add depth and focus to a specific market.
“The transition to a group of companies like Fedgroup, which have a more niche focus in the financial services industry, would be a shift from a broad-spectrum consulting role to a more focused, specialised, impactful position,” he shares.
“At Fedgroup, the experience gained at Deloitte would be invaluable in shaping strategic initiatives, improving financial operations, leading teams with confidence and juggling multiple balls.
“The additional skills honed at Deloitte, such as attention to detail, analytical thinking and a deep understanding of financial regulations, prepared me to contribute significantly to Fedgroup’s growth and success,” he adds.
Alternate investment projects
At Fedgroup, he advanced significantly in his career by wearing many hats as the need arose, which led to his promotion to group CFO in 2015. His sterling efforts were also recognised in the CFO community when he was awarded the 2021 Young CFO of the Year title.
During his time at Fedgroup, he helped launch new initiatives such as Impact Farming, an alternative investment project that proved to be a huge success.
“During the course of 2023, I took responsibility for an alternative investment vehicle in Fedgroup, a passion project of mine from 2021, being involved in the private capital industry. During the course of 2023, the fund grew from under R50 million AUM to over R500 million,” he enthused.
Sheldon also faced challenges at Fedgroup during the Covid pandemic, which, in retrospect, helped him to be resilient and persevere in stressful and uncertain situations.
“This period, in hindsight, is one highlight of my time at Fedgroup. Having a deep understanding of the group, building and collaborating with multiple teams, and applying what I had developed from the start of my career to that point, empowered me to take each eventuality in stride, strategise, plan and execute.”
Sheldon affirms that his tumultuous CFO journey prepared him well for the road ahead. “This role not only gave me an intro to being a pseudo ‘CEO’, it also enabled me to have a more direct role in the establishment and implementation of a strategy, continuous engagement with existing and potential clients, market research, and the establishment of new and improved technological and operational processes.”
Keeping perspective
At Archelon Private Capital, Sheldon has a platform to be in the driver's seat and explore different destinations.
“Our team comprises seasoned professionals with extensive deep experience in credit underwriting, deal structuring and portfolio management across various industries. We offer flexible debt structures tailored to the unique needs of each borrower, providing them with the capital necessary for growth, acquisitions, recapitalisations, or other strategic initiatives.”
“We prioritise building long-term relationships with our portfolio companies, serving as a trusted partner throughout their lifecycle and providing advisory support beyond just capital,” Sheldon adds.
When he is not crunching figures and solving problems, he takes time for introspection and to enjoy his success.
“One thing I can say is that you should always make the time to slow down, reflect and recognise what has been achieved. In this high-paced world, with so many things being thrown at you in a financial role, you can lose yourself and perspective, and not recognise the wins that you had along the way.
“For those of you in a CFO position, remember to make and take time for yourself. Use this time wisely to reflect, strategise for the future and, most importantly, celebrate your successes, no matter how small or significant. The journey is often a winding route, with many ups and downs, but any step in the right direction at the time, is a step forward,” he concludes.
