The internal auditor plans to use the money to pay for her CIA exam registration fees.
On 9 June, CFO South Africa hosted its third Finance Indaba Online. Thousands of finance professionals from across South Africa and Africa had the chance to attend insightful discussions with the country’s top finance leaders and experts, interact with virtual partner stands, and network with their finance peers in online chatrooms.
Attendees who engaged the most during these sessions and at the partner stands all stood a chance to receive the R5,000 cash prize! But there could only be one winner, and this year it was Ontlametse Maluleka!
“I honestly did not expect it. However, I am very excited that I am the lucky winner!” says Ontlametse, who will be using the money to pay for her CIA exam registration fees.
Inspired
She explains that the Finance Indaba Online was “impactful and well put together”, and while she prefers an in-person experience, she liked that all the attendees had the opportunity to engage and raise their views on each of the topics. “The sessions were relevant for the audience and were all informative. The speakers made it interesting and as a result, I could listen attentively and absorb the knowledge shared.”
She adds that the keynote presented by 2021 CFO of the Year winner Bongi Ngoma was very inspirational. “She reminded me what my role as a finance professional is and should be. She mentioned that growth catalysts should use their skills and expertise to influence other areas of the business to change for the better.”
Being an internal auditor by profession, Ontlametse says the topics around cybersecurity and ESG were her favourites. “I believe that the insight and knowledge I received during these sessions, and with some further research to understand the concepts even better, I would be able to pose probing questions to my clients insofar as ESG and cybersecurity are concerned, and therefore add value to their organisations.”
She explains that she also found the exhibition by Alteryx on analytics quite fascinating, because data analytics has become a key tool for internal auditors to improve their understanding of the company’s operations and associated risks. “Analytics increases the potential for detecting material misstatements, allows an internal audit department the opportunity to identify risks it might have missed using traditional audit methodologies, and promotes efficiency and adequate decision-making.”
