Finance Indaba Network: Your interactive community throughout the year

Structural reform needed to boost SA's economy - Deloitte's Martyn Davies at #findaba16

Dr Martyn Davies explains why South Africa is struggling to regain growth levels, and what is needed to make us economically relevant again.

White privilege and white guilt: Servest CFO Peter Walsh talks tough on transformation - #findaba16

Servest Group CFO Peter Walsh earned as many laughs as he landed “blows” in a challenging talk on transformation presented at the Finance Indaba Africa in Johannesburg on 13 October 2016. Walsh’s talk was called “Embracing transformation: Head, heart and hands”, and he kicked off by “owning that white male problem” – being a white man talking about transformation in South Africa. Still, he persevered, winning over his audience with his frank and self-deprecating address, and posing some extremely tough questions to his audience.

Surviving In An Age of Radical Uncertainty - SAICA session with Terry Moore at #findaba16

“We have no idea where and who our competitors are anymore,” .said business expert Terry Moore in a workshop at the Finance Indaba Africa facilitated by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA). In his talk, titled Surviving In An Age of Radical Uncertainty he explored the challenges and opportunities facing chartered accountants and businesses in general.

Welcome to the new accounting - Blackline at #findaba16

With the introduction of the new accounting software, Blackline, organisations can manage the entire accounting and finance lifecycle and gain a global view into tasks and processes, all in one centralised, secure and reliable system. These were the words of Josh May, the Senior Solutions Consultant and Product Manager at Blackline, who gave a presentation on how the software works during Finance Indaba Africa held at Sandton Convention Centre on 13 and 14 October 2016. By Tiisetso Tlelima

Freeing up time to focus on reporting - IBM explains cognitive analytics at #findaba16

Two case studies show how Cognos Disclosure management saves CFOs a significant amount of time when generating reports.

2016 African FinTech Awards: Powering up payments in Africa - #afta16 #findaba16

It is estimated that 330 million adult Africans lack access to basic financial services. In the face of an outstanding opportunity, an ecosystem of FinTech startups providing payments and money transfer solutions have grown to transform a cash-heavy payments industry on the continent.

Three lessons from Shakespeare - Standard Bank IB CFO Sean Doherty at #findaba16

What could Shakespeare’s life possibly teach us about finance today? Standard Bank’s Sean Doherty has some ideas…

How insurance companies can support the capitals of integrated reporting - Old Mutual at #findaba16

Old Mutual experts explained how insurers can help companies to exchange the uncertainty of a long-term liability for the certainty of an insurance premium.

Zambian team reigns supreme in CFO Case Study Competition - #findaba16

Team Athena from the Copperbelt University in Zambia were crowned the winners of the first edition of the CharterQuest CFO Case Study Competition at the rock-star conclusion of the Finance Indaba Africa at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg on 14 October 2016.

FNB named 'Most Innovative Bank' at the African FinTech Awards 2016 - #afta16 #findaba16

FNB has been named the ‘Most Innovative Bank’ of 2016. At the African FinTech Awards (#afta16), a heavyweight panel of judges chose the popular bank over fellow finalists Absa and Standard Bank in the ‘Incumbent Bank’ category. FNB also received the most online votes, taking home the ‘Public Award’ in the same category.

Zero-based budgeting: Accenture's Madeleine Joubert explains it all - #findaba16

Most CFOs think that good budgeting means cutting costs instead of looking at ways to stop wasteful spending, said Accenture’s Madeleine Joubert during Finance Indaba Africa, which was held at the Sandton Convention Centre on 13 and 14 October 2016. But zero-based budgeting means focusing on both top and bottom line, she explained. "It’s not about cutting costs, but redirecting the money.”

Boardroom skills as important as the numbers, say public sector CFOs - #findaba16

CFOs in the public sector have to be as skilled in the art of strategic relationship-building and diplomacy as they are with working with numbers, finance executives agreed in a breakaway session at the Finance Indaba Africa at Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg on 14 October 2016.

Mavericks, freaks and geeks: Martijn Aslander about attitudes for a changing world - #findaba16

We’ll never again have economic growth like we have known before, says Martijn Aslander. And that’s okay...

This round is on me: crowdfunding and Beerhouse - #findaba16

“We weren’t expecting so many people,” explained entrepreneur and Beerhouse founder Randolf Jorberg, as he put out the crate of craft beer at the front of the room, inviting the audience to help themselves. Still, the promise of beer brought the crowd in, and the resulting fascinating case study in crowdfunding kept them.

CFOs need to be more hands-on in curbing cyber attacks - KPMG at #findaba16

In his presentation titled The Inconvenient Truth About Cybersecurity at CFO South Africa’s Finance Indaba Africa, which took place on 14 October 2016, KPMG Cyber Security Manager Nathan Desfontaines called on CFOs to be more involved in finding solutions to dealing with cyber attacks in their organisations.

Diversity makes business sense: Gusti Coetzer chats to Brett Tromp - #findaba16

Diversity in the workplace is both constitutionally mandated and fundamentally good for business. This was the message from award-winning Discovery Health CFO Brett Tromp, in a discussion moderated by Talent Africa’s Auguste Coetzer, at the Finance Indaba held at the Sandton Convention Centre on 14 October 2016.

Riding the tides of African volatility: Standard Bank discusses the continent - #findaba16

The “Africa rising” narrative that dominated headlines ten years ago has taken an anecdotal beating, affected by the downturn in commodities, and several of the continent’s biggest economies being plagued with poor growth, both private and public corruption, and political bad news. But, investment wise, does that mean Africa is no longer a strong growth space? Do investors consider this bubble burst?

Regulatory change: Strategic friend or compliance foe? KPMG rocks #findaba16

Political upheaval, King IV and ethical leadership were all on the agenda as some of KPMG’s leading minds applied themselves to the question of regulatory change and its impact on business at the Finance Indaba Africa at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg on 14 October in an entertaining session hosted by the multinational auditor.

Let's get personal: Graeme Codrington on the renaissance of business in a digital age - #findaba16

“Students of the future are often students of history,” Futurist Graeme Codrington told attendants of the inaugural Finance Indaba Africa 2016, during his presentation on 14 October 2016. They study moments of change and disruption in history to understand what underlies huge disruption in our present age. Graeme – an international speaker, consultant, and best-selling author who has built a career out of preparing companies for change – believes that the echoes of the past, the ones that were present at the last major social renaissance, are present in the world today, and companies fail to heed them at their peril.

Integrated reporting underpins sustainable capitalism - Mervyn King wows #findaba16

Mervyn King told the Finance Indaba Africa that business has shifted from thinking about short-term profit to focusing on sustainable capitalism, but that there is much still to be done.

Grant Thornton's Oupa Mbokodo: Internal auditors must stop policing organisations

During CFO South Africa’s Finance Indaba Africa held at the Sandton Convention Centre on 13 and 14 October 2016, Head of the Advisory IT at Grant Thornton, Oupa Mbokodo warned internal auditors about playing a policing role in an organisation and encouraged them to employ a more integrated thinking approach to their audits.

One ERP to rule them all - SAP making waves at #findaba16

“One ERP is not about creating a utopia, but using technology to create an illusion of a single interface for things like cash and shared service centre management. Robotics is fantastic – we have a lab in Germany dedicated to playing around with – but most robots today only fix things that are broken.”

From finance to value: Mervyn King rethinking the role of the CFO - #findaba16

Finance industry giant Professor Mervyn King has motivated for a “rebranding” or repositioning of chief financial officers (CFO) into chief value officers (CVO). Professor King made a strong case for this during a public discussion with Johannesburg Stock Exchange CFO Aarti Takoordeen, at the second day of the Finance Indaba Africa 2016.

Cocktail function: KPMG chairman Ahmed Jaffer talks change and business - #findaba16

How should smart leaders position their organisations for change? That was the central question in a through-provoking keynote from KPMG chairman Ahmed Jaffer at the firm's cocktail function on 13 October 2016 at the Finance Indaba Africa. The event was one of the highlights of #findaba16, with the who's who of CFOs and corporate South Africa enjoying the entertainment, food & drinks and networking.

Take lessons and inspiration #findaba16 back to work: SAICA CEO Terence Nombembe

"Let's take the lessons and the inspiration from the Finance Indaba Africa with us and use it in our daily jobs," said SAICA CEO Terence Nombembe at the opening of day 2 of #findaba16. In an impassioned plea, he called on finance professionals to start contributing more to the future of South Africa, listing several practical steps for CA(SA)s and other finance professionals. "All of us need to be courageous enough."

Finance Indaba Africa 2016 - Day 1 Roundup - #findaba16

Well over 3000 finance professionals came to the Sandton Convention Centre on 13 October for the first day of the very first Finance Indaba Africa, an expo and conference that has announced itself as the annual highlight on the calendar of South Africa's finance professionals. With 75 exhibitors, 120 speakers and incredible energy levels, the success of the event was firmly established - attendees and partner organisations alike enjoying massive value from the interactions, learning and sharing of knowledge.

Easy Equities wins 2016 African FinTech Awards - #afta16 #findaba16

Easy Equities is the overall winner of the 2016 African FinTech Awards at the Finance Indaba Africa at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg on 13 October 2016.

Careers on the couch: women need to put themselves forward - #findaba16

Two women share their views on what women need to do to achieve success in the finance industry, and how they can uplift other women along the way.

How McDonald's stays ahead - #findaba16 chat with CFO Zafar Mahomed

Keeping track of what happens in the business and measuring everything is what makes McDonald’s flourish as a business, conference attendees heard during Finance Indaba Africa which took place at the Sandton Convention Centre on 13 and 14 October 2016.

Oversight and accountability: Auditor-General captivates Finance Indaba - #findaba16

A presentation by South African Auditor-General, Thembekile Makwetu was one of the hottest tickets at the inaugural Finance Indaba Africa – which opened at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg on 13 October 2016. The Auditor-General’s speech kicked off the 'Finance for Africa' track programme at the Indaba.

Careers on the couch: international experience expands your career - #findaba16

Two CFOs who have developed their careers by working in different locations around the world share their views on whether international experience is essential on your CV.

2016 African FinTech Awards: insane in the blockchain - #afta16 #findaba16

Cube Bucks, The Sun Exchange and Bankymoon went head to head in the hotly contested Blockchain & Bitcoin category of the 2016 African FinTech Awards at the Finance Indaba Africa at Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg on 13 October 2016.

Deloitte's Ajit Kambil: Changing culture is key to being a successful CFO - #findaba16

“The culture of an organisation, our mindset and how we do things can constrain the growth of a company,” said Deloitte’s Global Research Director Dr Ajit Kambil during a talk titled Leading with Insight: Are you a strategic CFO? at Finance Indaba Africa 2016 on 13 October 2016 at the Sandton Convention Centre.

2016 African FinTech Awards: Towards a financially inclusive continent - #afta16 #findaba16

Servicing the millions of unbanked citizens of Africa and bringing them into the mainstream economy through FinTech innovations – the mission of many startups – can thwart poverty and other social ills, as well as enable the continent to compete on a level footing with the rest of the world. This was the core message coming out of the opening discussion of the African FinTech Awards at the 2016 Finance Indaba Africa at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg on 13 October 2016.

Careers on the couch: government CFOs make a difference - #findaba16

Vusi Thembekwayo opens Finance Indaba with thought-provoking innovation talk - #findaba16

Can you unlearn what you know and learn what you not yet understand? That is what maverick investor, disruptor and global speaker Vusi Thembekwayo asked finance professionals during the energetic and thought-provoking speech that officially opened Finance Indaba Africa 2016 in the morning of 13 October 2016.. "Are you able to innovate and build a business for the future?"

It's time! Finance professionals flock to Finance Indaba Africa - #findaba16

The day that finance professionals have been looking forward to for many months has finally arrived - it is time for Finance Indaba Africa! With two days of learning, inspiration and unparalleled networking, the inaugural event has already established itself as the biggest conference and expo for African finance teams in the world. The numbers are impressive: 13 & 14 October 2016, Sandton Convention Centre, 5000 attendees, 120 sessions with speakers and discussions and 75 exhibitors.

Finance Indaba programme: Entrepreneurship, risk and return - #findaba16

The Finance Indaba Africa 2016 is almost upon us and it is time to start looking at what exactly lies ahead at the Sandton Convention Centre on 13 and 14 October 2016. Every day until the event, we will shine a light on the parts of the amazing programme. Today: Entrepreneurship, risk and return, an awesome programme on 14 October 2016.

CFO cocktail event closes Finance Indaba - exclusive insights from Euler Hermes

To close the Finance Indaba Africa in style, CFOs and FDs are invited to an exclusive CFO South Africa cocktail function, in collaboration with global credit insurance company Euler Hermes. One of Europe's most revered analysts, chief economist Ludovic Subran, will give a insightful talk about the biggest risks that (South) African CFOs are facing and the best ways to deal with it. To warm up for the main event, we asked Ludovic a few questions.

Finance Indaba programme: The Future of FinTech - #findaba16

The Finance Indaba Africa 2016 is almost upon us and it is time to start looking at what exactly lies ahead at the Sandton Convention Centre on 13 and 14 October 2016. Every day until the event, we will shine a light on the parts of the amazing programme. Today: The Future of FinTech, an exhilarating programme on 13 October 2016.

Entertainment galore at Finance Indaba Africa, thanks to National Arts Council

The Finance Indaba Africa is the annual one-stop-shop for everything finance professionals need to know to grow their careers and help the country and continent prosper. It is only fitting that some of South Africa's most exciting home-grown artists will be on stage to provide the entertainment during the event Their performances are kindly sponsored by the National Arts Council of South Africa, with Young CFO of the Year Dumisani Dlamini as its driving forces.

Accenture at the Finance Indaba: crucial insights into Zero-Based budgeting

"Zero-Based Budgeting is a new way of budgeting annually to allow business to prioritise and investing in activities that will drive competitive advantage and revenue growth," says Dr Madeleine Joubert, Finance and Enterprise Performance Lead at Accenture. "Companies should consider removing waste and freeing up capital that can then be turned to more lucrative activities. At the Indaba, we’ll provide them with the insights and expertise on how to achieve exactly that."

Finance Indaba programme: Leading with data and insight - #findaba16

The Finance Indaba Africa 2016 is almost upon us and it is time to start looking at what exactly lies ahead at the Sandton Convention Centre on 13 and 14 October 2016. Every day until the event, we will shine a light on the parts of the amazing programme. Today: Finance leading with data and insight, a two-day programme opening up the world of analytics and technology.

Finance Indaba: i-Pay leading the way in instant easy payments

"Cryptocurrency and 'click once' authenticated payments will be prominent in the future," says Thomas Pays, CEO of iPay, a simple, real-time EFT payment solution, that allows consumers to make secure, instant payments directly into a merchant’s bank account.

Finance Indaba programme: Finance in Control - #findaba16

The Finance Indaba Africa 2016 is almost upon us and it is time to start looking at what exactly lies ahead at the Sandton Convention Centre on 13 and 14 October 2016. Every day until the event, we will shine a light on the parts of the amazing programme. Today: Finance in Control, a two-day programme for all finance professionals.

Finance Indaba Afica: Oracle's Dee Houchen reflects on agile finance

Oracle is a platinum partner at the Finance Indaba Africa on 13 and 14 October 2016. Why should you come listen to what they have to say? Read this excellent piece by Dee Houchen and find out!

Finance Indaba programme: Public Finance Leadership - #findaba16

The Finance Indaba Africa 2016 is almost upon us and it is time to start looking at what exactly lies ahead at the Sandton Convention Centre on 13 and 14 October 2016. Every day until the event, we will shine a light on the parts of the amazing programme. Today: Public Finance Leadership, a programme tailor-made for people with an interest in helping the country forward in the public sector.

SAP Business One invaluable, says CallForce's Annemarie Haywood

“Not only is SAP Business One key to the smooth running of daily operations and the business at large, but I personally have found it invaluable in the execution of my role as finance manager,” says Annemarie Haywood, finance manager at staffing solutions company CallForce. Annemarie will be part of a panel, hosted by 4most, at the Finance Indaba Africa on 14 October 2016 (see details below). We spoke to her ahead of the landmark event.

Finance Indaba: chat to Larc AI about Robotic Process Automation

The Finance Indaba Africa is THE place where finance professionals can get to grips with the latest and greatest technologies around. Besides well-established brands like SAP, Oracle and IBM, there is also space for a number of exciting, highly specialised companies. One of those is silver partner Larc AI. We spoke to Jannie Strydom, CEO of Larc AI about his message for finance teams.

How transformation can help your business: a chat with SAIPA CEO Bongani Coka

You already know that your business can help move transformation forward through job creation and human capacity development. But do you realise that transformation can also help your business move forward? We talk to Bongani Coka, CEO of the South African Institute of Professional Accountants (SAIPA), who will be presenting the amazing results of Project Achiever at the Finance Indaba Africa on 14 October 2016 at 14h30.

Finance Indaba programme: Smart Finance, Smart Business - #findaba16

The Finance Indaba Africa 2016 is almost upon us and it is time to start looking at what exactly lies ahead at the Sandton Convention Centre on 13 and 14 October 2016. Every day until the event, we will shine a light on the parts of the amazing programme. Today: Smart Finance, Smart Business a two-day programme about the power of technology.

CFO Case Study Competition: Team Snipers from Ghana takes lead

The CFO Case Study Competition’s Round 2: Public Votes has ended with Team Snipers from Ghana taking the lead with over 900 votes. They are now the official winners of this round and take with them 2 points to their credit as they proceed into Round 3: Semi-finals to be held at the JSE Limited on 13 October 2016. Over 2,500 votes were casted in total for the teams in this round.

5 questions for Russell Glover about Finance Indaba partner Linxus

"The Finance Indaba is an ideal platform for Linxus to engage with key decision makers by demonstrating the value we can add to any business through our software products," says Russell Glover, managing director at Linxus, a a gold partner at the Finance Indaba next week. We spoke to him exclusively. Why is Linxus present at the Indaba? "Linxus is a Software Solutions business that specialises in the building and implementing solutions that drive operational efficiencies, reduce cost and mitigate risk. Our focus is on delivering appropriate and responsible solutions that are developed and implemented rapidly thereby addressing current business needs in a time frame that enables businesses to grow and or reduce cost, ultimately driving profitability in your business."

Finance Indaba: meet silver partner Connect Africa Payments

Connect Africa Payments is a B2B technology solution, connecting various payment networks. Members of the hub are able to facilitate cross-network transfers. The Kenya-based FinTech company is a silver partner at the Finance Indaba Africa. We asked Caroline Cherotich to tell us a bit more.

Cyber threats and the CFO: Finance Indaba speaker Nathan Desfontaines (KPMG)

Given the connectedness of organisations today, cyber security has become a fundamental part of business. Nathan Desfontaines, KPMG’s Cyber Security Manager in South Africa, believes that this environment is challenging CFOs to look differently at operational requirements. He wrote this guest article in anticipation of the Finance Indaba Africa.

Finance Indaba programme: SME Growth and Profitability - #findaba16

The Finance Indaba Africa 2016 is almost upon us and it is time to start looking at what exactly lies ahead at the Sandton Convention Centre on 13 and 14 October 2016. Every day until the event, we will shine a light on the parts of the amazing programme. Today: SME Growth and Profitability, a two-day programme for finance professionals working for smaller firms and medium-sized businesses.

Finance Indaba: programme African FinTech Awards 2016 - #findaba16 #afta16

With well 30,000 people voting and an elite panel of 40 judges helping to determine the eventual winners, the African FinTech Awards 2016 (#AFTA16) are shaping up to be a “mind-blowing success”, to quote the man behind the awards, Alex van Groningen.

Finance Indaba programme: High Performance Finance - #findaba16

The Finance Indaba Africa 2016 is almost upon us and it is time to start looking at what exactly lies ahead at the Sandton Convention Centre on 13 and 14 October 2016. Every day until the event, we will shine a light on the parts of the amazing programme. Today: High Performance Finance, a programme on 14 October, moderated by Chris Ellis of Vickers & Peters.

Finance Indaba programme: Careers on the couch - #findaba16

The Finance Indaba Africa 2016 is almost upon us and it is time to start looking at what exactly lies ahead at the Sandton Convention Centre on 13 and 14 October 2016. Every day until the event, we will shine a light on the parts of the amazing programme. Today: Careers on the couch, a two-day programme about building an exciting career in finance.

Finance Indaba programme: Finance for Africa - #findaba16

The Finance Indaba Africa 2016 is almost upon us and it is time to start looking at what exactly lies ahead at the Sandton Convention Centre on 13 and 14 October 2016. Every day until the event, we will shine a light on the parts of the amazing programme. Today: Finance for Africa, a two-day programme moderated by Didi Sehume, Treasury and Securities Services associate at JP Morgan.

Finance Indaba programme: the Future of Finance - #findaba16

The Finance Indaba Africa 2016 is almost upon us and it is time to start looking at what exactly lies ahead at the Sandton Convention Centre on 13 and 14 October 2016. Every day until the event, we will shine a light on the parts of the amazing programme. Today: the Future of Finance, a two-day programme moderated by corporate trainer Dave Stevens.

Finance Indaba: spectacular openings and awards ceremonies - #findaba16

The Finance Indaba Africa 2016 is almost upon us and it is time to start looking at what exactly lies ahead at the Sandton Convention Centre on 13 and 14 October 2016. Every day until the event, we will shine a light on the parts of the amazing programme. Today: the spectacular opening sessions and award ceremonies.

Feeding a passion for growth: a chat to Finance Indaba founder Alex van Groningen

“We have been blown away by the number of partners and visitors the Finance Indaba Africa is attracting in its very first year,” says Alex van Groningen, the Dutch entrepreneur behind the successful knowledge sharing event on 13 and 14 October 2016 at the Sandton Convention Centre.

Marketing gurus ready to make Finance Indaba massive success

The buzz among 70 excited marketing gurus was telling: the excitement for the Finance Indaba Africa 2016 is palpable. The exhibitors, partners and sponsors can't wait to greet the 5000 finance professionals at the two-day finance feast on 13 and 14 October 2016 at the Sandton Convention Centre.

Finance Indaba 2016: Optimise business intelligence with QlikView

We believe we have the formula for the right balance that allows you to empower business with self-service whilst ensuring strength and trust for IT." says Davide Hanan, chairperson of QlikView SA, a gold partner at the Finance Indaba Africa 2016 on 13 and 14 October 2016 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

KPMG joins Finance Indaba Africa 2016 as Diamond Partner

KPMG has joined the inaugural Finance Indaba Africa as a Diamond Partner and promises to offer a wide range of interesting and inspiring content for visitors to the much-anticipated event.

Finance Indaba 2016: Use the insight of Oracle

"We help simplify the IT environment so that our customers can free up money, time, and resources to invest in innovation," says Kholiwe Makhohliso, Technology and Country Leader of Oracle South Africa, a platinum partner at the Finance Indaba Africa 2016 on 13 and 14 October 2016 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

Interview - SAICA CEO Terence Nombembe endorses Finance Indaba Africa

“As SAICA we are very excited about the Finance Indaba Africa which will be held on 13 and 14 October 2016,” says Terence Nombembe, CEO of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA). “The event is a great initiative from CFO South Africa, where we can showcase excellence and the value CAs(SA) can contribute to society.”

Finance Indaba 2016: Operational excellence is Bytes Technology Group's game

“We focus on middle- and back-office operations and it’s all about wringing efficiencies out of these operations – automating as much as possible, saving on staff costs, reducing breaks due to reconciliation problems, etc," says Mark Neethling, the GM of Financial Services at Bytes Technology Group, a gold partner at the Finance Indaba Africa 2016 on 13 and 14 October 2016 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

UP lecturer Elize Kirsten named 2016 CFO Brand Ambassador

Elize Kirsten (pictured), a Lecturer at the University of Pretoria, in the Department of Financial Management, has been chosen as the 2016 CFO Brand Ambassador in the CFO Case Study Competition, winning R10,000 in the process. One of Kirsten’s teams, Team UP 116, is in the Top 6 heading to the semi-finals at the JSE on 13 October 2016.

11,000 votes received for African FinTech Awards

To date, some 11,000 votes have been received (and just keep on coming), and as many as 200 companies entered into the African FinTech Awards. At present, the five top-scoring companies are Wala (1,200 votes), Vuga Pay (1,155 votes), Branch (980 votes), Yoco (420 votes), and MyBucks (358 votes).

Finance Indaba 2016: Zetta Business Solutions make a CFO's life easier

"We can help finance professionals to improve their ability to better utilise their time, by automating and simplifying remedial processes like data collection, allowing them to spend more time on analysis," says Anna Puzone, the head of enterprise performance management at information management company Zetta Business Solutions, a gold partner at the Finance Indaba Africa 2016 on 13 and 14 October 2016 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

Finance Indaba 2016: CIMA provides an in-depth understanding of business

"Leading in a new world requires the ability to join the dots, connecting the most relevant information and people from across the organisation when making decisions," says Zahra Cassim, the head of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants' (CIMA) South African chapter, a gold partner at the Finance Indaba Africa 2016 on 13 and 14 October 2016 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

Finance Indaba 2016: INCE goes from printer to ground-breaker

"We offer clients an integrated, full-service offering for all their marketing needs – a real one-stop solution which delivers benefits in terms of value, consistency, confidentiality and sheer ease of doing business,” says Alban Atkinson, MD of integrated corporate communications agency INCE, a PLATINUM partner at the Finance Indaba Africa 2016 on 13 and 14 October 2016 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

Finance Indaba 2016: Tax Ombud offers taxpayers a resolution avenue

"When people receive a below-par standard of service from Sars, our office offers a free channel to air complaints," says Advocate Eric Mkhawane, CEO in the Office of the Tax Ombud, a silver partner at the Finance Indaba Africa 2016 on 13 and 14 October 2016 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

Thousands vote in African FinTech Awards

Some 3,300 votes have already been received for the African FinTech Awards since the launch of the voting competition two weeks ago. At present, top-scoring companies include Wala (508 votes), Sureswipe (255), Wealthmigrate (217), Simplepay (204), Mobicred (178).

Finance Indaba interview: the rise & rise of Vusi Thembekwayo

Successful venture capitalist, celebrated businessman and popular international speaker, Vusi Thembekwayo’s impressive CV would make any professional proud. It’s hard to believe that Vusi, who grew up in Wattville township near Benoni, is only 31 years old.

Finance Indaba 2016: QuickBooks has businesses running more efficiently

"We want to show the accounting world and finance professionals is that QuickBooks as a brand and a product has the range available to satisfy the financial needs of start-ups, SMEs and growing businesses," says Nick Braxton, national sales manager of QuickBooks SA, a silver partner at the Finance Indaba Africa 2016 on 13 and 14 October 2016 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

Finance Indaba Africa offering grows

What started as a simple idea to extend the learning and networking of the CFO South Africa community has reached a real tipping point with the recent addition of Oracle and SAP to the list of exceptional exhibitors that will be present at the Finance Indaba Africa, which will be held on 13 and 14 October 2016 at the Sandton Convention Centre, Gauteng.

CFO Case Study Competition announces top 12 teams

Out of the 320 teams representing 1,278 aspirants from 53 universities in 25 countries across five continents, the Project Board of the CFO Case Study Competition has announced the top 12 teams. Valentine Nti (pictured), the CFO Case Study Competition project executive director, said:

Finance Indaba 2016: AAT graduates easily turn theory into practice

“Our local government and public sector qualifications are based on competency frameworks of municipalities and the National Treasury. They are designed to fit the purpose exactly,” says Nadine Kater, GM of the South African chapter of the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT), a silver partner at the Finance Indaba Africa 2016 on 13 and 14 October 2016 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

Finance Indaba 2016: SAIBA builds a community of committed professionals

"We see ourselves the gateway to the accounting profession," says Nicolaas van Wyk, CEO of the Southern African Institute for Business Accountants (SAIBA), a silver partner at the Finance Indaba Africa 2016 on 13 and 14 October 2016 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

Finance Indaba 2016: ACCA graduates mean business

"There is an undeniable need to introduce young people to entrepreneurship at an early stage and further ensure that they are equipped with the right skills from an education front," says Patience Semenya, head of the South African chapter of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), a gold partner at the Finance Indaba Africa 2016 on 13 and 14 October 2016 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

Finance Indaba 2016: Excel4apps powers up your reporting processes

"We make Excel the front end to your ERP (Oracle, SAP or PeopleSoft) and give you all the power of Excel plus more with our custom-built functions," says Shirley Riddick, MD of Excel4apps in the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific. Excel4apps is a gold partner at the Finance Indaba Africa 2016 on 13 and 14 October 2016 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

Finance Indaba 2016: CharterQuest CFO Case Study Competition draws the crowds

“Employers are seeking financial education that produces cutting edge and real world integrated technical, business and leadership acumen,” says Valentine Nti from CharterQuest, a silver partner at the Finance Indaba Africa 2016 on 13 and 14 October 2016 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg. CharterQuest will host the global finals of the first ever CFO Case Study Competition at the Finance Indaba.

Finance Indaba 2016: Future-focused HR is Clarkhouse Human Capital's game

Finance Indaba 2016: Transparent aims to help firms recover funds

“We will be talking about how businesses can recover working capital, not only from eliminating double- and over-payments, but also from improving efficiencies and using our payment analysis reports,” says Carolina van der Ark from Transparent, a gold partner at the Finance Indaba Africa 2016 on 13 and 14 October 2016 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg. In the coming weeks and months, we will be chatting to all the Indaba partners, asking them why they are joining the event and what their most important message for finance professionals is.

Finance Indaba 2016: Sage One explores how firms can use the cloud

"The future is mobile and we are giving our customers the power to control their businesses from the palm of their hand," says Steven Cohen from Sage One, a gold partner at the Finance Indaba Africa 2016 on 13 and 14 October 2016 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg. In the coming weeks and months, we will be chatting to all the Indaba partners, asking them why they are joining the event and what their most important message for finance professionals is.

Spectacular line-up of speakers at Finance Indaba Africa 2016

If you are a finance professional and you are wondering if there are any dates in your calendar that you should keep open, wonder no longer. The Finance Indaba Africa at the Sandton Convention Centre - on 13 and 14 October 2016 - will be the pivotal gathering for number crunchers, money wizards and finance leaders. Those dates might be far away still, but behind the scenes CFO South Africa is putting together a fantastic program - with a line-up of speakers that should entice any accountant to head over to Sandton.

Finance Indaba hosts finals of The CFO Case Study Competition

The cream of the crop of Africa's aspiring CFOs and business leaders will be competing for a prize of R100,000 during the global finals of The CFO Case Study Competition, hosted at the Finance Indaba Africa 2016. With entries for participants closing in March 2016, we spoke to Valentine Nti, CEO of organiser CharterQuest Institute about the way CFOs, corporate sponsors, professional bodies, universities and business talents of 25 years and younger can get involved.

Recruit the best CAs at the Finance Indaba Africa

Thousands of CAs and finance professionals are ready to move up the ladder. Join us at the Finance Indaba Africa and recruit the best.

Awesome accountants - find them at the Finance Indaba Africa

South Africa has an outstanding pool of professional accountants. Whether you're a small start up or a successful mid size business, you will need these professionals to help grow and guide your business. The best accountants formulate ideas to help you reach your true goals becoming genuine business partners. Finding the right accountant is easier than you think and you are invited to meet the very best at Finance Indaba Africa.

Better bank - select your bank at Finance Indaba Africa.

Customers of South African banks have high levels of complaints, with many people complaining about bad service. Opening a bank account is South Africa is time consuming. South African banks are amongst the most expensive in the world charging monthly fees, internet banking fees and commission on payments. But they are there: finance providers that go the extra mile. Select your bank at Finance Indaba Africa.

Cloud & Clear - select your cloud provider at Finance Indaba Africa

Cloud is no longer an unknown or risky business, but an essential technological innovation that is a game changer for African businesses. “Through cloud solutions we are enabling companies to design their back office efficiently and deliver innovation across the business,” said Dee Houchen or Oracle (a platinum Finance Indaba partner) in a recent interview. At the Finance Indaba Africa all cloud providers will be present, giving South African finance professionals an unparalleled opportunity to compare offerings and learn.

From Big Data to Big Profits - exhibit at the Finance Indaba Africa

Put your headlamps on and start mining big data! Success and profits of businesses are often the results of smart use of data and information. Lately, the opportunities to use the data that exists within your organisation has grown exponentially and executives and accountants are increasingly starting to realise that they are missing out if they are not mining big data.

Concern about upward trend in the debt-to-GDP ratio

Speaking at this year's Tax Indaba at the Sandton Convention Centre, the chief of the National Treasury’s Budget Office, Michael Sachs, said he was troubled by the upward trend in the debt-to-GDP ratio of 42.5%. While the figure itself was not sufficient cause to resort to emergency measures – it is still low in comparison to many other countries – the structural debt gap could lead South Africa into permanent low economic growth.

David Hartnett: systemic corruption has a detrimental effect on tax compliance

Corruption, more than any other factor, leads to an increase in tax avoidance and retarded economic growth. That was the message of David Hartnett, former permanent secretary of tax at the UK’s revenue and customs authority, at this year's Tax Indaba at the Sandton Convention Centre. “When there is a fair system, tax compliance and tax morality seem to be high. However, there is ample evidence that systemic corruption can do serious harm to tax morality,” he said.

Is a VAT rate increase needed? Judge Dennis Davis weighs in

Although VAT is the easiest of the taxes in the South African Revenue Service’s armoury to raise, it would have devastating effects on the country’s poor, according to Judge Dennis Davis.

Call for speakers now open - Finance Indaba 2016

In 2014 CFO South Africa piloted the CFO Awards, this year we launched a massive partnership with KPMG and next year is going to see the Sandton Convention Centre's doors open for the first ever Finance Indaba. "The difference between success and failure is often determined by the quality of the finance team and processes," says CFO South Africa's founding director Melle Eijckelhoff, who has a long track record of landmark finance events in Europe and is now working tirelessly to make the Finance Indaba a massive success.

Mervyn King: tax also in need of integrated thinking

Prof Mervyn King believes increasing taxes should be government’s last resort in bolstering the ailing economy. “Tax compliance is a two-way street. Taxation must be socially acceptable. The narrow financial prism is obsolete. The concept of value has changed, with economy, society and the environment now the central pillars of businesses,” Prof King told delegates last month at the fifth annual Tax Indaba at the Sandton Convention Centre.

South Africa's problem with illegal money transfers

Many South Africans worry about the country's high levels of crime; levels which, according to last week's release of the latest crime statistics, seem to be on the rise.

Tax Indaba: parliament looks at 'creative ways' to increase tax base

The Parliament’s Standing Committee on Finance is looking at 'creative' ways to increase the tax base, including tyre and electricity levies, and is intensifying work on double taxation agreements and legislation, in the hope of discouraging multinationals from exploiting loopholes. That was the message of MP Des van Rooyen, chairman of the committee, during the recent Tax Indaba in Sandton.

Tax watchdog Bernard Ngoepe demands more independence

The Office of the Tax Ombud should become completely independent from SARS, according to Tax Ombud Bernard Ngoepe. The retired judge announced his demands in a keynote speech during the Tax Indaba at the Sandton Convention Centre on 7 September 2015.