Insight
Inspiration and information from leading finance experts.
07 October 2020 Blue Recruiting MD Graeme Marais shares why hiring a newly qualified CA is the way to go. 22 September 2020 Tim London: Separate these functions so their different priorities don't become a point of conflict. 16 September 2020 JAM CFO reveals CFOs need to understand the difference between a fixed and a growth mindset. 09 September 2020 redPanda Software CEO Gareth Hawkey: We can't apply old ways of doing things to new problems. 02 September 2020 Sage's Pieter Bensch: All the digital trends that were at play before the pandemic have accelerated. 13 August 2020 Herman Singh: Corporate organisations of the future need to act like a boxer who can box on either foot. 05 August 2020 JAM CFO Nico Esterhuizen says the best time to choose personal growth is today. 29 July 2020 Covid-19 shockwaves force leaders to rethink how tax risks are managed and tax practices are run. 22 July 2020 Technologies like central management systems allow for more effective insurance claims cost control. 21 July 2020 UCT GSB's Timothy London looks at what works and doesn't work if leaders are to ensure relevance. 08 July 2020 Herman Singh: Covid-19 killed office work, but technology has become the knight in shining armour. 25 June 2020 Machines and people need to work in concert for successfully ERP systems and enterprises. 23 June 2020 Dr Claudelle von Eck: Interventions are cheaper than the cost of consequences of unethical culture. 17 June 2020 We don't know what the future is going to hold, but we have the opportunity to make it better, Rhett says. 10 June 2020 Stangen CFO Lerato Olahleng believes the current crisis gives SA an opportunity to rebuild its economy. 03 June 2020 To attain the "badge" of true leadership, you have to master personal leadership, says Nico. 28 May 2020 If IT transformation is done right, the benefits can outweigh the disruption says Oracle's Swami Natarajan. 28 May 2020 UCT GSB's Dr Tim London explores how businesses can work through the trauma of Covid-19 and tell a new story. 21 May 2020 Small business encouraged to increase vigilance against growing cybercrimes during and post lockdown. 06 May 2020 King Price CFO Rhett Finch: Covid-19 will quickly show which insurers are geared for a digital world. 28 April 2020 UCT GSB's Tim London says leaders must avoid returning to the old ways of doing business post-lockdown. 22 April 2020 Herman Singh unpacks the ways in which the world will be different after the pandemic. 08 April 2020 Now is not the time to create more or new risks within your business says Wauko's David Irish. 01 April 2020 Ian McAlister: Software and technology solutions replace admin with professional freedom. 27 March 2020 Tom Wells: Covid-19 provides an opportunity to transition towards a more digital, remote and dynamic workplace. 25 March 2020 Decision Inc's Kate McFarlane: AI and machine learning will make your reporting responsive to changing conditions. 17 March 2020 UCT GSB's Timothy London shares key points leaders can use to manage the Covid-19 crisis and recover from it. 03 March 2020 Investec for Business's Marc Rosen discusses strategies to utilise when making business investments. 26 February 2020 Neil Buckley, Apex BI: something CFOs should know about but all too frequently don't. 12 February 2020 Organisations are under pressure to become more innovative and adaptable, says Obsidian's Muggie van Staden. 05 February 2020 UCT GSB's Dr Tim London reveals the challenges André de Ruyter faces, and what all leaders can learn from this. 29 January 2020 Stretch Global's John Stretch gives an insight to the questions CFOs need to ask when looking to the future. 22 January 2020 Herman Singh took a roadtrip around South Africa this December. Here is what he learnt. 13 December 2019 Experts dived into finance trends from disruptive technology, to customer focus, to job "tax", and boards. 13 December 2019 INOVO director Jan Kühn says tactical debt collection is important to business survival and sustainability. 11 December 2019 Emma Hitzke and Shagun: How to help your organisation thrive in the digital age of finance. 03 December 2019 The Cell C CFO recently participated in a Finance Indaba panel on real transformation in the workplace. 26 November 2019 Recruitment specialist Chantelle Smith explains how to make sure your finance function will support your goals. 20 November 2019 UCT GSB's Dr Tim London: Maximise staff engagement by understanding the tasks they love and hate. 13 November 2019 Herman Singh answers the question: Will EPMS dashboards dash your plans or delivering dashing results? 05 November 2019 South Africans appear more divided than ever. To become a great, and united, nation we urgently need to reimagine a way to build our people - and this must be about more than jobs and GDP. 29 October 2019 AgileIT CEO Nick Truran highlights three IT areas to focus on to achieve significant savings. 23 October 2019 Altron Karabina's Dave Ives explains the benefits of migrating ERP systems to the cloud. 08 October 2019 Considering starting in-house training to save on costs? UCT GSB's Tim London has some food for thought. 01 October 2019 If you're not putting your cash to work, you're wasting an asset, says Investec's Sean Jackson. 25 September 2019 Retail Capital CEO Karl Westvig: The digital revolution will profoundly change how small businesses operate. 17 September 2019 Herman Singh says that the silent middle class needs to stick around and make a change in South Africa. 10 September 2019 OK was once the country's largest retailer and the first-shop for thousands of South African shoppers. This giant retail business with twelve thousand employees was given away to its rival, Shoprite, for a token amount of one rand. 04 September 2019 Dr Tim London explains that to maximise learning in your organisation, you have to let your people lead. 27 August 2019 Earlier this year, Nedbank received a letter from the JSE acknowledging the banking group's high standards of financial reporting for the year ended 31 December 2018, and in particular, it's IFRS disclosures. CFO South Africa invited Raisibe Morathi, Nedbank Group CFO, to share her insights into achieving such recognition for reporting at this level. 20 August 2019 Bizmod's Sandi Hager explains what change management challenges you need to overcome to ensure success. 14 August 2019 Herman Singh explains how nearly $2.5 million in equity was crowdfunded on the Intergreatme platform. 07 August 2019 Dr Tim London reveals three mistakes you might be making that are hampering creative thinking. 30 July 2019 John Stretch explains why proper forecasting could have saved Tongaat from the challenges it now faces. 16 July 2019 Lifelong learning will power accountants' prosperity now and in the future, says Intuit's Jolawn Victor. 09 July 2019 Rather than emigrating, South Africans should stay and help build SA's future, says Herman. 25 June 2019 Data analytics can be used to make more forward-looking, proactive decisions and to foster more collaborative relationships. 18 June 2019 Accountant and entrepreneur Liezl Berry conducted an audit into whether accounting really is the most boring profession. 11 June 2019 Herman Singh says, disrupt your industry simply by focusing on the needs of the customer. 05 June 2019 Dr Tim London reveals the one crucial element necessary to get SOEs back on track. 29 May 2019 John Stretch explains what measurements you can put in place when return on equity fails. 14 May 2019 Thandeka Zondi explains that late payments to SMEs by big business must be addressed. 07 May 2019 Herman Singh: "It doesn't matter who wins - if they follow these 12 steps, SA will prosper." 30 April 2019 Dr Tim London explains that training will help you to attract and keep the right employees. 23 April 2019 Switch Innovation CEO Brett Terespolsky explains why you need human intelligence on your front line. 17 April 2019 John Stretch explains how to bring your monthly management accounts presentation to life. 09 April 2019 Liezl Berry considers: If you knew then what you know now, would you become a CA? 02 April 2019 Herman Singh says there's a lot to be learnt from how the online marketplace conquered Africa. 27 March 2019 These are the crucial questions to ask when appointing leaders, says UCT GSB's Dr Tim London. 20 March 2019 Danie Ferreira gave it all up to scuba dive. Here's what he learnt about work-life balance. 12 March 2019 Stretch Global owner and founder John Stretch reveals that intellectual capital and intangible assets can and should be accounted for. 05 March 2019 Herman Singh speaks from personal experience when he says: "Directing is only for the brave". 20 February 2019 Tim London: "Your vision statement is probably useless. Here's how to make it better." 12 February 2019 Keeping an anxiety disorder from your coworkers? CA and entrepreneur Liezl Berry believes it makes you a better accountant. 05 February 2019 Brett Terespolsky explains why financial services providers are over-investing in technology, and under-investing in people. 22 January 2019 How to win at this next, big, bright, brilliant thing that is digital transformation. 16 January 2019 Beware staff who say, "But we don't do it that way." 03 January 2019 These three business leaders had the best-read Expert Insights on CFO South Africa in 2018. 11 December 2018 MTN group executive Herman Singh says these four attributes take time but are worth developing. 04 December 2018 Not getting the talent you want? Engage the universities, says UCT Graduate School of Business's Tim London. 27 November 2018 Afrimat CFO Pieter de Wit says finance professionals must embrace technology to free up their time. 20 November 2018 JLL and Tetris CFO Peter Harris: "Your revamped office space will support staff productivity." 13 November 2018 Multinational CFOs take heed: Country-by-Country Reporting will deliver challenges, but also some advantages. 06 November 2018 Meetings are a waste of time, and other learnings from MTN group executive Herman Singh. 30 October 2018 Switch's Brett Terespolsky says new banks are targeting specific market segments - a strategy for success. 23 October 2018 PwC's Lullu Krugel shares the etiquette she has developed for professional and personal WhatsApp use. 16 October 2018 Having a clear narrative for your organisation will make negative events less threatening. 04 September 2018 The time is ripe for FinTech companies in Africa, says Wirecard South Africa's Peter Stenslunde. 28 August 2018 The success of a course depends on the commitment of the employer, says UCT GBS's Tim London. 21 August 2018 Three conversations have given CFO South Africa MD Graham Fehrsen insight into the future of accounting. 08 August 2018 The future of the finance profession will rely on technological competitive advantage, says Sean Gossel, senior lecturer in Finance at the UCT Graduate School of Business. 25 July 2018 Standard Bank's CFO of Group Tech says that CFOs "sticking to their knitting", could result in the next large corporate failure. 10 July 2018 Keep your CFO's hands off the tech budget, and put your CIO on the board. 03 July 2018 If someone's late for a meeting, here are some insights that will help you to cope with the stress. 27 June 2018 BP's Udayan Sen and Afrisam's Leon Serfontein share their thoughts on the CFO Awards experience. 20 June 2018 And leaders need to understand this, says Prof Tim London of the UCT Graduate School of Business. 29 May 2018 Jessica Yellin sat down with FedGroup CEO Grant Field to chat about his business and how he brings Purpose to life. 22 May 2018 Deadlines, pace and face time are among the most important tools to strike a great deal, she says. 15 May 2018 Stop asking, "Can I?" and start asking, "Should I?", says Prof Tim London of the UCT Graduate School of Business. 18 April 2018 Prof Tim London of the UCT Graduate School of Business cautions on the dangers of having too narrow a view of leadership. 17 April 2018 CFO SA MD, Graham Fehrsen, encourages CFOs to do the right thing. 10 April 2018 Expectations of business and CEOs are high, but they are not being met, says Jessica Yellin 03 April 2018 To embrace change you need to be real, says CFO SA's MD, Graham Fehrsen 27 March 2018 The little decisions are as important as the big ones, says UCT Graduate School of Business' Tim London. 20 March 2018 My generation must transform the fortunes of the continent, says UCT's Mills Soko. 20 March 2018 We've selected the top 10 most popular articles of 2017 for your literary enjoyment. 13 March 2018 Head FICO consultant Jill Van Der Merwe offers six steps to deal with the VAT rate change. 08 March 2018 With three decades of experience at the intersection of finance and technology, Ronald Laxton knows the challenges CFOs face, and how to solve these. 06 March 2018 It's a Shovel founder Jessica Whitcutt Yellin on why SA scores so badly in reputation rankings. 27 February 2018 Imperial Holdings CFO Mohammed Akoojee shares what he's learnt about perseverance and opportunity. 20 February 2018 Getting the right people into your organisation is a challenge - and something we often get wrong, says UCT's Tim London. 13 February 2018 Chris van Zyl, WP Rugby captain, has proven he is a pro at balancing both the numbers and the line-outs. 06 February 2018 Talita Ferreira, a former BMW CFO, says authentic leaders and cultures are the differentiators to financial and strategic success. 30 January 2018 Set goals for yourself and pursue continuous learning, advises Motus CFO Ockert Janse van Rensburg. 23 January 2018 Standard Bank's Stephen Brickett and Paul Fallon explain IFRS 9 and what it means for CFOs 16 January 2018 UCT's Tim London shares what he considers four positive outcomes of the Steinhoff scandal 22 November 2017 Standard Bank operates with a model that lists five value drivers. And financial outcomes are not even number 1, 2 or 3. 09 October 2017 Digital technology is having a huge impact on banks, says James Nicolson, chief architect for Corporate and Investment Banking: digitisation and blockchain, at Standard Bank. “Like many industries, it started out at the consumer end of banking, and now we are seeing a strong drive at a CIB level towards a much richer digital experience.” 02 October 2017 Through the course of a tumultuous 365 days since the launch of the inaugural and extremely successful Finance Indaba Africa, I’ve been fortunate enough to learn alongside finance leaders and exceptional professionals, and I’ve learnt some great lessons. While some are familiar cliches and almost all seem like common sense, in my experience, it’s the obvious and common-sense advice that is often the hardest to live by. Here are my top five. 25 September 2017 “Our role within Human Capital is to be the custodians of culture and strategically partner the people agenda that enables our business strategy,” says Anré Klopper-Stroh, Human Capital Head for the Corporate & Investment Bank (CIB) within the Standard Bank Group. “The role of the Human Capital team within CIB is to partner our people in, for and across Africa to realise their ambitions, thus enabling our clients and the communities in which we operate to achieve their objectives. Furthermore, we need to position ourselves for what the future holds by understanding the mindsets, skillsets, and toolsets required for our people to stay relevant and contribute to the ambitions of the business into the future.”Why you should hire a CA with no experience
Beware when mingling learning and development with performance management
JAM's Nico Esterhuizen: Your mindset determines your leadership style
Looking through 'Covid-eyes' to support and reimagine the workplace
Eight elements a company needs to consider as it grows in size
Ambidextrous organisations: Creative and agile, yet rigorous on risk and execution
Use a personal development model to improve your professional leadership skills
Covid-19 is keeping tax managers on their toes
Technology waves wand over commercial, sectional-title insurance
No more hiding from it: Business leaders are societal leaders
Technology is reinventing the office
Surviving the technoshock: how to get your organisation ready for AI-powered ERP
The hidden cost of the Covid-19 crisis - an increase in fraud and corruption
King Price CFO Rhett Finch: Covid-19 has given us perspective on work and working
Life insurance industry looks to life beyond Covid-19
JAM CFO Nico Esterhuizen: Leaders, challenge yourself in these four life dimensions
Face disruption head-on: Move core business processes to the cloud
Returning to work: Businesses after lockdown are like athletes after a serious injury
MoneyWorks owner Thandeka Zondi cautions against growing cybercrime rates
Covid-19: The tipping point for the insurance industry's digital transformation?
As lockdowns ease, consultants are still valuable, but use them in different ways
Pandenomics: Looking to a post-pandemic world
FX risk management in a time of crisis
The potential of professional
Will Covid-19 usher in the workplace of the future?
Transform your business by interrogating the value that your data holds
The coronavirus has hit
what now for business?
Strategies for growth in an uncertain climate
How to take charge of technology expense sprawl
Embracing open in the financial services sector
What? ?to? ?look? ?for? ?(and? ?not)? ?now? ?that? ?Eskom? ?has? ?a? ?new? ?CEO? ?
The 10 questions every CFO needs to ask every month
10 economic lessons for South Africa from a December road trip
A look back at this year's most valuable insights experts into business and finance
To keep your business in the black, try these debt collecting techniques
6 Strategies to help CFOs harness the power of emerging digital technologies
Zaf Mahomed: Diversity will strengthen the finance team and the organisation
CFOs, recruit for the team you need in the future - here's how
How leaders can account for, and leverage, the "job tax"
Use enterprise performance management systems and run your business like a gamer
Athol Williams: Believe it or not, the economy is not South Africa's biggest concern
Simple changes to storage, networks and telephony make big impact on bottom line
Cloud ERP can drive efficiency and unlock competitive value for your business
Be sure you are bringing your corporate training in house for the right reasons
Avoid falling into a lazy balance sheet cycle and treat your cash like an employee
The pressing issue that must be addressed for SMEs to succeed
The South African middle classes need to learn to toyi-toyi
How to sell a business for one rand - the strange story of OK Bazaars
The rise of "learner-constructed" learning: Get on board or get behind
Nedbank Group CFO reveals three key themes in reporting excellence
Avoid these five change management pitfalls in your compliance projects
How we pulled off the largest crowdfunding ever in Africa
Change your organisational culture to create the space for innovation
Tongaat's Kodak moment: They didn't see it coming, but they could have
5 easy ways for accountants to access the skills they need to succeed
Herman Singh calls for committed South Africans to share their personal SONAs
Why long-term business success requires early adoption of key technologies
A boring job? Here's why accountants are sex, drugs and rock & roll
Breaking dominant logic earns billions - always ask "why?"
SOE CEO resignations: What their replacements must do to turn their organisations around
You don't put percentages in the bank
The role of big business in supporting small business growth in South Africa
Cast your vote in the elections - and watch to see how the winner supports future growth
Use training to make sure you're the most attractive organisation at the party
Considering a chatbot for customer service? Think again
The numbers are right, but are they interesting?
To be, or not to be... a CA?
Lessons for doing e-commerce in Africa from Jumia's New York listing
What leadership does your organisation need to thrive - experts or boundary spanners?
Car Hire Brokers CFO Danie Ferreira: Work is a part of work-life balance!
Explained: How to manage and measure intangible assets
So you want to serve on a board? Read this first
Getting your vision, mission and purposes statements in shape for success
There could be an upside to your anxiety disorder
True disruption is less about technology and more about people
Seven caveats to consider when implementing digital transformation
Forget about learning - those who are future-ready are those who can UNlearn
Three experts whose insights had an impact
Health, wealth, wisdom and reputation - not built overnight
Tim London: "Don't hope for the talent you want - build it!"
Explained: how finance professionals can become business partners
Explained: how refurbishing your offices can boost your bottom line
Explained: What Country-by-Country Reporting means for SA multinationals
Knowledge shared: 10 lessons that drive career success
What SA's new banks will mean for the future of financial services
How to use WhatsApp as a business tool so that everyone doesn't hate you
Tim London: A good story will help your staff to make sense of facts
Africa is hungry for FinTech solutions in the settlements space
How to ensure ROI from executive education courses
Collaborate and adapt - your future might depend on it
Watch your jobs! Robotics will start moving up the skills value chain
CFOs SHOULD be involved in tech, says Standard Bank's Sean Berrington
CFOs - stick to your knitting, says CTO Steven Sidley
The horror of waiting: PwC's Lullu Krugel on the economics of lateness
The Awards evening was exceptional, and being nominated was an honour, agree CFOs
Timelines have consequences
How to get sh!t done with a sense of purpose
A done deal: Webber Wentzel's Megan Jarvis lists six dos and don'ts
Leadership essentials: Ethics goes beyond legal considerations
Why a narrow view of leadership destroys organisations
What does it mean to do the right thing?
Your business needs a clear Purpose to survive
Be the change - it's there for the taking, says Graham Fehrsen
Tim London on the perils and opportunities of atomised decisions
UCT GSB Director Mills Soko's new vision for education
CFO SA's 10 most popular reads of 2017
Don't sweat the VAT increase: six things to do to prevent panic
Do more with less says Ronald Laxton, GM Keyrus
Corporate SA deserves the reputational mess it's in
Don't be scared of change, says Mohammed Akoojee, Imperial CFO
Hiring right: the people in your organisation can make or break you
Chris van Zyl, WP Rugby captain, on unlocking talent
The CFO's role in developing authentic cultures and leaders is vital, says Talita Ferreira
Motus CFO Ockert Janse van Rensburg on how to get ahead
IFRS 9 explained
Assurance in turmoil: four positive outcomes from the Steinhoff scandal
Clients first! FD Arno Daehnke reveals Standard Bank's five value drivers
The impact of digital on banks is huge, says Standard Bank's James Nicolson
CFO SA's Graham Fehrsen: Five lessons for a better future
Create a broader environment to drive innovation, says CIB's Anré Klopper-Stroh
