Insight
Inspiration and information from leading finance experts.
25 May 2022 Decision Inc's Desmond Struwig says finance leaders need to put their business strategy first. 20 April 2022 EY's Paul O’Flaherty reveals seven ways CFOs can drive the sustainability agenda within their organisations. 09 April 2022 Investec’s Itumeleng Merafe unpacks how CFOs can navigate the Russia-Ukraine crisis. 06 April 2022 LanDynamix’s Ethan Searle reveals that CFOs can use managed services to determine IT costs. 23 March 2022 LanDynamix’s Ethan Searle unpacks how managed service business models could be just what CFOs need. 20 March 2022 Kamanie Naicker unpacks Absa’s approach to building a powerful digital ecosystem. 26 February 2022 21st Century CEO Chris Blair unpacks a recent study into the adoption and application of ESG metrics. 26 February 2022 Organisations have been slow to embrace independent reviews as an alternative to audits, but this is changing. 23 February 2022 ESG expert Brett Wallington unpacks why ESG commitments don’t measure impact on Earth and society. 16 February 2022 FD Soraya Joonas explains how Inyathelo looked inward to be more flexible during uncertain times. 05 January 2022 Herman Singh explains how professionals can use their social media to build their network and career (part two). 25 December 2021 A look at must-read opinion pieces of 2021 from CFOs in our community. 22 December 2021 Synthesis’s Leandré Roux shares his lessons, pitfalls and successes while building digital platforms. 09 December 2021 Stephen Kreusch explains that cybersecurity is becoming less of a cost centre in data-centric organisations. 05 December 2021 Veeam’s Chris Norton says CFOs have the opportunity to fast-track their organisations’ digital transformation. 01 December 2021 Sound financial management helps to ensure the survival and resilience of an organisation, says Soraya. 25 November 2021 Agile Capital’s Liz Kolobe says a successful management buy-out needs a CFO who can adapt to new business. 20 November 2021 Eftsure’s Ryan Mer explains that opportunity cost is greater than the risk of a cybersecurity attack. 13 November 2021 Automation holds the promise of real value for finance leaders and their departments – provided best practice is followed. 08 November 2021 Workday's Fred Portal unpacks how Covid-19 has forced organisations to accelerate their digital transformation strategies. 21 October 2021 CFO Sharon Naidoo asks why organisations are falling into price wars instead of trusting their brand value. 07 October 2021 Apex BI Neil Buckley explains that CFOs are trying to navigate a veritable minefield of hidden costs. 03 October 2021 Herman Singh explains how professionals can use their social media to build their network and career (part one). 08 September 2021 Heiner Freese says leaders need to work together to navigate the impact of unrest and Covid-19. 01 September 2021 Elmar Grobbelaar says businesses need to embrace innovation and become a fintech player. 29 August 2021 Quantimetrics CEO Bram Meyerson says CFOs need to be prepared when boards demand measurable value. 28 August 2021 Kobus Venter explains that centralised treasury tech helps CFOs keep a handle on liquidity, cash flow and risk. 26 August 2021 Turrito Networks’ Brian Timperley reveals why cutting the business down to size is a smart growth tactic. 22 August 2021 Automation has become a feature of the finance function – in a positive way – says the iOCO CFO. 21 August 2021 Synthesis MD Michael Shapiro unpacks the fears around AI and how it can be used for social good. 20 August 2021 Adri Führi, e4 group CFO, says much more can be done to ensure equality and innovation. 18 August 2021 Herman Singh says that in order for start-ups to be successful, they need to have a resourceful team. 14 August 2021 Roche Diagnostics’ Numair Hussain shares a few pearls of wisdom for job seekers today. 11 August 2021 Recent civil unrest has highlighted the need to ensure business operations can be maintained as far as possible. 23 July 2021 Herman Singh reflects on the recent civil unrest in South Africa and the impact it will have on businesses going forward. 21 July 2021 Data is not an IT problem anymore, which is why CFOs need to get involved in its lifecycle in a business, says Serisha. 17 July 2021 TymeBank’s Dietmar Bohmer highlights the benefits of banks moving to the cloud to stay agile. 15 July 2021 An authentic leader is trustworthy, understanding and inclusive, says JAM International CFO Nico Esterhuizen. 11 July 2021 To create control, CFOs must standardise their finance processes, reveals CA Southern Africa’s Michael Brink. 10 July 2021 The King Price Insurance CFO explains that, pandemic or not, remote working is here to stay. 08 July 2021 Herman Singh shares the six key stages CFOs and organisations need to follow on their cloud journey. 03 July 2021 Michael Brink explains how finance professionals can benefit from automating their financial close. 27 June 2021 Revenue growth is challenging in the current economic climate and cost efficiency is crucial for survival. 23 June 2021 Tramayne believes David and Goliath teaches that difficulty grows capability. 20 June 2021 Tsakeriwa explains that the agency has received unqualified audit opinions for the past two financial years. 19 June 2021 Nutanix’s Rowen Grierson explains why CFOs should be investing in subscription-based IT solutions. 16 June 2021 Grant Greeff explains that CEOs and CFOs have clear lanes of accountability and need to trust each other. 10 June 2021 Herman Singh explains how you can build a more coherent life strategy by redefining what success looks like. 06 June 2021 DoughGetters' Willem Haarhoff shares the seven things they learned while working from home during the pandemic. 02 June 2021 AGCS’s Paul Schiavone highlights some of the most significant risks for the financial services industry. 30 May 2021 Xperien’s Wale Arewa takes a deep dive into the rules of PoPIA and the consequences of breaking them. 29 May 2021 Pax Mataitsane says CFOs and ICT teams should work together as they move onto more agile OEM providers. 26 May 2021 Pieter Janse van Rensburg says companies must position themselves to deal with complex tax matters. 19 May 2021 We know the role of the CFO is evolving, but now post-Covid it’s do or die, says Herman Singh. 12 May 2021 Accountants have been real life-savers during Covid-19 by transforming their human capital structures. 08 May 2021 CFO Paul Stedall says that finance professionals today are looking for the financial benefits of tech spend. 05 May 2021 Having control over the real total cost of ownership of IT assets can produce significant cost savings. 28 April 2021 Striata’s Stergios Saltas shares everything organisations need to know to be POPI compliant. 21 April 2021 Herman Singh says a successful strategy can adapt to changes in the environment. 14 April 2021 Adaptability and agility are key competencies as technology becomes entrenched in every aspect of business. 07 April 2021 Tencent Africa CFO Tramayne Monaghan shares three of his favourite reads. 24 March 2021 Nico explains how you can use emotional intelligence for effective professional and personal leadership. 17 March 2021 The former inQuba CFO shares her insights from transitioning to Cartrack Asia CEO during Covid-19. 10 March 2021 Herman Singh explains that a few life decisions can make an enormous difference. 03 March 2021 TransUnion Africa CFO Sharon Naidoo shares her experience of learning new leadership skills from her mentees. 27 February 2021 SoluGrowth further unpacks the impact of Covid-19 on your business’s accounting. 24 February 2021 Herman Singh says building your personal brand has a significant impact on your career journey. 20 February 2021 CA Irene Chikobvu explains what South Africa can do to drive economic growth within the country. 19 February 2021 Taurus Capital CEO Elad Smadja says CFOs need to be solutions-driven and responsive in how they make decisions. 17 February 2021 King Price CFO Paul Stedall believes that technology can take the finance function to the next level. 13 February 2021 Goalfix’s Colin Human explains how financial modelling is an invaluable tool to make informed decisions. 10 February 2021 The Corporate Reporter’s Clive Lotter answers some of the questions around corporate reporting. 07 February 2021 Striata Africa’s Brent Haumann explores how financial services are accelerating their digital transformation. 27 January 2021 Professor Peter Goss unpacks the call for CFOs to adopt a strategic financial governance outlook. 25 December 2020 Zandi Tsibulane reflects on what it takes to be the CFO of a start-up during the Covid-19 pandemic. 20 December 2020 Experts reveal how agility has been one of the drivers of success in business this year. 18 December 2020 We round up some of the perspectives and advice some of SA's leading CFOs shared in 2020. 16 December 2020 KPMG’s Mark Danckwerts explains how IFRS17 will change the way performance is communicated. 09 December 2020 Tax specialist Nico Theron explains that SARS also faces adverse consequences if they don’t comply. 02 December 2020 Investec’s Dr Greg Cline: We are seeing spouts of opportunity, even in a constrained environment. 30 November 2020 King Price CFO Paul Stedall: a successful CFO can combine technology and emotional intelligence. 26 November 2020 Zaakir Mohamed: Companies must make sure their own operations aren’t complicit in enabling corruption. 18 November 2020 Executives should focus on improving risk management, writes LexisNexis SA’s GM of compliance Greg Chamberlin. 11 November 2020 CA Irene Chikobvu explains that you need to balance your reactions to conflicts in the workplace. 06 November 2020 Oracle's Anne Ozzimo shares four strategies CFOs should consider to be resilient. 30 October 2020 Tangent Solutons’ Niël Malan: Tech savvy CFOs are essential to a successful digital transformation. 29 October 2020 Frederik Scholtz shares his five takeaways from Tito Mboweni’s medium-term budget policy statement. 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.Prioritising finance: key to successful ERP
How to go green, without going into the red
CFOs need to use bold business moves to survive a crisis
CFOs need to take a deep dive into IT to understand the costs
With digitalisation firmly on the board agenda, CFOs face the challenge of funding it
Accelerating APIs in banking to help grow the African economy
South Africa among global peers leading the charge on ESG
It’s about time to migrate from audit to independent review
Companies need to go beyond ESG ratings in order to make a real impact
Overcoming financial “twisties” in a VUCA world
Lessons for success and caveats for the unwary social media traveller
Top insights on trusting your brand, growth and emotional intelligence
Five lessons on building better digital platforms
How can CFOs ensure cybersecurity delivers value?
What CFOs need to know about Kubernetes and containerisation
Inyathelo FD Soraya Joonas’s budgeting tips for resilient non-profit organisations
CFOs play a critical role in management buy-outs
How to address the multi-faceted cybersecurity challenges CFOs face
Automation and the immense cost benefits it can deliver to CFOs
Covid-19 has catapulted CFOs to the digital leaders of business
Have we become lazy when it comes to investing in our brand?
Technology sprawled with spiralling costs are keeping CFOs up at night
How to, and not to, successfully build your social media platform
CFOs should take on challenges with an “South AfriCAN” attitude
Banking services are no longer just for banks says Elmar Grobbelaar
Are CFOs equipped to justify the costs of enterprise software solutions?
Why centralised treasury tech is a game-changer for CFOs
Brian Timperley says “Honey, I shrunk the business” is the best approach in tough times
CFO Jo-Anne Pöhl makes the case for increased automation of the finance function
AI, finance, and the good of society
Walking the talk on gender equality, diversity, and empowerment in SA tech
Surviving the start-up bushveld
Attitude vs aptitude: Selling yourself in challenging times
Civil unrest: plan and prepare to maintain business continuity
67 minutes of reflection after 67 hours of mayhem
TechSoft’s Serisha Beosumbar explains why data is a critical asset for the CFO
Why the cloud is crucial to agile, future-proof banks
Nico Esterhuizen explains what it takes to be an authentic leader
CFOs need to automate to have control of their finance processes
CFO Paul Stedall says the key to working from home is trust and open communication
CFO’s must think like rocket scientists to avoid having their heads in a cloud
How CFOs are successfully using finance automation to achieve tangible results
Why CEOs are turning to cost efficiencies to save the bottom line
Find growth in the difficulties, says CFO Tramayne Monaghan
CFO Tsakeriwa Chauke says SASSA has turned around the issues related to irregular expenditure
Why CFOs are happy to see the back of old school CapEx technology approaches
CFOs can learn from Formula 1 team Mercedes when working with their CEOs
How to upcycle your career
Lessons from working remotely that you can apply to your business
Now more than ever, finance needs to navigate the burdens of compliance
With PoPIA looming, companies need to be aware of the rules and requirements
CFOs should be working with their ICT teams when it comes to OEM
How to ensure your corporate tax culture thrives in the new normal
“F” can be for future or failure – It’s your choice
Stephen Howe says financial and people management are the engine rooms of growth
CFO Paul Stedall says technology is not a cost centre, it’s an asset
The art of managing IT assets effectively
POPI countdown: Is your business ready and compliant?
Don’t turn your career plan into a dumb bomb strategy
CFO Adri Führi says 4IR presents a unique challenge for CFOs
Three books that changed CFO Tramayne Monaghan’s view of the world
CFO Nico Esterhuizen: The impact of emotional intelligence on effective leadership
Transitioning from a South African CFO to a CEO in the Philippines in 2020
Do not be too harsh on yourself: life comes in waves
CFO Diary: Leadership inspired by millennials
The impact of Covid-19 on financial reporting (Part 2)
Building your personal brand like Apple
South Africa can learn about targeting growth through joint ventures
Litigation funding – everything a CFO needs to know
How tech can support, and drive, the finance function
Confessions of a serial modeller
What’s coming our way in corporate reporting
Are financial services adapting to digital transformation fast enough?
The 21st century “big picture” for CFOs seeking to nurture strategic value
The first 180 days of occupying the C-suite at a start-up
Navigating from pandemic disruption to the next normal
The CFO diaries – wisdom from the top
Insights on how IFRS17 will affect the finance industry
SARS, like taxpayers, must comply with specified time periods
Are there growth opportunities in a recovering market?
What makes a CFO successful? Hint: it’s not just the tech
Businesses must prioritise preventing fraud and corruption in their own organisations
Successfully navigating from the new normal to the next normal
Should you let things slide or demand respect in the workplace?
How CFOs can build resilience and recapture growth
The CFO holds the key to a successful cloud migration
Five key takeaways for business from the 2020 mid-term budget presentation
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