Inspiration and information from leading finance experts.
Good governance is good for business, was the underlying message of the Master Class hosted by Dr Kerry Jenkins, head of the Regulatory and Compliance unit at KPMG, at the CFO South Africa Event Risk, Compliance & Control Forum at the Cape Town Club last week. An Expert Insight by Executive Coach Stanford Payne. An Expert Insight by Johann de Lange, founder of M&A advisory firm Pollination Capital* “I was so happy to be here today because it has given me the confidence that we have capable financial skills here in South Africa,” said Dr Ivan Meyer, minister for finance in the Western Cape after attending the CFO South Africa event Risk, Compliance & Control Forum at the Cape Town Club on Thursday night. “This CFO forum confirmed to me that the CFOs in the public and private sectors are very capable.” An Expert Insight by Alex Watson – Richard Sonnenberg Professor of Accounting, College of Accounting, University of Cape Town* Last week on the plane from Accra to Amsterdam, the lady next to me asked me: “Do you work for a NGO or for the government?” “Neither, I represent a private company and I just visited our branch office in Ghana”, I replied. This question from my fellow traveler illustrates the out-of-date image that many people still have of Africa: Africa as the continent where aid dominates the economy and all countries are the same. 5 myths among CFOs about fraud– and their reality checks CFOs should remember the lessons about opportunity cost and plan better to have the careers and lives they want. That is the message of Executive Coach Stanford Payne, a CA who will be writing Expert Insights for this website over the course of the next year. To kick things off, we have interviewed him about his background and principles. An Expert Insight by Jonathan Yudelowitz, Joint Managing Director of YSA (Pty) Limited, Author of Smart Leadership and a well-known Leadership Expert and Executive Coach. "You don’t want your balance sheet weighed down by assets,” Lesley Plaistowe, Partner Financial Services at Technology firm IBM told the CFOs that attended our Digital Transformation event on 11 September in Johannesburg. During an inspiring presentation – Digital Transformation and New Business Models – Plaistowe chatted to the finance leaders about the enormous possibilities that the latest technological solutions have to offer. The finance organization is continuously evolving. Faced with meeting the needs of executive management, shareholders and regulators while ensuring the effectiveness and efficiency of their function, finance leaders and professionals must address a wide range of issues within a dynamic environment with seemingly endless changes in regulations and reporting requirements. Henry Ford famously said: “Don’t find fault, find a remedy”. Ground breaking businesses InnoVent and Transparent presented impressive masterclasses during a well-attended CFO South Africa event in the Tintswalo at Waterfall 5-star Boutique Hotel just north of Johannesburg. The theme of the gathering on Thursday 10 April was Capital & Finance and the attending CFOs and finance experts were treated to new ideas and a range of innovative solutions. In March and April CFO South Africa will interview all nominated CFOs. We ask each of the judges to be present during two interviews. The reports of these interviews will be added to the dossier of each CFO and will be used by the judges to determine their individual votes. An impressive group of prominent South African CFOs discussed topics ranging from personal branding and ethics to shared services and cloud solutions during an exclusive dinner on13 March 2014 in the Saxon Boutique Hotel in Johannesburg. “In our daily jobs we get mostly vertically involved in our organisations. It’s great to break out of that every once in and a while and discuss topics laterally with our peers,” said Standard Bank Group CFO Simon Ridley at the end of the IBM-sponsored event. Marie McCrea, partner at the Centre for Innovative Leadership (CIL), held an interesting presentation on the role and challenges of modern CFOs at the CFO South Africa Event Get Smart in 2014, March 13 at the Saxon. “There are several merger and acquisition deals on the table at the moment,” says Business Day columnist David Gleason, who publishes the quarterly M&A magazine DealMakers. He says those deals are being “worked on and discussed”, but they’re “cooking in the pot for now” because of the political uncertainty in South Africa. “We have to get through the elections and see what sort of cabinet we will get. If it is a team of reasonable people, it will unlock a lot of energy for the economy.” From left to right; Melle Eijckelhof Director CFO South Africa, Bikash Prasad CFO Olam International, Jennifer Njelesani CFO Auditor General, Nichola Dewar CFO Postbank, Carolina van der Ark Managing Director Transparant International, Karl Williams Finance Director Colgate-Palmolive, Ricus Roets, Finance Director Heineken OpCo. CFO South Africa Newsletter | Thursday 24th of October Dear CFO South Africa member, Read Exclusive CFO South Africa Articles Claudelle von Eck, CEO of IIA SA: Internal auditors more than watchdogs Just like CFOs, internal auditors have been widening their scope over the last few years, says Claudelle von Eck, CEO of the Institute of Internal Auditors South Africa (IIA SA). “Internal auditors are moving beyond compliance, beyond being seen as the watchdog. Professor Deon Rossouw, CEO of Ethics Institute SA: Ethical culture still lacking Although awareness about ethical business practices has increased tremendously over the last few years, most South African companies, departments and organizations are still struggling to translate that into an ethical culture. “CFOs need to be aware that this needs to change,” says Professor Deon Rossouw, CEO of The Ethics Institute of South Africa (EthicsSA). “Because the financial cost of unethical behaviour is enormous.” Natalie Zimmelman, General manager of AAT SA: Plugging the skills gap “We have identified a skills gap and we believe we can plug it,” says Natalie Zimmelman, general manager at AAT(SA), the Association of Accounting Technicians, South Africa, which operates from the offices of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA). AAT(SA) was formed in October 2008 after SAICA and the international professional body, AAT, realized their collaboration should stand on its own feet. More interesting CFO South Africa Articles Steven Waugh, Group CFO TBWA": "The virtues of discipline" Lucas Ramagaga, CFO Total Client Services: "Affecting people’s lives" Natasha Bell & Chantelle Booysen, Cassel & Co: "EQ and culture matter Koosh Panday, Business Development Manager Sappi: "The case for Readsoft" Strategic CFO: Are you a catalyst for change? Compare yourself to your peers Showcase your work on CFO South Africa's Website! Showcase your work and that of your company to 3500 members of CFO South Africa. If you are interested send an email to Jurrien Morsch at [email protected]. Register now for the first CFO South Africa Event of 2014 Capital & Finance, April 10th in Sandton On Thursday April 10th the first CFO South Africa Event of 2014 titled 'Capital & Finance' will take place in Sandton. An influential group of financial leaders from prominent international and South African companies from both the private and public sector will be present. CFOs of Olam, Standard Bank, African Bank, ABC Holdings, Servest, Novartis, Jasco are among others who have already registered. Are you a CFO or a finance manager, register now. Continuous Professional Development Points Did you know all events of CFO South Africa are eligible for SAICA CPD points? Most CFO's in South Africa are CA's and have to remain compliant. By attending CFO South Africa's events and training courses they will stay compliant. Upcoming CFO South Africa Events We have planned new CFO Events with inspiring hosts and experts that with share their insights and experiences with you. Register now for these events and improve your company, network, career and knowledge. CFO South Africa Events 2014 - Johannesburg April 10 | Capital & Finance May 15 | CFO Day & Awards 2014 July 10 | Corporate Growth Sep 11 | Digital Transformation Nov 13 | Risk, Compliance & Control Register now for one of the upcoming CFO South Africa Events. Please note that all our CFO South Africa events are for senior financial executives working in companies with revenues exceeding 100 million rand. In the future CFO South Africa will offer memberships for all audiences to have the opportunity to attend our upcoming events. If you are not part of the target audience but would like to participate in the event, please contact Jurrien Morsch at [email protected]. Stay connected with CFO South Africa Follow CFO South Africa on Twitter and LinkedIn Stay up to date and in the loop on what is happening in the world of finance by following us on Twitter @CFOSouthAfrica and LinkedIn. Also to keep track of newly published interviews with CFOs and CEOs. Feel free to contact us Do you have any requests, please let us know. Any suggestions or comments are welcome. Kind Regards, Melle Eijckelhoff Director CFO South Africa | [email protected] What can a CFO gain from implementing automated document processing software like Readsoft? The South African pulp and paper giant Sappi took a strategic decision and recently implemented Readsoft and Sappi’s Business Development Manager, Koosh Panday (MBA), reports positively. “I am convinced that many CFOs would benefit from such automation, deliver more value and become leaner. This is an investment that earns pay-back within a short time.” CFO South Africa Newsletter | Thursday 10th of October Dear CFO South Africa member, The 5th CFO South Africa Event Focus on Growth and Innovation Building social platforms and strengthening relationships amongst top professionals has been one of the key elements during the first year of CFO South Africa’s existence. Thursday’s event was the biggest, boldest and best event so far, providing network opportunities and a host of parallel breakaway sessions where the country’s CFOs and top finance professionals could discuss the challenges and opportunities of the present and future. Download the Presentations Ross Hampton, Divisional Director of CQS, "Tomorrow's CFO" Fred Axsel and Robert Brine, IQ Business, "Managing risk for growth" Victor Sekese, Chief Executive of SizweNtsalubaGobodo, "Never underestimate people" Upcoming CFO South Africa Event On April 3rd, our next CFO South Africa Event will take place, titled, "Capital & Finance". Take a look at our upcoming events and register now. Don't miss out on any CFO South Africa events as seating is limited. Read Exclusive CFO South Africa Articles Steven Cohen, Sage Pastel: “It is time for the CFO to realize that he or she needs to embrace the power of technology” “I can see that the role of the CFO is changing to go beyond accounting. The CFO is in a position to invest in technology and deliver new value to the company. To benefit from technology they need to wake up and smell the coffee." Cohen is passionate about the way digital technology changes the role of CFOs and finance professionals. Dalu Majeke, National Treasury Republic of South Africa: “Having a common goal for this country – is crucial” As the finance man of the country’s finance department, he knows what it’s like to work under pressure. “We don’t value popularity in the department, but we want to be able to present a stable financial framework in trying times.” More CFO South Africa Articles Brett Parker, MD Southern Africa of SAP, "Don't overcustomize" Steve Killick, Partner at PwC, "Boards want more than spreadsheets" Kuda Makoni, Manager of Deloitte Consulting, "Innovation key for South African banks" Shahied Daniels, Chief Executive SAIPA, "Growth in the corporate world" Lance Tomlinson, Assurance Leader Africa EY, "Responsibility at the top of the food chain" Natasha Bell and Chantelle Booysen, Cassel & Company, "How to retain talent" Natalie Zimmelman, AAT South Africa, "Vocational training crucial for finance teams" Grant Robson and Richard Angus, The Finance Team, "Finding the click" Claudelle von Eck, CEO of the Institute of Internal Auditors South Africa, "Partner with CFOs Showcase your work on CFO South Africa’s Website! Showcase your work and that of your company to 3500 members of CFO South Africa. If you are interested send an email to Jurrien Morsch at [email protected]. Stay connected with CFO South Africa Become a member of CFO South Africa Stay on top of current updates in the world of finance and keep track of newly published interviews with CFOs and CEOs by becoming a member on the CFO South Africa Website. Follow CFO South Africa on Twitter Stay up to date and in the loop on what is happening in the world of finance by following us on Twitter @CFOSouthAfrica. Also to keep track of newly published interviews with CFOs and CEOs. Feel free to contact us Do you have any requests, please let us know. Any suggestions or comments are welcome. Kind Regards, Melle Eijckelhoff Director CFO South Africa | [email protected] “We are data nerds who like studies,” said Fred Axsel to his captive audience during the 5th CFO South Africa Event in the Saxon Boutique Hotel on 3 October 2013. Axsel is Managing Executive at management consulting firm IQ Business. Together with his colleague Rob Brine he shared the results of IQ’s latest research in a presentation titled 'Innovate or Die vs. Innovate and Die? CFO Managing Risk for Growth’. Anybody who has spent more than half a minute in the company of Victor Sekese, can testify that the CEO of SizweNtsalubaGobodo (SNG) is one of the most passionate business leaders in South Africa. On Thursday 3 October 2013 he delivered a powerful presentation on corporate growth, as part of the 5th CFO South Africa event at the Saxon Boutique Hotel in Johannesburg. He enthralled everyone with his insight, intelligence and sense of humour - leaving his audience inspired and optimistic about doing business in this country. Ross talked at the 5th CFO SA Event about the future CFO, the auditor being the most important stake holder (!), how and where CFO's spent their time and many more issues. Please find the powerpoint presentation at CQS_Master_Class.pdf “We are not living in the information age anymore, but we have moved into the communication age, where social media and relationships are becoming crucial elements of our daily work.” Those were the words of Aarti Takoordeen, CFO of the JSE Limited, who gave a snappy, thought-provoking presentation during the 5th CFO South Africa event, which took place in the Saxon Boutique Hotel in Johannesburg on Thursday 3 October. CFO South Africa Newsletter | Monday 30th of September Dear CFO South Africa member, Read Exclusive CFO South Africa Articles Mike Benfield, Metorex: You can not walk away, after giving your advice “CFOs are actually salespeople,” says Mike Benfield, CFO for mining group Metorex.“We sell our business to financers and shareholders, but also sell it to our own staff and to the outside world. We have to be attractive employers, so we’re also selling the future to current and prospective employees.” Francois Reyneke, Waltons: We must ensure that we remain ahead of the pack “There should always be a challenge in life. Because of the continuous changes at my company, I have always been able to find those challenges internally,” says Francois Reyneke. The Group Financial Director at office products supplier, Waltons, is not a typical CFO type, who changes jobs every few years. Working for the same firm since 1995, he is currently in the middle of one of his greatest challenges to date. Showcase your work on CFO South Africa’s Website! Showcase your work and that of your company to 3500 members of CFO South Africa. Melle Eijckelhoff, Director of CFO South Africa will be in Johannesburg this week and will be conducting personal interviews. If you are interested send an email to Jurrien Morsch at [email protected]. The 5th CFO South Africa Event Managing Corporate Growth The 5th CFO South Africa Event is right around the corner. On Thursday October 3rd, An influential group of financial leaders from prominent international and South African companies from both the private and public sector will be present. The 5th CFO South Africa Event will take place on October 3rd 2013, titled 'Managing Corporate Growth.' CFO South Africa, in collaboration with Oracle, CQS, Transparent, IQ Business and ReadSoft, is organizing this event at one of the top-rated hotels in the world, the Saxon Boutique Hotel in Sandton. Continuous Professional Development Points Did you know all events of CFO South Africa are eligible for SAICA CPD points? Most CFO's in South Africa are CA's and have to remain compliant. By attending CFO South Africa's events and training courses they will stay compliant. Upcoming CFO South Africa Events CFO South Africa is proud to announce the 2014 Agenda. We have planned new CFO Events with inspiring hosts and experts that with share their insights and experiences with you. Register now for these events and improve your company, network, career and knowledge. CFO South Africa Events 2014 - Johannesburg April 3 | Capital & Finance May 15 | CFO Day & Awards 2014 July 10 | Corporate Growth Sep 11 | Digital Transformation Nov 13 | Risk, Control & Compliance Registration Open! Register now for one of the upcoming CFO South Africa Events. Please note that all our CFO South Africa events are for senior financial executives working in companies with revenues exceeding 100 million rand. In the future CFO South Africa will offer memberships for all audiences to have the opportunity to attend our upcoming events. If you are not part of the target audience but would like to participate in the event, please contact Jurrien Morsch at [email protected] and download our Partner Proposal. Stay connected with CFO South Africa Get the latest updates from CFO South Africa's trip to Johannesburg CFO South Africa is in Johannesburg preparing for the 5th CFO South Africa Event on October 3rd which is taking place at the Saxon Boutique Hotel. Learn about who they are meeting and which top tier CFOs they are interviewing by becoming a member on cfo.co.za. Follow CFO South Africa on Twitter Stay up to date and in the loop on what is happening in the world of finance by following us on Twitter @CFOSouthAfrica. Also to keep track of newly published interviews with CFOs and CEOs. Feel free to contact us Do you have any requests, please let us know. Any suggestions or comments are welcome. Kind Regards, Melle Eijckelhoff Director CFO South Africa | [email protected] Did you know all events of CFO South Africa are eligible for SAICA CPD points (continuous professional development)? The 5th CFO South Africa Event will take place on October 3rd 2013, titled 'Managing Corporate Growth.' CFO South Africa, in collaboration with Oracle, CQS, Transparent, IQ Business and ReadSoft, is organizing this event at one of the top-rated hotels in the world, the Saxon Boutique Hotel in Sandton. CFO South Africa Newsletter | Wednesday 11 September 2013 Dear CFO South Africa member, Read Exclusive CFO South Africa Articles Hennie Nel, Santam: You can not walk away, after giving your advice Hennie Nel did not choose the easiest moment to move to a short term insurance firm, but he says that doing good work in a rough economic climate is actually one of the things he has valued the most so far. Kirsten Mocke, EMC: Don’t give me numbers, tell me what they mean Being able to predict and steer the near and mid-term future is one of the crucial mandates for a CFO or finance director – in Mocke’s experience there is often a lot of room for improvement. Do you want to be interviewed by CFO South Africa? Showcase your work and that of your company to 3500 members of CFO South Africa. Melle Eijckelhoff, Director of CFO South Africa will be in Johannesburg in October and will be conducting personal interviews. If you are interested, send an email to Jurrien Morsch at [email protected]. The 5th CFO South Africa Event At the two CFO Round Tables on October 3rd at the Saxon Boutique Hotel, CFOs from top tier South African companies, such as JSE, Lonmin, Discovery Health, TigerBrands, Telkom, Sentula Minings, Eskom, Postbank, SARS, HSRC, Absa, AGSA, Standard Chartered Bank, Dell, FNB, Comair, Nedbank, City of Johannesburg, and many more will be sharing and exploring new ideas about ‘Managing Corporate Growth’. First CFO Round Table What does your agenda look like when it comes to managing corporate growth? For a CFO, there are many aspects to consider when facilitating growth.For example, the numerous strategic options for funding and investing.The need for financial insight to make the right decisions. The risk involved in Mergers and Acquisitions or the entrée of new markets. On top of that, there is a supplier site to manage and economies of scale to benefit from. How do you deal with these challenges today and how could a Finance Modernization look like to streamline systems and processes? Together with 12 of your peers we will discuss these aspects of managing corporate growth and share our experiences and knowledge. Second CFO Round Table Managing Corporate Growth CFOs and finance directors working in South Africa will share their vision and knowledge on Managing Corporate Growth with us at the CFO Round Table. During the Round Table we will share ideas and experiences with the challenges to fund, manage and stimulate corporate growth. For example, How do you get the most out of your working capital and are there opportunities in your company to free up cash for growth? The CFO Round Table will include 12 carefully selected CFOs who will have the privilege to converse in an intimate setting. Stay connected with CFO South Africa Become a member of CFO South Africa Stay on top of current updates in the world of finance and keep track of newly published interviews with CFOs and CEOs by becoming a member on the CFO South Africa Website. Join CFO South Africa on LinkedIn Take advantage right away: Share knowledge, exchange interests and open up business opportunities with other finance professionals through the LinkedIn group:CFO South Africa | Finance Professionals South Africa. Feel free to contact us Do you have any requests, please let us know. Any suggestions or comments are welcome. Kind Regards, Melle Eijckelhoff Director CFO South Africa | [email protected] (c) 2013 | CFO South Africa is published by Alex van Groningen BV To control which emails you receive from CFO South Africa, please change your email preferences at cfo.co.za by selecting under settings "I do not want to receive emails from CFO South Africa | Finance Professionals South Africa" CFO South Africa Newsletter | Wednesday 28th of August Dear CFO South Africa member, Read Exclusive CFO South Africa Articles Abigail Brooks, Trustco: If we don’t do it – some foreign company will The Namibian firm, Trustco, has recently moved into South Africa and has ambitions to roll out its innovative microfinance and insurance products into the rest of the continent as well. Natalie Zimmelman, AAT(SA): Trained technicians are hard to come by in South Africa HR departments are conservative and bosses are reluctant to let people attend class during working hours, even though they know it will benefit the company eventually. Read more Jan van den Handel, Business Connexion: Balancing risk in Africa Farid Vania, SMEC SA: Patience to develop people Philip Nottingham, CFO a.b.e. Construction Chemicals:Business processes before ERP Showcase your work on CFO South Africa’s Website! Showcase your work and that of your company to 3500 members of CFO South Africa. Melle Eijckelhoff, Director of CFO South Africa will be in Johannesburg in October and will be conducting personal interviews. If you are interested send an email to Jurrien Morsch at [email protected]. The 5th CFO South Africa Event Get to know Aarti Takoordeen, CFO of JSE and Speaker of the 5th CFO South Africa Event Aarti Takoordeen will give a brief talk on managing corporate growth during the CFO Café at The Saxon Boutique Hotel in Sandton that takes place on 3 October 2013. In the lead-up to this excellent opportunity to get to know this bright young South African she spoke to CFO.co.za to explain a few things about who Aarti Takoordeen is and how she views her job as Chief Financial Officer. Update! The 5th CFO South Africa Event Registration is Full The 5th CFO South Africa Event has reached its participant limit and has closed the registration process. We are excited to welcome 150 CFOs and financial professionals of the South African Business World from companies such as, Standard Chartered Bank, Shanduka, Discovery Health, Winhold, Nedbank, Dell, Servest, Mondeléz, Olam, Jasco, AGSA, Metmar, SAMSA, Postbank, Liberty, City of Johannesburg and J Walter Thompson. For more information click here or contact Kleo Nikolaidis at [email protected] New Partners for the 5th CFO South Africa Event CFO South Africa welcomes Transparent and Wipro as partners for the 5th CFO South Africa Event. Together with CQS, Oracle and Readsoft and CFO South Africa members we are looking forward to having a successful event with our CFO South Africa partners and members. For more information about the 5th CFO South Africa Event click here. CFO South Africa Partners for the 5th CFO South Africa Event: Stay connected with CFO South Africa Join CFO South Africa on LinkedIn Take advantage right away: Share knowledge, exchange interests and open up business opportunities with other finance professionals through the LinkedIn group: CFO South Africa | Finance Professionals South Africa. Follow CFO South Africa on Twitter Stay up to date and in the loop on what is happening in the world of finance by following us on Twitter @CFOSouthAfrica. Also to keep track of newly published interviews with CFOs and CEOs. Feel free to contact us Do you have any requests, please let us know. Any suggestions or comments are welcome. Kind Regards, Melle Eijckelhoff Director CFO South Africa | [email protected] (c) 2013 | CFO South Africa is published by Alex van Groningen BV To control which emails you receive from CFO South Africa, please change your email preferences at cfo.co.za by selecting under settings "I do not want to receive emails from CFO South Africa | Finance Professionals South Africa" Dear CFO South Africa member, Guest Speaker of the 5th CFO South Africa Event We are honored to announce that the CFO Café guest speaker at the 5th CFO South Africa Event will be Aarti Takoordeen, Chief Financial Officer of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Aarti Takoordeen will speak at the CFO Café which will take place at 18.00, after the CFO Round Tables and CFO Master Classes. Participants of the 5th CFO South Africa Event will benefit not only from Aarti’s business expertise but also from the expert knowledge of specialists from CQS, Oracle and ReadSoft who will share their insights at the CFO Round Tables and CFO Master Classes. 140 Participants Registered for the 5th CFO South Africa Event! The 5th CFO South Africa Event will be buzzing with conversation as distinguished CFOs will be present at the CFO Round Tables from Standard Chartered Bank, Shanduka, Discovery Health, Winhold, Nedbank, Dell, Servest, Mondeléz, Olam, Jasco, AGSA, Metmar, SAMSA, Postbank, Liberty, City of Johannesburg and J Walter Thompson to share ideas, experiences and business cards. At the CFO Master Classes even more influential financial professionals will be present from companies such as Tiger Brands, Aveng Group, Philips South Africa, Heineken, McCormick, Sanlam, Telkom, FOX International Channel, SNG, Graftech, Kellogg’s, ABSA, Comair, SARS, Bentel Associates International, The Jupiter Drawing Room, TBWA South Africa WWF South Africa, SABS, Nissan South Africa, G4S, Johnson and Johnson Medical, Eskom and many more… Free of charge CFO South Africa is here to help you with gaining knowledge, boosting your network and finding career opportunities. Join our events, free of charge, and be part of the leading growing network for financial professionals in South Africa. Not registered yet? The 5th CFO South Africa Event has reached its participant limit and has closed the registration process. If you are still interested in attending, please send an email to Kleo Nikolaidis at [email protected] Aarti Takoordeen, CFO of JSE Enjoying a sundown at the CFO South Africa Café in May CFO South Africa News Read Exclusive CFO South Africa Interviews Alwyn Smith, Group Financial Manager of FPT: What you want to achieve will come in time Werner Barnard, Mondeléz International: People skills make the difference Chris Povall, CFO of Accéntuate Doing more with less CFO South Africa Welcomes New Partner CFO South Africa would like to welcome ReadSoft as the new partner of CFO South Africa. We are looking forward to working with ReadSoft and building a prosperous relationship that will benefit all our CFO South Africa members. You will have the opportunity to meet some of ReadSoft's experts at the 5th CFO South Africa Event on October 3rd at the Saxon Boutique Hotel. Would you like to become a partner of CFO South Africa? We would like to think with you about how we can best match your objectives with those of CFO South Africa. On that basis, we will provide you with a tailor made proposal. Find out general information about opportunities on our Partner Proposal and contact Jurrien Morsch at [email protected] CFO South Africa Partners for the 5th CFO South Africa Event: Do you have any requests, please let us know. Any suggestions or comments are welcome. Kind Regards, Melle Eijckelhoff Director CFO South Africa | [email protected] PS 1. Join the 5th CFO South Africa Event now. Please register here. 2. Follow CFO South Africa on Twitter 3. Your company profile viewed by 3500 finance professionals? Let us interview you! Please contact Jurriën Morsch at [email protected] To control which emails you receive from CFO South Africa, please change your email preferences at cfo.co.za by selecting under settings "I do not want to receive emails from CFO South Africa | Finance Professionals South Africa" Dear CFO South Africa member, Don’t miss CFO South Africa’s Upcoming Event The time to register for the next CFO South Africa Event has come. On Thursday October 3rd 2013 at the Saxon Boutique Hotel, prominent financial professionals and directors will represent Johannesburg’s finest companies at the exclusive 5th CFO South Africa Event. CFO Master Class 16.00-18.00 The 5th CFO South Africa Event, titled “Managing Corporate Growth” will take place on Thursday, October 3rd at the Saxon Boutique Hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg. During this event two Master Classes will take place in which 50 financial professionals will take advantage of an expert speaker providing insight on how you can improve your processes, ICT and skills to enable Corporate Growth. CFO Round Table 16.00-18.00* CFO South Africa is also organising a unique series of exclusive CFO Round Tables from 16.00 to 18.00 on October 3rd at the Saxon Boutique Hotel. You will be able to enjoy an in-depth conversation with an exclusive group of financial executives. During the Round Table we will share ideas and experiences with the challenges to fund, manage and stimulate corporate growth. The CFO Round Table will include 15 carefully selected CFOs who will have the privilege to converse in an intimate setting. If you are a CFO of a top tier company than let us invite you. Please send an email to [email protected]. CFO Café 18.00-20.00 Afterwards the CFO Café will commence, in which 100 other financial professionals, including CFOs and Finance Directors, will be able to network and meet new financial professionals while enjoying an environment that stimulates inspiration and networking. This unique reception, offers you the chance to meet your peers and discuss the latest insights on the role of the CFO. Also you can enjoy a speech by our special guest from the South African Business World, Raj Mahabeer, CFO of Auditor General South Africa. For more information click here or contact Steffie Bosman at [email protected]. CFO South Africa News Read Exclusive CFO South Africa Interviews and Articles · Humphrey Borkum, Chairman JSE Limited: Extraordinary accomplishments since democracy · Alex van der Watt, University of Johannesburg & SAICA: Grooming the CFOs of the future · CFOs discuss their challenges during successful Executive Dinner in Johannesburg. Read more. CFO South Africa Welcomes New Partner CFO South Africa would like to welcome CQS Technology Holdings as the new partner of CFO South Africa. We are looking forward to working with CQS and building a prosperous relationship that will benefit all our CFO South Africa members. Do you have any requests, please let us know. Any suggestions or comments are welcome. Kind Regards, Melle Eijckelhoff Director CFO South Africa | [email protected] PS 1. Join the 5th CFO South Africa Event now. Please register here. 2. Follow CFO South Africa on Twitter 3. Your company profile viewed by 3500 finance professionals? Let us interview you! Please contact Jurriën Morsch at [email protected] * The CFO Round Table is for senior financial executives working in companies with revenues exceeding 100 million rand. If you are not part of the target audience but would like to participate in the event, please contact [email protected] or download our Partner Proposal. Every day, margins are being squeezed, skilled staff members need to be found and growth needs to be funded. The challenges that CFOs and Finance Directors face are multiple and they all come at the same time. What better way to recharge their batteries than bouncing some ideas off fellow finance leaders in the industry? Or shedding some frustrations during a delicious dinner in a top restaurant, surrounded by colleagues who share them? Many South African CFOs and Finance Directors struggle to manage their time properly. IT can lead to many headaches, but can also free up time for the things finance professionals really want to do: look to the future and strategize. That was the conclusion of the participants of the CFO South Africa round table on Tuesday 14 May at The Twelve Apostles Hotel in Cape Town. (In the picture from left to right: Alan Winde, Western Cape Minister of Finance, Kent Karro, Senior Partner Horwath Zeller Karro, Asher Bohbot, CEO EOH, Craig Thompson, Managing director Michael Page) Dear CFO South Africa member, Good day! Hope you had a great start to your week. Thank you for participating with us online with CFO South Africa - here is this week’s update. Interviews with thought leaders Last month our director Melle Eijckelhoff had an exciting visit to Cape Town and Johannesburg and met with several prominent South African thought leaders. Read their interviews here: • Asher Bohbot, CEO EOH: Appropriate expectations in Africa; • Craig Thompson, Managing director Michael Page: Help build a country; • Kent Karro, Senior Partner Horwath Zeller Karro: Dealing with tax morality; Read new interesting articles and interviews on CFO.co.za We had the honour to meet with Minister Alan Winde during our CFO day in The Netherlands and we met with leading CFOs in the Saxon Boutique Hotel. • Alan Winde, Western Cape Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism; In Search of Excellence in Holland; • CFO Round Table in Johannesburg: CFOs exchange notes on IT and automating processes; Your company profile viewed by 3500 finance professionals? Let us interview you! If you also would like to share your ideas with the CFO community, please get in touch with us to arrange an interview. Please contact Jurriën Morsch at [email protected] CFO South Africa announces CFO Awards 2014 We are proud to announce the establishment of a new prestigious yearly award to honour the best performing CFOs in the country. The CFO Awards will take place to honour the best performing CFOs in the country and is preparing to celebrate the success of many others. We are now in the process of composing the jury for the CFO Awards. Victor Sekese, CEO of South Africa’s largest black audit and accounting firm SizweNtsalubaGobodo and Alex van der Watt, Academic and Head of Department of Accountancy - University of Johannesburg and also SAICA board member are the first to commit to be in the jury for the prestigious yearly CFO award ceremony. Are you interested in joining our jury please send an email to [email protected]. Read more on the CFO Awards here. Meet CFO South Africa in 2013 & 2014 • CFO Master Classes and Cafés September 2013 in Cape Town & Sandton • CFO Master Classes and Cafés October 2013 in Cape Town & Sandton • CFO Master Classes and Cafés November 2013 in Cape Town & Sandton • CFO Day & CFO Awards March 2014: cfoday.co.za We are at the stage of planning the definitive dates and topics of our CFO South Africa Fall program as we speak. Please check our website and our bi-weekly newsletter regularly to stay updated on the confirmed dates and topics of these events. Would you like to suggest a speaker, a location or a topic for our next events? Please share your ideas with us and send a mail to [email protected] Become a partner of CFO South Africa Meet top CFOs, claim thought leadership, create value and develop business. Various Global companies like Accenture, Oracle and Tranparent are partners with CFO South Africa. Just like us, they believe we can contribute to the growth of their business and network in South Africa. As a partner of CFO South Africa you find yourself in a network in which you can contribute to sharing knowledge, seizing opportunities and growing your business. Are you interested in a partnership or do you require more information? Please contact [email protected] or visit http://www.cfoafrica.net Are you enthusiastic about CFO South Africa? Please invite your friends and colleagues to join by sending them this link: http://cfo.co.za Do you have any requests, please let us know. Any suggestions or comments are welcome. Kind Regards, Jurriën Morsch Community Manager CFO South Africa | [email protected]. PS • Join CFO South Africa on LinkedIn Take advantage right away: Share knowledge, exchange interests and open up business opportunities with other finance professionals. • Follow CFO South Africa on Twitter Stay connected, up to date and in the loop on what is happening in the world of finance by following us on Twitter. Also to keep track of newly published interviews with CFOs and CEOs. The CFO Round Table on Thursday 16 May at the Saxon Boutique Hotel in Johannesburg turned out to be an extremely successful meeting of minds,in which CFOs from a variety of industries candidly exchanged notes on IT, automating processes and the never-ending struggle to find time to reflect on strategy. Last Thursday 6 June, the CFO Community in Holland had the great honour to welcome Alan Winde - Western Cape Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism - at her annual CFO Day event. During this year’s edition more than 400 CFOs of major Dutch companies discussed “The road to Excellence” during an interactive and lively program. Dear CFO South Africa member, From left to right: Juan Mostert (Dell South and Central Africa), Grant Scrutton (Winhold), Ranga Mabgwe (Stewart Scott International Mafuri), Melle Eijckelhoff (CFO South Africa), Philip Nottingham (abe Construction Chemicals), Alain Ozan (Oracle), Craig Coltman (De Beers) and Sandeep Gandhi (Village Reef Gold Mining Company). Other participants were: Anbann Chetti (Nedbank Corporate Banking), Ian Graham (General Electric Oil & Gas & General Electric Southern Africa), Nichola Dewar (Postbank), Werner Barnard (Kraft Foods) and Pieter Bensch (Oracle). From left to right in the picture: Steffie Bosman (CFO SA), Peter Walsh (Servest), Melle Eijckelhoff (CFO SA), Kudakwashe Chipanda (Johnson & Johnson Medical), Eric van Marle (Transparent), Morrison Smit (Ardor SA), Ranga Mabgwe (Stewart Scott International ), Jobo Moshesh (SITA), Errol Campbell (Edenred South Africa), Amanda Albäck (Tongaat Hulett Starch), Mariette Ebersohn (Mango Airlines) and Carolina van der Ark (Transparent). From left to right in the picture: Michael Van Straten (Servest), Ronel Van Dijk (Spur Group), Rolam Ait Si Birouk CFO (Ropetec), Ian Blackie (Wesgro), Liezl Myburgh (Sanlam Investement Services), Van Zyl Botha (Randgold & Exploration Company), Graham Meyer (Tellumat), Alain Ozan (Oracle), Callen Hodgskiss (HPCA), Pieter Bensch (Oracle), Bhavana Sewlall-Singh (Western Cape Government) and Melle Eijckelhoff (CFO SA). The near-term outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) remains broadly positive, with growth projected to accelerate modestly to around 5½ percent in 2013–14, following a year of strong growth in 2012, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said today. In its May 2013 Regional Economic Outlook, Building Momentum in a Multi-Speed World, the IMF said that these favourable prospects partly reflect the gradually improving outlook for the global economy, while locally, investment in export-oriented sectors is an important driver of growth going forward. Don't miss it! The time for the next CFO South Africa Events is approaching. In May prominent financial professionals and directors will represent Cape Town’s and Johannesburg’s finest companies at the exclusive CFO Round Tables & Cafés on May 14th and 16th respectively. Stay up-to-date and read our newsletter with the latest topics, articles and interviews on CFO South Africa. As always, all activities of CFO South Africa are free to finance professionals. Hope to see you participating in our platforms soon. Since its launch in September 2011 CFO South Africa has become the leading networking platform for CFOs and finance professionals. The fast-growing online and offline community is moulded on a successful formula in The Netherlands, where the platform has become as essential for finance professionals as adding and subtracting. We spoke to Alex van Groningen, founder of the Dutch CFO and South African platforms about the opportunities in South Africa, his business model and the ambitious plans of CFO SA. CFO South Africa on Tuesday announced the establishment of a new prestigious yearly award to honour the best performing CFOs in the country. The fast-growing networking platform for financial professionals is embarking on a process to elect the best Chief Financial Officer of South Africa, culminating in a festive award ceremony in March next year. One of the first influential people who has committed to be on the jury is Victor Sekese, CEO of accounting firm SizweNtsalubaGobodo. Thursday 1 November marked the first ever event organised by CFO South Africa. At the offices of DLA Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr in Cape Town we welcomed over 80 finance professionals from companies such as Nedbank, Accenture, Jasco, Transparent, Nebula, Alexander Forbes, Ernst & Young, Allan Gray, Zando, Kumba Iron Ore, KPMG, PwC, Sanlam, Olam International, Soitec, Old Mutual and IBM. Some people simply seem gifted with the ability to speak in public. While others struggle through nerves and stutters when giving a presentation, others just come up, entertain and inform their audience in an admirable way, seemingly effortless. And on top of it – the audience ends up doing exactly what the speaker intended. Mission accomplished. Why can’t we all be like that? There has been a sharp decline in confidence in the local economic situation. This is according to the Graduate Professionals Confidence Index compiled by insurance and investment company PPS. A survey released by Ernst & Young today, indicates that confidence in the asset management industry fell yet again in the third quarter of 2011. The fall in confidence levels was once again moderate, with confidence somewhat below long-term average levels (84 index points). During the last couple of years, many of South Africa’s companies changed their strategy. Unfortunately, not all of them have proven to be successful. Which skills are essential for an advocate of change within an organisation to change their strategy or direction? Black South Africans own at least 17 per cent of the 100 top companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, according to an initial study, the head of the exchange said Tuesday. We came across this very interesting read on www.leader.co.za. The feature is written by Gary Hamel: Professor of Strategic & International Management at London Business School, and co-founder of the Management Lab. Although the crisis in Europe and the United States might seem far away, they are very, very close. South African CFOs are very aware of that, proves the 2011 Deloitte CFO Survey. “South African CFOs are cautious about the future, perhaps wisely so.” The survey reveals that while the 2009 recession may be over, CFOs are only dipping their toes into the growth pool, while keeping a careful eye on costs and margins. The aftermath of the financial crisis has brought with it an additional regulatory burden which is at risk of stifling growth. Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) are the fastest growing percentage of corporate fraudsters, according to a survey by forensic audit firm KPMG. For the first time ever two companies, Nedbank Group and Gold Fields, have been declared the joint overall winners in the annual Ernst & Young Excellence in Corporate Reporting Survey. CFO.co.za aims to increase the knowledge of CFOs in South Africa as well as exchange ideas and information. As an example of useful topics to be discussed within this online community, we showcase a Top 5: Necessary (soft) Skills for finance professionals - according to the finance professionals themselves.Master Class Kerry Jenkins, Head Regulatory and Compliance KPMG: `Good governance is good for business`
Stanford Payne: Does a CFO on 'sabbatical' actually have burnout?
The CFO's approach to analysing an M&A transaction
Minister Ivan Meyer gives CFOs insights in the public & private sector
CA examination changes - good news or bad news?
Going to Ghana? Why CFOs shouldn't lose out
Jonathan le Roux: Is Fraud in your rearview mirror?
Stanford Payne, Executive Coach: how to become a happier CFO
Saying NO to the CEO!
Lesley Plaistowe, Partner at IBM: cloud lightens your balance sheet
Identify key priorities and challenges for today's finance management: 4th Annual Finance Priorities Survey
Exeptional Business Leaders - "Don't find fault, find a remedy"
InnoVent and Transparent impress at Capital & Finance event
Interview Guideline CFO Awards
South African top CFOs share their thoughts at CFO SA dinner
Marie McCrea, Partner CIL: CFO - A Vision for the Future
David Gleason, Owner of DealMakers Magazine: There are deals cooking
Top CFOs discuss outlook 2014 during Executive Dinner
CFO South Africa Newsletter; Strategic CFO: Are you a catalyst for change? | Claudelle von Eck CEO IIA | Deon Rossouw, CEO of EthicsSA | New Articles | CFO Events 2014
Koosh Panday, Business Development Manager at Sappi: The case for Readsoft
CFO South Africa Newsletter | The 5th CFO South Africa Event | Download the Presentations | New Articles | Steven Cohen Sage Pastel | Dalu Majeke National Treasury
Presentation IQ Business: Managing Risk for Growth
Victor Sekese, CEO of SizweNtsalubaGobodo: Never underestimate people
Tomorrow's CFO. Download the presentation of Ross Hampton, Divisional Director CQS
Focus on growth and innovation at successful 5th CFO South Africa Event
CFO South Africa Newsletter | Interview with CFO of Metorex | Finance Director of Waltons | CPD Points | Agenda 2014
CFO South Africa events are eligible for SAICA CPD points (continuous professional development)
Upcoming 5th CFO South Africa Event on Managing Corporate Growth
CFO South Africa Newsletter | Nel: You can not walk away, after giving your advice | Mocke: Don't give me numbers, tell me what they mean | Two CFO Round Tables October 3rd
The 5th CFO South Africa Event Registration Closed | Brooks: If we don't do it - some foreign country will | Zimmelman: Trained technicians are hard to come by in South Africa
CFO South Africa Newsletter | Guest Speaker Aarti Takoordeen | 140 Participants for the 5th CFO South Africa Event
CFO South Africa Newsletter July 18th 2013: Upcoming Event October 3rd 2013 | CFO South Africa Welcomes New Partner
CFOs discuss their challenges during successful Executive Dinner in Johannesburg
Cape Town CFO Round Table: Making IT a Priority
Alan Winde visits Holland | CFO Awards 2014 | CFO Round Table in the Saxon | Interview CEO EOH | CFO South Africa Newsletter June 19th 2013
CFO Round Table Johannesburg: CFOs exchange notes on IT and automating processes
Alan Winde in Search of Excellence in Holland
CFO South Africa Newsletter May 22nd 2013
CFO Round Table: 'Transforming a day in the life of a CFO'
Top CFOs discuss challenges during Executive Dinner
South African CFOs find common ground
IMF Sees Positive Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa
Come to the CFO South Africa Cafés in May
CFO South Africa Newsletter April 10th 2013
It is time for CFO South Africa
CFO SA announces CFO awards 2014
First CFO South Africa event in Cape Town huge success
5 Most often made mistakes during presentations
Professionals concerned about economy
Asset Manager confidence falls again, in line with market volatility
5 Essential skills for a successful corporate change
Blacks own 17pc of South African bourse
How to achieve a powerful position at work?
South African CFO remains cautious
CEO as the typical corporate fraudster?
Nedbank Group and Gold Fields achieve Ernst & Young excellence
Top 5 (Soft) Skills for Finance Professionals