Risk & Compliance

The growing burden of governance and compliance has far reaching consequences for CFOs that get it wrong. For those who accept the velocity and complexity of their compliance and governance environment, there is the opportunity to move first and even develop a competitive edge.

11 October 2017

How can you exercise corporate governance diligence and skill? Finance Indaba sneak peek 30

Corporate governance failures manifested in illicit conduct and fraud negatively affects your company's prospect of economic growth, public faith and corporate reputation. Unfortunately, all too often, deceitful and falsified business transactions are approved by boards and management simply on the basis of trust. Having spent over 25 years supporting organisations to develop corporate governance frameworks that prevent, detect and remediate (as prescribed in KING IV) illicit conduct, SNG's Peter Goss will discuss a blend of corporate governance guidance, principles and practices for boards, management, CFOs, company secretaries, and other combined assurance providers who will help you to create sustainable value and mitigate related threats. In this lively master class, you will be challenged to adopt a sceptical mindset focused on sustainable value creation and business integrity, a constructively sceptical professional demeanour, and an advanced level of due probity, due diligence and scrutiny. Learn from corporate governance failures the stark and blatant realities, enhance your professional due care and skill, and improve your corporate sustainability in this fascinating Finance Indaba Africa session.

10 October 2017

Finance Indaba 2017: Auditor-General of SA stresses accountability in finance

"In the past year, the AGSA’s general (“state-of-nation”) reports were built around a theme of accountability and we see CFO’s, both in public and private sectors, as critical players in making sure that accountability in our country, with specific reference to public finance and performance management, is strengthened," says Jan van Schalkwyk, corporate executive at the Auditor-General of SA (AGSA), a silver partner at the Finance Indaba Africa 2017 on 12 and 13 October 2017 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

04 October 2017

Nkonki is future-ready. Are you?

Black-owned auditing firm Nkonki has always been synonymous with trailblazing. Founded in 1993 by brother and sister Mzi Nkonki and Sindi Zilwa, the second black woman in South Africa to become a chartered accountant, Nkonki was born into the turmoil of pre-democratic South Africa and faced numerous challenges, including access to funding and intellectual capital. Under Sindi’s aggressive and stereotype-shattering leadership, Nkonki would soon become one of the largest black empowerment assurance and advisory firms and the only majority female-owned auditing firm in South Africa to be accredited by the JSE to audit listed companies.

02 October 2017

The evolution of technology and compliance requirements: Finance Indaba sneak peek 12

Financial service providers, from banks to broker dealers to investment advisors, face complex requirements of an expanding global regulatory landscape. Non-compliance with the rules can be extremely costly and damaging. But how can we address the regulatory requirements without losing operational efficiencies? Dominic Suszek, President and CEO of Global RADAR, has over 30 years of experience in the global financial industry. He will share his vision and experiences from a global perspective; from epic failures in compliance to the impact of technology. What is the state of compliance globally? How can we build efficient compliance processes? Dominic will show you how many financial institutions have successfully deployed a new breed of compliance tools. Join this Finance Indaba Africa session, hosted by DocFox, and discover the critical components of an effective and efficient compliance programme.

29 September 2017

Does your internal audit create real value for business?: Finance Indaba sneak peek 10

Internal audit is an integral part of the governance processes within an organisation but is it providing real business value? They provide the ears, eyes and the internal evaluation of organisational activities to both the organisation executive and governing bodies. With great technology, internal audit has the opportunity to be more than checks and balances, though it will have to partner effectively. If you want to improve the business value of your internal audit, this session with Charles Nel, Head of Technical at IIA SA, will offer insights and practical steps to achieving a next level internal audit. Don't miss out at this year's Finance Indaba Africa.

13 September 2017

Finance Indaba 2017: IIA SA creates value for business

"Internal auditors are an integral part of the governance processes within an organisation. They provide the ears, eyes and the internal evaluation of organisational activities to both the organisation executive and governing bodies," says Dr Claudelle von Eck, CEO of the Institute of Internal Auditors SA (IIA SA), a silver partner at the Finance Indaba Africa 2017 on 12 and 13 October 2017 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

11 September 2017

Auditor independence under the spotlight

“Professional skepticism is about auditing the time, mindset, attitude and related questions about how management has scouted the transactions and applied judgments and assessments within disclosures in the financial statements as well,” says Ken Siong, technical director of the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA). “It’s very critical [to have professional skepticism] to enable auditors to get to the bottom of issues to make sure they can be confident and evaluate critical issues, and whether those issues have been accounted for and presented in financial statements.”

24 August 2017

Risk-averse companies struggling with digital transformation - report

Overcoming aversion to risk is one of the most important characteristics of digitally native companies, according to a new study released today by MIT Sloan Management Review (MIT SMR) and Deloitte Digital. The sixth annual study, in its third year focusing on digital business, found that 71 percent of digitally maturing organizations have conquered this barrier by encouraging their organizations to experiment and accept the risk of failure, compared to 29 percent of early stage companies. The study, “Achieving Digital Maturity: Adapting Your Company to a Changing World,” examines the digital transformation habits of “digitally maturing” companies and what sets them apart from “digitally early stage” companies.

23 August 2017

Leaders who show their vulnerability are appreciated, says Nonkululeko Gobodo

“It breaks my heart when I see talented young females and they are just sitting on boards as non-executive directors,” says Nonkululeko Gobodo, the country’s first-ever female chartered accountant. “If women are quitting, we are not going to produce the leaders we need,” she says. Nonkululeko sat down with CFO South Africa to talk about being a role model for female CAs, her deliberate but painful departure from SizweNtsalubaGobodo, and the new chapter in her professional life as a leadership consultant.

26 July 2017

Robust business conversations drive a high-quality audit, says Deloitte's Andrew Mackie

“I would encourage every incoming CFO to find a way to do some deep thinking as to who they are and how to fill the role,” says Andrew Mackie, Deloitte’s new Head of Audit & Assurance for Africa, comprising 15 countries and 185 partners. In this interview, Andrew talks to CFO South Africa about his passion for audit and transformation, the balancing act that finance executives have to go through every day, and how clarity of purpose and priority is what really matters for a leader.

03 July 2017

CFOs should expect more change coming, says Standard Bank CIB's Suzette Els

“Allow compliance to participate in front line engagement to create a mutual understanding on key client challenges and pro-actively pick-up on key client challenges,” advises Suzette Els, Chief Compliance Officer for Standard Bank Corporate and Investment Banking. In this article, part of a series from Standard Bank specialists, Suzette talks about trends in the compliance space, how clients are being assisted with these, and what CFOs should expect.

19 April 2017

Cost, risk and digital are top priorities in uncertain times, says Deloitte

A need for increased profitability in a low-growth domestic economy and increased global uncertainty are pushing chief procurement officers (CPOs) to add more value to their organisations. Defensive strategies being implemented by CFOs are demanding rapid, sustained cost reduction in parallel to a greater focus on risk from procurement. Traditional procurement operating models are therefore changing, driven by a lack of talent and an increase in digital innovation.

23 March 2017

The king of governance: WATCH Prof Mervyn King at #findaba16

Professor Mervyn King is recognised internationally as an expert on corporate governance and sustainability and is in great demand as an arbitrator and mediator. He is a founding member of the Arbitration Foundation of Southern Africa and for some eight years was the South African judge at the ICC International Court of Arbitration in Paris. He has acted as an Inspector of Companies and a Commissioner of Inquiries into the affairs of companies. He has chaired many meetings for the compromise of creditors of companies and the rearrangement of shareholders’ interests and lectured on corporate issues in 38 countries.

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