Tag: Dzingira Matenga

Having a backup plan is a given not a nice-to-have. Whether you are automatically archiving historical client data or testing a new cybersecurity strategy, backup planning helps to keep the business running smoothly. However, simply being prepared is not enough – your business must be resilient.

The fact remains that training people to acquire the necessary future skills is essential. We need to have people equipped to not only do their work effectively but also to compete globally. However, skills alone are not enough – experience matters.

As CFOs take on a more strategic role, other functions are increasingly looking to finance for near real-time and more accurate forecast reporting to make more informed business decisions. Although historical reporting remains relevant, organisations are looking to the finance role for instant guidance amid changing market dynamics.

Despite innovation and change in the finance function, many CFOs are taking on this critical leadership role only to continue running the finance function as is. The actual value-unlock is achieved by digitising your finance function to free up your teams to focus on improved capital allocation, identification of growth opportunities and innovation as well as the application of sustainability techniques to drive down operating costs and reduce your organisation's carbon footprint.

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) role has evolved significantly. No longer is it a hindsight role recording what happened, but it has pivoted to give future-focussed business-critical direction.

Read our exclusive cover story titled CFO’s & CX! - IS FINANCE EVOLVING FROM HINDSIGHT TO FORESIGHT & INSIGHT? by Dzingira Matenga, Managing Director, CFO & Enterprise Value, Accenture in Africa, as well a host of other topical management articles written by professionals, consultants and academics in the December/January 2021/22 edition of BusinessBrief.