It might surprise you to learn that even the top financial officers in the country indulge in their own guilty pleasures and have downtime activities just like anyone else. From playing with LEGO bricks to sneaking in some reality TV when no one is watching, CFOs have their own ways of relaxing and unwinding.
“It might also surprise people to learn that CFOs have ways of working, destressing, and even goal setting that are not a lot unlike the ordinary person on the street. Behind every number is a person, as they say, and even the most successful CFOs have passions and pet peeves, strengths we see and weaknesses that we don’t,” notes Alwyn Pretorius, General Manager at Infinitus Reporting.
The position of a chief financial officer is demanding and high-pressure. To understand what drives these leaders, Infinitus Reporting Solutions, creators of Finnivo® software, offers a glimpse into the daily lives of some of the country’s top finance professionals.
In the ‘How I Work’ series, sponsored by Finnivo®, leading CFOs from South Africa reveal their personal strategies for success and share a more personal side of themselves, including how they manage stress and their favorite indulgences.
Take Leslie Pretorius, Head of Group Finance at OUTsurance, for example. Contrary to popular belief that successful people rise early, Leslie admits to being a night owl who thrives on inspiration from midnight to 3 AM. “Waking up early is hard,” she confesses. She uses her passion for equestrian sports to cope with the pressures of her role and finds entertainment in celebrity antics on TV. Meanwhile, Mary-Anne Musekiwa, CFO at Coronation Fund Managers, sees binge-watching cooking shows as her guilty pleasure but heads to the golf course to alleviate stress.
The issue of work-life balance is becoming increasingly relevant, especially in high-stress careers like finance. A recent study on ‘Secrets of Successful CFOs’ highlighted that only 27% of CFOs achieve a satisfactory balance, with 83% experiencing frequent burnout. This makes sense given that Teljoy CFO Saul Gur keeps a drawer stocked with snacks and LEGO at his desk—a testament to the importance of maintaining balance and avoiding burnout in a demanding role.
Thriving in the CFO role
“A CFO is fundamentally a custodian of trust in a business, but there are so many stakeholders you have to engage and keep happy all the time. It can be a challenge, juggling these responsibilities,” says Musekiwa. “You need to be a strategic thinker. You can’t be a technocrat. You also have to be someone who can lead people both directly and indirectly.”
For Pretorius, having a team that understands the importance of enthusiasm and relationship-building is essential. “Building relationships and showing up with enthusiasm is key. You have to be able to jump in and get things done without being restricted by strict job descriptions.”
Despite their unique approaches to the challenges of their roles, CFOs share some common traits, such as a fondness for Excel and a mutual disdain for “meetings that could have been emails.”
CFOs and finance leaders are often characterized by their analytical skills, but they want others to recognize that they are more than just number crunchers. As Saul Gur puts it, “The reason I love Shawshank Redemption so much is because it’s a story about two things people would never think an accountant could do – murder someone, and escape from jail.”
Discover more insights and learn what life is like for South Africa’s leading CFOs with the ‘How I Work’ series, sponsored by Finnivo® in partnership with SAICA.