Strategic Finance Leadership for Growth, Governance and Performance
I work with businesses, boards, trustees and shareholders to bring financial clarity, commercial discipline, and practical strategic insight to critical moments of growth, change, and decision-making. As a CFO, board director, and advisor, I help organisations strengthen performance, manage risk, and build the financial foundations for long-term value creation.
The best fractional CFO's and business partners build capability and strength in your organisation instead of creating dependency. A fruitful engagement means your organisation can operate more successfully and independently post my engagement.
About
I am an accomplished finance executive, board director, and Chartered Accountant with more than 20 years of experience across complex businesses, diverse industries, and global markets.
Over the course of my career, I have held senior finance leadership roles in listed companies, multinational groups, privately held businesses, and family office environments, building a strong track record in financial strategy, governance, risk management, operational performance, and stakeholder engagement.
Most recently, I served as CFO at Oppenheimer Generations, where I led the finance function across a broad portfolio spanning South Africa and several African markets. That role gave me the opportunity to work across commercial entities, the family office, investment structures, philanthropic initiatives, and entrepreneurial ventures, while supporting boards, trustees, and executive stakeholders with clear financial insight and disciplined decision-making.
Earlier in my career, I held senior finance roles at Barloworld, Netcare, Lonrho and Imperial, each of which strengthened my experience in financial leadership, transformation, operational control, and strategic business partnering.
In 2025, I established ZZ Advisory Services in response to a growing need I had noticed over many years: organisations often require CFO-level leadership, commercial insight, and governance support, but not always in a permanent full-time format. Through consulting, fractional CFO work, and non-executive roles, I now bring that experience to businesses that need a trusted finance partner at key moments in their journey.
Known for my team-centric approach and my ability to navigate dynamic economic environments, I bring both rigour and pragmatism to the work I do.
My Services
Fractional CFO
I provide CFO-level leadership to businesses that need experienced financial oversight, strategic guidance, and commercial discipline without the need for a full-time appointment.
This is ideal for organisations that are growing, restructuring, improving performance, or strengthening their finance capability. I work closely with founders, CEOs, other CFOs, boards, and leadership teams to improve visibility, support better decisions, and create a stronger financial platform for growth.
Areas of support:
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Financial strategy and planning
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Cash flow, treasury, and working capital management
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Budgeting, forecasting, and performance reporting
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Commercial decision support
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Leadership support for finance teams
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Board and stakeholder reporting
I offer practical, high-value advisory support across a range of financial and strategic priorities.
Each engagement is tailored to the specific needs of the business. I work closely with clients to understand their operations, challenges, and objectives, and then design practical solutions that improve performance, strengthen decision-making, and reduce unnecessary complexity. My approach is grounded in real-world finance leadership and shaped by an understanding of how finance functions operate within growing and evolving businesses.
Areas of support:
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Financial modelling and scenario analysis
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Margin and profitability improvement
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Working capital optimisation
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Reporting quality and business insight
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Finance process and control reviews
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Strategic and operational decision support
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Management reporting and dashboard development
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Audit navigation and support
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Automation opportunity reviews
Financial Advisory
Non-Executive Director
I serve as a Non-Executive Director with a strong commercial, governance, and risk lens.
I help boards strengthen oversight, challenge constructively, and maintain focus on performance, sustainability, and long-term value creation. With experience across more than 25 boards during my career, I bring a practical understanding of fiduciary responsibility, board dynamics, and the balance between strategic ambition and sound governance.
Areas of support:
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Governance and fiduciary oversight
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Risk and control focus
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Board reporting and financial insight
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Strategic review and challenge
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Stakeholder and shareholder engagement
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Long-term value creation
Automation Opportunities:
Many businesses have processes that are repetitive, time-consuming, or prone to manual error. Through a structured review of workflows, systems, and data processes, I help identify opportunities where automation can improve accuracy, reduce manual effort, and free teams to focus on more strategic work.
Management Reporting, Dashboard Development & Financial Modelling:
I help organisations turn data into insight by designing reporting structures, dashboards, and financial models that support clearer, faster, and better decision-making.
Audit Navigation:
I provide support to senior finance teams during year-end audits and auditor-led projects, helping reduce disruption to daily operations while ensuring the process is well managed and stakeholder interactions are handled effectively.
Special Advisory Support:
I also advise on broader financial and operational matters, including financial controls, structure reviews, special projects, and management decision support, always with a practical and commercially grounded approach.
Advisory & Bespoke Solutions
Strategic Finance Leadership for Growth, Governance and Performance
Why Work With Me
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20+ years of senior finance leadership across complex businesses and diverse sectors
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Board experience across 25+ private company boards
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Family office experience
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Experience in dealing with trust structures
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Strong commercial and strategic lens, grounded in operational reality
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Deep expertise in governance, risk, treasury, and performance management
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Trusted advisor to boards, shareholders, trustees, and executive teams
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Experience across corporates, family offices, entrepreneurial ventures, and non-profits
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A practical, calm, and team-oriented leadership style
Core Expertise
Financial Leadership & Strategy
Shaping financial strategy to support growth, resilience, and long-term value creation. This includes aligning finance with business priorities, supporting strategic planning, and helping leadership teams make sound, forward-looking decisions in dynamic environments.
Governance, Risk & Compliance
Strengthening board oversight, fiduciary discipline, and effective risk management. I bring a practical understanding of governance frameworks, compliance expectations, and the importance of balancing control, accountability, and strategic agility.
Treasury, Liquidity & Capital Allocation
Managing cash, capital, and balance sheet priorities to support business performance. This includes liquidity planning, treasury oversight, working capital optimisation, and helping businesses allocate capital in ways that support both stability and growth.
Performance Reporting & Financial Insight
Improving the quality of reporting and turning financial information into better decisions. I help organisations strengthen management reporting, board reporting, dashboards, and financial analysis so that leaders have clearer visibility into performance and can act with confidence.
Turnaround & Restructuring Support
Helping businesses improve financial control, stabilise performance, and navigate change. This includes strengthening financial discipline, reviewing cost structures, improving visibility, and supporting leadership through periods of transition, restructuring, or operational reset.
Investment Analysis & Structuring
Supporting commercial and investment decisions with sound financial analysis. I bring experience in evaluating opportunities, testing assumptions, assessing returns, and supporting investment and structuring decisions with clear financial rigour.
Finance Team Leadership
Building and guiding capable finance teams with clarity, accountability, and development focus. I believe strong finance leadership is not only about technical delivery, but also about building teams that are aligned, empowered, and able to support the wider business effectively.
Systems, Controls & Process Improvement
Improving finance processes, controls, and supporting systems for stronger execution. This includes reviewing workflows, strengthening internal controls, identifying automation opportunities, and improving the efficiency and reliability of the finance function.
Experience Highlights
Founder, ZZ Advisory Services
CFO, Oppenheimer Generations
Finance Director (Consultant), EOH Nextec Holdings
Group CFO, Lonrho Holdings
Financial Director, Netcare Hospital Division
Financial Director, Barloworld Handling
Articles at Deloitte
Selected Board Experience
Served on more than 25 private company boards across sectors including:
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Healthcare
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Industrial equipment
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Retail
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Travel and tourism
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Software development
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Investment and financial services
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Non-profit / PBO ventures
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Aviation
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Hospitality
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Property holding
This breadth of board exposure enables a strong understanding of governance across varied ownership models (including trusts), operating environments, and strategic priorities.
Finance leadership when clarity, discipline, and insight matter most
Whether you need an experienced Fractional CFO, a trusted financial advisor, or a commercially minded Non-Executive Director, I bring the financial leadership and board perspective to help your organisation move forward with confidence.