Page 114 - KZN Top Busines Portfolio 2020/21

THE FD CENTRE SOUTH AFRICA

Rowan De Klerk
www.fdcentre.co.za

WE DEFINE AND DELIVER THE NUMBERS broad business acumen as FD or CEO of their own
business venture or as corporate CFOs with 20 to 30
THAT “REALLY” MATTER
years of senior management experience. All their FDs
The FD Centre was established in South Africa in are qualified and registered chartered accountants
2010 to provide medium-size businesses and larger (SAICA or CIMA). They have walked the walk.
corporations with the skill-set of a part-time or An FD is not merely assigned to a company, each
temporary finance director. engagement is carefully assessed based on the
The FD Centre South Africa is part of an international company’s culture, leadership and business needs as
group founded in the UK in 2001 by current chairman well as the economic sector, which tends to go beyond
Colin Mills. Over the last two years The FD Centre has qualification and years of experience. All FDs are
become the largest and most respected provider of carefully screened and psychometrically profiled to
part-time finance director (FD) services in South Africa. ensure they are aligned to the business purpose, culture
and leadership style of the company. It is imperative
The FD Centre works with business owners, entre- that they have the necessary qualities to help guide the
preneurs and corporate executives on business and
financial strategy, operational finance improvements organisation through intense, high growth, as well as
and efficiencies and helps to provide business support ever changing and challenging economic times.
by managing key stakeholder relationships inside and The FD is essential for ensuring that business oper-
outside the organisation. ations are effectively optimised to achieve cost-
benefit, focusing not only on profit improvement,
Ambitious companies are provided access to top notch
part-time FDs working on their business, bringing but making sure that cash flows required to sustain
“big business experience” at a fraction of the cost of a the organisation for the long term are properly
managed. “Matt helped us make sense of it all, while
full-time resource. In this way the owner and business also providing assistance on various projects ranging
benefit tremendously. Not only is there a highly skilled from cash planning to restructuring the finance team
person with the relevant experience that the owner and ensuring a succession plan is in place. His input
can turn to as a sounding board; but The FD Centre is not restricted to finance, however; I have often
Principal also brings reassurance and science to the
forward planning process, to ensure that all meaningful used him as a sounding board, and I consider him a
opportunities can be taken advantage of and that the resource for general business guidance and advice.”
Ronelle Kleyn CEO – FluidRock.
owner is freed up to focus on the core value drivers of
the business. The FD not only manages finances, but coaches and
mentors the CEO to help achieve his/her dream and
The FD Centre’s other target market is the “Office of
the CFO” in large corporations. Here high level capacity vision for the business. A primary goal is to assist in
is required as and when the need arises. This may be taking the business forward through developing a
robust, future proof business and financial strategy.
in the form of “specialised” and “focused projects”; or While entrepreneurs often have a specific set of skills
through the provision of “interim placements” whilst in product innovation or business development, they
the company addresses resourcing and capacity
issues. In both cases there is assurance that key issues do not always have deep knowledge of best practice
are being dealt with by professionals with proven finance processes and systems. The FD provides
know-how and experience. a support function that will go beyond finance to
include aspects such as leadership, coaching IT,
The FD Centre engages Principals with strategic and relationship management and human resources. “We
commercial capability. Typically, their FDs have gained were impressed by The FD Centre’s ability to look at a
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