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THE PERFECT STORM WITHIN YOUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT

Rajes Govender CA(SA), The common theme in these question is just a waste of time.
FD Vedanta – Executive Solutions businesses is that most of these Once you see the signs, take
business owners have fallen prey action. Engage the services of a
o any of the following to having the majority of their financial governance expert to
apply to your finance financial affairs in the hands give you insight into what the
Ddepartment? of one person. This situation is best way forward would be for

■ Unplanned leave by your head despite their business having your finance team to support
of finance cannot be taken due grown and being able to afford a the business with accurate
to no backup plan in place more sustainable financial team. meaningful information
timeously, with proper backup
■ Ongoing overtime being Business owners generally plans in place, and internal
worked by the head of finance enquire from their head of controls.
■ You ask for financial reports finance if more resources are
and never get them on time needed. In fact, they continue to Maintaining a sound financial
■ When you eventually get the ask this question over and over department requires ongoing
effort. As the business changes,
financial reports, it is just again as they endure more and so too must the resourcing
numbers rather than more of the signs mentioned and internal controls within
information. above. That is equivalent to the finance department. So,
asking a person drowning in
Whether or not you realise a pool whether or not they make this part of your business
it, the above are signs of the need your help. Of course, they culture and reap the pleasant
perfect ‘storm’ of inaccurate need help. Asking a rhetorical rewards of peace of mind. 
results and possible fraud within
your finance department. The T: +27 (0)65 859 5048
storm could be brewing or well info@fdvedanta.co.za
underway. As businesses grow in www.fdvedanta.co.za
turnover, many business owners
find it very challenging moving
from having a bookkeeper as the
head of finance to an experienced
financial manager as the head
of finance. Photograph by: Lukas from Pexels

HR POST SONA AND IN THE NEW POLITICAL LANDSCAPE

Peter Streng, Founder I am going to be the eternal These initiatives were roundly business leaders and the HR the out-dated, conservative
and Director RUBIQ optimist and assume that the ‘New applauded by the President of the practitioners must become and un-empowering existing
Dawn’ has well and truly birthed Durban Chamber of Commerce actively involved with real, HR models so pervasive
W months and years to come. As in an article published in the Jobs Summit, Investment professionals should apply
and Industry, Musa Makhunga,
in South Africa today. HR
honest intent in the proposed
and will grow and mature in the
business leaders and the human
previous edition of the KZN
Conference, Youth Employment innovative, technology-driven
hen I wrote resources (HR) fraternity, we must Business Sense. Service initiative and other best practices to manage HR in
government initiatives, but not
these start-ups.
press on in this present reality,
part one of regardless. The initiatives, in which business as co-opted parties, but, as said,
this article and HR could play a meaningful equal partners. 4. Unashamedly Ethical
(published in I mentioned that in this edition role, are inter alia: Conduct business and
the previous I would address how business and 3. Localisation Programme HR policies and procedures
edition HR could positively and decisively 1. Presidential Advisory Council To stimulate the economy, unashamedly ethically to
of KZN respond to the challenges of Although the various employer Government intends to make prevent further debacles.
Business Sense – Vol.4 No.1) – I inequality, unemployment and bodies will automatically be strategic use of incentives Emulate the heroes and
was, like most South Africans poverty and that I would be exact invited to serve on the proposed and other measures and launch heroines who testified before
caught up in the jubilation of as to how I see HR’s specific role Presidential Advisory Council, a localisation programme for the recent various
Ramaphoria, (hopefully not in the promised new era and business leaders should embrace products designated for local parliamentary committees.
naively). But, alas, as some dispensation. and accept the invitations, manufacturing, e.g. clothing,
predicted, the national mood of but on their own terms; boldly furniture, water meters, Here’s your chance, HR
optimism could and would soon In President Ramaphosa’s SONA demand concessions as equal etc. These are huge green-field professionals! Speak out at
fade into Ramaphobia. The jury address, he announced a number partners! If Government wants investment and job-creation Manco, Exco and/or board
is still out in this regard. For the of initiatives to steer SA Inc. in the help of the private sector, opportunities going a-begging. meetings. Stand-up for what is
purposes of this debate, however, the right economic direction. then they should respect the right! Be the devil’s advocate, be
private sector as the only These investment opportunities the soul and conscience of your
ought to be pursued with
(private) revenue producing purpose, not for the sake of organisation! If you don’t, you
sector, without whom there should not be in HR!
is no prosperous state. Hence, potential incentives only, but to While obviously not exhaustive,
grow the economic pie
Government needs to come to fund the other proposed the above are a few specific areas
to the party as regards policy SONA initiatives. These include
certainty conducive to in which HR can impact their
economic growth, take supporting black industrialists, worlds post-SONA. 
infrastructure development,
corruption and state capture investment in SMMEs and
head-on, address the imminent township enterprises, T: +27 (0) 31 767 0608
collapse of some state owned C: +27 (0) 76 413 4575
enterprises (SoEs), prevent empowering the digital peter@rubiq.co.za
industrial economy (the
public sector implosions so-called Fourth Industrial www.rubiq.co.za
(service delivery), implement Revolution), National Health
empowering frameworks, etc.
Initiative (NHI), free higher
2. National Summits and education and so on.
Initiatives Here is where HR can come
Likewise, with vim and vigour, into its own by not duplicating

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