Page 21 - KZN Leaders Portfolio E-BOOK 2107

Managing Partner Regional Audit at KPMG From financial services, he also obtained experience
in pharmaceuticals, oil and gas as well as retail and
AROUK EBRAHIM’s successful professional consumer products for a range of major clients.
career has been based on placing emphasis on
personal growth and taking advantage of the “From a career perspective, EY was a good experience
F opportunities that have presented themselves for me and I was happy working there. However, my wife
along his journey. He says that life gives you and children really wanted to go back to Durban. If your
challenges to which you have to find solutions. “Not family is not happy, you can’t be happy,” said Ebrahim.
sure how it happens but I have found that I constantly He consequently approached KPMG with the intention
reinvent myself and evolve to meet the present of relocating to Durban. “I really liked the culture and
circumstances. I have the strength to take on something believed I would fit nicely into the KPMG world.” He
new and make it work.” joined KPMG in 2007.
Ebrahim says that he draws inspiration from his family At KPMG in KZN, Ebrahim headed the Management
whose happiness is crucial to him. He grew up in Stanger, Consulting division from September 2007 to March 2017.
KwaZulu-Natal, which, at the time, only boasted of one The Management Consulting division has assisted and led
chartered accountant. to the growth of many clients in the province. Ebrahim
also noted the team was less than 10 in 2007, and few
His started his articles in 1995 with Desai Jadwat years later over 30. “What was interesting about this was
Incorporated. After completing his articles, he applied when you add the staff of the three main competitors it
for a job at Albaraka Bank, where he became principle was less than 30, so KPMG Management Consulting was
officer in the internal audit department. This position the biggest and probably the best in KZN.”
was followed by a short period of time as an internal
auditor at Hosken Consolidated Investment Limited. His career was to take another turn when the audit
division asked him to do a strategy session for them. “My
One particular day when he was reading the passion has always been in audit and, as such, I asked
newspaper, he came across an advertisement for if I could go back to work there. From June 2016, I was
a position to work in London. He got the job and allocated 25 percent of my time in Audit. The move into
relocated in August 2001 with the “intention of staying Audit was not easy as legislation had changed I had to go
there forever”. For him and his wife, as well as their update myself on the many new requirements.”
extended families who encouraged their relocation,
this international opportunity was sensational. On 1st of November 2016, Ebrahim was appointed
Managing Partner Regional Audit while still maintaining the
There, among other service delivery responsibilities, Head of Management Consulting. However by the 1st of
Ebrahim was responsible for auditing some of the most March 2017, Ebrahim was able to hand over the Management
established banks and financial institutions worldwide. The Consulting responsibilities and focus only on Audit.
company he worked for in London was Ernst & Young (EY).
Ebrahim’s professional journey has afforded him the
Working in London was great, however, the family opportunity to see himself as someone who is replaceable,
really missed South Africa. The distance was made which is essential for sustainability and has also allowed
more poignant after his father passed away and the him to change focus with ease.
family decided to return to Durban. But due to a last
minute change in a job offer, Ebrahim found himself “Everything that I know I make sure that my team knows
working for EY in Johannesburg, while his wife and and it is documented. I am a visionary leader and I like
children lived in Durban. This situation, he said, to show the people that I work with the end game I have
was a challenging period in his life as he missed his in mind. I enjoy developing people’s growth through
family and often drove through the night to spend mentoring and make time for this process on a daily
basis. I start my day early to get administrative work out
time with them.
of the way. Although I can be a democratic leader, I am
Consequently, his wife and children moved to flexible and respond to what a situation demands. I try
Johannesburg with the understanding that they would, to cover all my bases depending on the time, place and
at some point, return to Durban. circumstance. At times I have had to be assertive, while in
other situations collaborative and inclusive.”
While at EY, Ebrahim was given the audit responsibility
for one of the firm’s biggest clients, Investec. “I was able In reflecting on his career, Ebrahim concluded,
to draw from my London experience and also applied “I don’t have a fear of doing things and feel that I have
project management as one of my key strengths.” His not stopped growing and I always look for growth
ability to drive the auditing process and successfully opportunities. I have learnt that you have to push
manage other senior managers and partners saw him yourself. My goal now is to ensure that the KPMG Audit
making Partner in 2006. Division is the best in KZN.”

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