Robert Muhia’s career trajectory is marked by significant roles in prominent financial institutions. Currently serving as the Group CFO at Zamara Group, he has been instrumental in directing financial operations and strategy across multiple countries.
His previous role as group head of finance at the same company saw him partner with senior leadership to drive profitability and optimal financial performance, while ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and overseeing internal controls. His strategic oversight has been crucial in steering the company towards achieving its financial goals.
Before his tenure at Zamara Group, Robert held key financial management positions at Alexander Forbes and Dry Associates Investment Bank. In these roles, he demonstrated exceptional skills in financial reporting, asset management, and compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). His ability to develop comprehensive financial reports and provide sound financial advice has been pivotal in supporting business decisions and long-term planning.
Robert earned a certificate in Leadership Principles from Harvard Business School Online, a programme designed to enhance leadership capabilities through self-assessments, 360° feedback, and case-based learning. This credential, combined with his MBA in Finance from the University of Nairobi, underscores his deep understanding of financial management and his ability to lead high-performing teams.
He spoke to CFO East Africa about his career journey and his perspectives on life, career and leadership.
How did you end up as an accountant? Did you have a different career in mind and how did you end up shifting?
Growing up, I was influenced by accountants in my family. At that time, being a CPA(K) was rare in Kenya, and becoming a fully qualified accountant was an attractive career path. However, if I hadn't pursued accounting, I would have become a lawyer. I've always admired the way lawyers carry themselves with decorum and can argue any point with reason. As a leader and a reader, I think law would have suited me because I have a case for everything I do. In my current job, I often lean on the attributes of a lawyer. My role requires me to have a reason and a solid basis for every decision I make or propose for the business.
What have been the highs and lows of your career?
The highs for me are when I make a lasting impact on something, and the lows are when a mistake happens. For example, I made a significant impact by introducing an ERP system into our business. This initiative has set the stage for our ongoing digital transformation journey, which is expected to achieve operational excellence.
As a finance person, making a mistake is a big no, but we’re all human, and sometimes mistakes happen. Once, I instructed my team to make a critical payment, but for some reason, it wasn’t completed, leading to a huge problem. From this, I learned an important lesson: even when you delegate tasks, it’s crucial not to over-trust. Always follow up until the task is done, especially when it’s very important and critical.
Tell us about Zamara and what is it about its values and that are aligned to you as an individual?
Zamara Group (formerly Alexander Forbes) is a leading financial services provider specializing in pension administration, actuarial consulting, and insurance broking in six African countries and MENA and whose core values are simplicity, empathy and trust I align with all three values. I choose to apply simplicity in everything I do, see things from the other person's perspective, and strive to earn trust through being trustworthy and accountable.
How do you define success both professionally and personally?
Professionally, success means finding fulfilment and happiness in my career, feeling passionate about what I do, and adding value while experiencing a sense of purpose and meaning. Personally, success is achieving a state of contentment and joy in life through pursuing my passions, enjoying meaningful relationships, and experiencing moments of happiness and joy.
As the Group CFO of Zamara, I am often seen as a successful person. I believe my success comes from staying curious and constantly asking myself what more I can do and where I can add value. I continually work on myself and always take feedback positively, believing it is a way to becoming better at what I do.
How many people do you manage as CFO and what is your management style?
I manage 50 people, and my management style is a mix of transformational and situational approaches. I focus on inspiring and motivating team members to achieve their full potential. Depending on the situation, I can be hands-on or hands-off.
For example, I am hands-on when an issue is critical in terms of importance and urgency. In such cases, my involvement is necessary to ensure everything is handled correctly and promptly. On the other hand, I am hands-off when I know the stakes are not too high, and the person handling the task is competent. Trusting my team to manage these situations fosters their growth and allows me to focus on other priorities.
What events and literature have influenced your perspective on life?
Becoming a husband and a father was a profound and transformative experience for me. It prompted me to reassess and realign various aspects of my life to accommodate these new and lasting roles and responsibilities. This happened in 2013, and now I have three boys. Parenting has taught me to be patient, to listen, to be caring, and to be reassuring and affirming.
One book that was life-changing for me is The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. The book delves into the concept of the law of attraction, which posits that positive or negative thoughts bring positive or negative experiences into one’s life. My three key takeaways from the book are:
- Thoughts are powerful and can shape one’s reality.
- Expressing gratitude for what one already has can attract more positive things into one’s life.
- Maintaining positive emotions like joy, love, and enthusiasm can act as magnets for positive experiences.
What advice do you have for your younger self and what would you do differently if you were to go back 15 - 20 years?
To the younger me: Believe in yourself more and step out of your comfort zone more often because the biggest growth happens when you challenge yourself and take calculated risks. I would worry less and enjoy life more. After all, life is a series of moments, and we should cherish them as they come.
Tell us something surprising about you that we would never guess.
I'm a very good salesman. I think the selling instinct is inborn, as I can't relate it to anything specific. I enjoy selling and can approach anyone for a sale. I find it easy when you believe in what you're selling and know how to handle a potential customer for sale conversion.
One sale I'm particularly proud of was when I made a cold call that ended up earning me a million shillings — my first million ever. This experience taught me that persistence and confidence can lead to incredible outcomes. My wife always asks what I'm doing in finance when I've sold so many things!
