The CFO explains how he turned finance from gatekeeper to partner at Kisima Farms
Many finance professionals see themselves as guardians of the bottom line, armed with the power to veto decisions. Francis Ngumbi sees himself differently. The CFO of Kisima Farms has built his career on a simple but radical question: 'What can I do for you?'
His business partnering philosophy flies in the face of how finance typically operates. Where others might lay down the law, Francis seeks a middle ground. Rather than demand compliance, he offers value first. He credits this leadership style with earning him recognition at the 2024 Business Daily Top 40 under 40 awards and a nomination for the 2026 Forty Under 40 Africa, which is scheduled for February 2026.
But it didn't start out this way.
Francis learned collaboration the hard way during his time at Coca Cola. As a market procurement analyst, he was responsible for raising purchase orders to pay vendors. When Coke Studio Africa was just days away from launching a new season, Francis realised with horror that he hadn't raised the necessary PO. The payments were stalled, and vendors were waiting. Soon, he was summoned to the managing director's office.
"From that day onwards, I learned to be aggressive. I became very assertive, and that has really helped me grow in my career, because I've always been trying to see how I can solve problems for non-finance people, because I get better results," he says.
But instead of dominance, his version of 'aggressive' anticipates problems before they happen. During his time at Beiersdorf, he worked with marketing teams running campaigns across Ghana and Ivory Coast. He would look at their return on investment and know immediately that the numbers didn't make sense. But when he pushed back, the response was always the same: "What do you want me to do? I have KPIs."
With time, Francis realised that the marketing team was being measured on different metrics. They had their own pressures and constraints. If he wanted to protect the bottom line, he had to find a solution that worked for everyone.
"I began to appreciate that when I go to meet a team member, it's all about 'what can I do for you?' It becomes an exchange. It should be about mutually beneficial partnerships, not you laying down the law. That doesn't work," he explains.
Relying on relationships
At Kisima Farms, Francis arrived as a complete newcomer to agriculture. The company sought him out precisely because they needed fresh eyes on their financial controls and efficiency. Without industry expertise, Francis had to rely on relationships.
Kisima is one of the biggest farms in the country, with operations spanning floriculture, arable farming and forestry. The company is the country's largest potato seedling producer and holds KFC Gold membership. Its floriculture division has been nominated for the Global Sustainability Award 2026, reflecting the scale and ambition of the operation Francis oversees.
Sitting in finance at this enterprise, Francis thinks about impact. When auditors are coming and he needs controls in place, his collaborative history makes the conversation easier. His colleagues know he has been proactive about solving their problems.
"I've always been trying to see how I can solve problems for non-finance people, because I get better results," he reveals.
With older employees, monthly check-ins suffice. But with his Gen Z staff, Francis has learned to adapt. He rotates them frequently to keep them engaged and coaches rather than commands. It is a far cry from the traditional image of the CFO as the 'bad cop'. But Francis believes finance should have a 360-degree view of the business and be proactive.
"With Gen Z, you have to listen and not come off as very aggressive. Be almost like a coach to them and then you'll see results," he notes.
