Insight

CFO and executive coach Jay Atara outlines the vital transition from a numbers-focused finance director to an influential strategic partner. Drawing on deep industry experience and the rise of AI, he delivers a roadmap for finance leaders ready to step off their technical island and lead with commercial foresight.

Transitioning from the predictive world of insurance to the heavy machinery of mining is a massive operational shift. Gabriel Msabi, chief accountant at Mantra Tanzania (Uranium One), explains how his core finance skills easily translated to support major infrastructure projects.

KPMG East Africa tax partner and head of private enterprise Sandeep Main explains how tax compliance across East Africa has evolved from manual date stamps into a continuous flow of digital transactions. He unpacks why regional CFOs must now treat data governance as a strategic risk-management tool rather than a basic administrative process.

In today’s business environment, leadership is increasingly measured by influence, adaptability, accountability, and the ability to shape culture in uncertain times. For senior leaders navigating economic transformation, technological disruption, and evolving stakeholder expectations, leadership has become a strategic asset rather than a functional role.

Jeremiah Peino Sakayion group finance lead at FMEC Group, explains why AI could not fix broken financial reporting. He notes that leaders still need humans to translate numbers into business decisions.

I spent 20 years in the digital sphere, growing from systems analyst and systems administrator to the director of ICT and innovation in a Level 6 healthcare facility. This was crowned by the recognition as the 2025 CTO of the Year in public service through the Ministry of ICT and e-Government. Then, in mid-2025, came the transition to the CFO ecosystem.

Energy waste is the only line item on your P&L that you pay for every second, yet rarely audit with the same rigor as payroll or procurement.

Amid the geopolitical firestorm in the Middle East, are investors being complacent or just savvy? Read on to learn about resilient, long-term investing.

In this interview with CFO East Africa, Stanbic Bank Kenya head of sustainability Priscilla Were reflects on navigating the shift towards mandatory IFRS S1 and S2 adoption and steering the bank through the evolving green finance landscape.

Due diligence in the creative sector can be notoriously difficult, but emerging market infrastructure is changing the financial math. Discover how accredited platforms and technical assistance programmes like Ignite Culture are actively converting creative ventures into finance-ready SMEs.

With East Africa's creative economy suffering from fragmented intellectual property systems, finance leaders often face suppressed valuations and high risk premiums. Here is how the proposed regional EAC Creative Bill aims to standardise cross-border licensing and unlock measurable revenue streams for patient capital.

Our outlook on risk assets remains broadly positive heading into the year. But we are watching four key risk factors that every investor in this environment should have firmly on their radar.

The quiet shift towards on-chain infrastructure and why CFOs should pay attention

Standard Chartered head of wealth products for Kenya and East Africa Ouma Orero shares insights on how CFOs can structure cross-border wealth in an era of global volatility.

Dunstan delivered the keynote address at the 5th Finance Professionals Kenya (FpKE) anniversary dinner in Nairobi, drawing from his journey of leadership across six African and two Asian countries.

Miriam Kaggwa’s experience spans nearly the entire spectrum of C-suite leadership. Between July and October 2025, she served as interim CEO at advertising behemoth WPP Scangroup after nine months as COO and more than a decade in senior finance roles across different markets.

In the last decade alone, the world financial landscape has experienced one of the most significant shifts since double-entry accounting was invented: the emergence of virtual assets. For CFOs, blockchain is not just a tool for timesaving; it is a strategic enabler.

IFRS expert Noor Nakato gives a behind-the-scenes look at how the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) develops standards and explains how CFOs can contribute to that process.

When people think of finance, they often imagine accountants buried in spreadsheets, closing books at the end of each month, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. While these activities remain core, the scope of the finance function has expanded dramatically.

In July 2025, East African CFOs gathered in Nairobi for the CFO East Africa ESG Summit, which drew over 160 CFOs from across four East African countries. As the speakers made their presentations and CFOs shared their experiences in the break-out sessions, it was clear that ESG is no longer just a buzzword but a reality in the daily lives of many CFOs.