Insight

Across many organisations, the chief financial officer is still viewed through a narrow lens. Jubilee Insurance Tanzania CFO Nickson Motta and Tres Rwanda CFO Gordon Mugabi dispel common misconceptions about the role and explore how it has changed.

At least once in a lifetime, leaders encounter lessons that shift how they lead. PostBank Uganda CFO Peter Ssenyange, Vodacom Tanzania FD Hilda Bujiku, and Silverback Tea CFO Rahul Bedi reflect on the moments that forced them to rethink what it means to be a leader.

Beiersdorf finance director Funlola Pearce draws on a foundation in electrical engineering. She shares some insights on how non-linear careers can be a powerful force for innovation in finance.

CFOs are moving beyond compliance and reporting to shape business decisions and long-term growth. Jubilee Insurance group head of finance Paul Mungai and Umoja Coin CFO Bornmathew Nuru share how they are placing finance at the centre of strategy.

At the 2025 CFO East Africa ESG Summit held on 10 July, the theme of financing cut across all discussions. While ESG frameworks continue to evolve, the actual flow of capital tells a more complicated story where large firms edge ahead and smaller players risk being left behind.

When the pace of work accelerates and decisions carry weight, staying calm is a strategic advantage. For Helium One CFO Chris Eyre, AGL Tanzania FD Sekou Kaba, and WiA CFO Maneno Daudi, composure under pressure is a skill honed over time.

Akash Ladha, CFO of BAG Innovation and founder of ALSM Consulting Group, is reshaping his approach to leadership by prioritising clarity over chaos. He considers mindfulness the only way to lead with purpose in a world that rarely slows down.

As the demands of the finance function shift, leaders must stay up to date with the growing need for strategic insight. Heritage Insurance CFO Japhet Valerian, Deloitte Tanzania finance director Relief Mtenga, and Tanzania Mortgage Refinance Company CFO Joseph Mrawa reveal how they stay relevant as technology and data reshape the role of finance leaders.

In recent years, the role of chief financial officer (CFO) has experienced significant transformation.

Dharmendra Agrawal, area director of finance at Hyatt Hotel Corporation, Gillian Lyimo, director of finance at Action for Democratic Governance, and Manish Ranjan, head of finance at ALAF Tanzania share the early career advice that continues to guide how they think and lead.

Each CFO East Africa summit presents perspectives that either affirm or challenge the status-quo that defines the CFO’s role. The CFO Kick-off Summit held on 6 March in Nairobi offered insights around CFOs as a beacon of hope. The pertinent question that follows is: can a CFO give hope without earning stakeholders’ trust and confidence, and how can this trust be earned?

Even for accomplished finance leaders, the desire to explore new disciplines never fades. For PowerUp head of finance Eva Zalwango, CRDB Bank CFO Frederick Nshekanabo, and IHS Towers FD Lilian Budandi, the skills they long to learn reflect personal interests they have carried quietly for years.

Creative industries across East Africa are gaining global attention and contributing meaningfully to economic growth. Yet despite their cultural and economic value, they still face major financing obstacles.

CFOs in Africa are uniquely positioned to drive financial resilience, operational efficiency, and sustainability through energy intelligence systems (EIS), writes East African Power CFO Shereena Wilson.

Knight Frank Uganda head of finance Asibat Mwambu, Baylor Foundation FD Marie Nassiwa-Martin and Africa Healthcare Network group CFO Michael Kariuki share how mentorship has shaped their careers and why they make it a priority.

CFOs must evolve beyond the traditional focus on financial oversight to remain relevant in a rapidly changing world. This was the take-home from EY Uganda managing partner Geoffrey Byamugisha’s address at the CFO Summit: Reflections and Aspirations at the Four Points by Sheraton in Kampala.

Today’s dynamic and volatile environment means that CFOs cannot count on revenue to keep trending upwards. If the goal is sustainable growth and profitability, there is little choice but to pursue deliberate and sustained deployment of strong internal controls to protect revenue, prevent fraud and ensure financial integrity.

For years, the role of the chief financial officer (CFO) was defined by discipline, precision, and stewardship. Ensuring financial compliance, managing risk and preserving shareholder value were the defining pillars. But a quiet revolution is taking place.

The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) recently cut its base rate by 75 basis points to 10 percent, aiming to stimulate lending in the private sector.

The Central Bank of Kenya’s (CBK) Monetary Policy Committee has lowered its policy rate from 10.75 percent to 10 percent to stimulate lending in the private sector. But banks have been slow to lower their lending rates following past rate cuts, citing high funding costs and increased credit risk.