Testimonials

Boomerang SA

Robert Joubert
CEO

Boomerang SA is a business process outsourcing services provider serving a number of verticals and industries, from retail to insurance.

We approached The FD Centre because, although we are still a growing company, we needed the expert advice and assistance of a financial director. I specifically wanted to improve our financial decision making and bolster our executive management team, and we felt that a part-time employee would be ideal for the role, as the amount of work didn’t warrant a full-time appointment.

I had been introduced to The FD Centre some years previously, so I thought it would be a good time to revisit the contact. Although we were initially introduced to another candidate, we chose to work with Paul Oosthuizen because he has knowledge and experience of our industry. I think this ability to select who you work with is a definite advantage.

Our relationship has grown considerably since Paul first came on board, and his scope has evolved and broadened significantly. He is also more involved in the business. As hoped, he has become an important part of our executive team and decision making. He’s very pleasant to work with and his skills are of an excellent caliber.

I think that The FD Centre’s model makes perfect sense for companies that need the skills of a financial director, but on an ‘as and when’, rather than full-time basis.

Alexander Forbes Group Services

Bruce Bydawell
Financial Director, Alexander Forbes Group Services

Alexander Forbes is a JSE-listed financial services group with its head office in Sandton, and business interests in Africa and Europe. Alexander Forbes offers integrated retirement, investment, life and insurance solutions to create, grow and protect wealth and assets.

My division is responsible for the financial reporting of the Alexander Forbes group. Earlier this year, as we were heading into our year end, one of my key people was promoted to another division. Facing a resource gap, it was perfect timing that Hylton Surat from the FD Centre contacted our CFO to see if our company could make use of the FD Centre’s services. They placed Lynn Preece with us on a full-time basis for three months.

Lynn’s experience was exactly what we needed for the preparation of our 2016 annual financial statements. She got on top of our processes very quickly and produced quality financial reports with great attention to detail. Lynn’s personality and leadership skills made for a pleasant working relationship, as she related well to the staff and also played a mentoring role.

With Lynn so capably filling the gap, I was able to oversee the year-end process more effectively without having to focus on every detail. It eased the pressure for me in what is typically an extremely pressurised period.
I would definitely consider using the services of the FD Centre again should we need another short-term placement in the future.

Praxis Computing

Yugasen Naidoo
CEO

1. What’s your background?
o I am the CEO of Praxis Computing which is an FD Centre client.

2. What problem were you trying to solve?
o I needed corporate finance skills but due to the company size not on a full time basis
o I also needed an external finance function to help with good governance and ensure that the finance function was slightly
extracted from Praxis.
o Finally, I wanted the ability to ramp up with other finance resources as the need appeared (and ramp down as well)
o In terms of Covid 19, that, of course appears as one more business challenge

3. How was the problem affecting you?
o As the CEO it is useful to me (and the shareholders) to have an independent and external finance function
o In terms of Covid 19 we had to re-look at our entire business operations like everyone else in the world

4. What possible solutions did you consider?
o Hire a part time individual(s)
o Hire an external company with the function
o Extend our external auditors function

5. Why did you choose The FD Centre?
o They were recommended to me
o I like the flexible model

6. What makes us unique/special that you have not seen/experienced anywhere else?
o Flexibilty

7. What would have happened if you had not engaged with us?
o May have ended up using a more costly and inefficient resource
o Resource may not have been easy to change

8. What measurable benefits have you seen?
o Finance function at Praxis has been greatly improved
o New benefits have been introduced that The FD Centre have seen working at other clients

9. What message would you have to other businesses considering a part-time or interim FD?
o Know what you want
o Clearly define the role
o Use the flexibility to benefit your organisation
o Be open minded and allow The FD Centre FD to introduce improvements that they have seen working in other
organisaitons

In conclusion
Covid 19 meant that we had to re-look at the business and the next 12 months and scenario plan the various cases. The FD Centre has helped with this and also with the application and vetting of the various funding initiatives that we found ourselves applying for. The idea that The FD Centre was also involved with lots of other clients in our situation also was useful as we were, as a community, able to look for the best solutions and way forward.

Roytec Global

Alan Fanton
CEO

What’s your background?
Roytec Global is an equipment supplier specialising in mineral separation and filtration technologies since 2001. We have approximately 80 professional staff and turnover of R 400 million. We're an owner managed business with reputation for agility, innovation and delivery.

What problem were you trying to solve?
Roytec Global is expanding globally and requires high level input on corporate structure, ownership, tax management, funding and registration of new entities in foreign jurisdiction. Mentoring of our finance team was also an important consideration.

How was the problem affecting you?
Corporate structure and ownership is not tax efficient
No adequate firewalls between entities
Foreign dividends currently returned to RSA
Globalisation limited by balance sheet and access to funding required for future

What possible solutions did you consider?
Option for full time FD appointment. The Part-time option was a good fit for our current organisational needs will be reviewed as the structure grows.

Why did you choose The FD Centre?
They have a clear understanding of our needs and fit of candidate to our culture.

What makes us unique/special that you have not seen/experienced anywhere else?
The Part-time option permits access to high level skills to match needs at relatively lower cost.

What would have happened if you had not engaged with us?
We would have had to live with existing issues complicating growth until such time as a full time appointment was concluded.

What measurable benefits have you seen?
Work plan to address priorities in our business
Independent oversight and input into implementation of strategy
Operational and financial controls.

What message would you have for other businesses considering a part-time or interim FD?
The FD Centre model allows for input that meets the needs of an organisation. The fit of the candidate to the company culture is important for a successful relationship and this was most certainly met.

On The Dot

Paul Oosthuizen
CFO

What does your company do?
On The Dot is a logistics business which focuses exclusively on the media market segment, serving mostly group companies. As CFO I oversee the business performance management to ensure that we reach our financial goals and manage risk across the landscape.

What prompted you to take on an FD Centre FD?
When we took on the services of the FD Centre in 2012, the business was mature, and had to start a process of reinvention. I had joined the company after an ERP implementation didn’t go according to plan, and I was tasked with improving governance and controls. The finance team was stuck in the paradigm of ‘scorekeeper’ and so we had to regenerate and rebuild it into a ‘business partner’ function.

How has having an FD Centre FD specifically benefited your business?
We had three newly appointed finance managers (FMs) who were technically sound but lacked the experience necessary to manage and direct a team of finance specialists. Cliff Warren, the part-time FD from FD Centre sat alongside me to mentor the new FMs. He has created depth in the finance team, created perspective for the team and myself by acting as a sounding board, and added another dimension to our journey to excellence.

Without the FD Centre’s involvement it would have taken longer to rebuild the finance department. My own experience is supplemented and complemented by the FD Centre, and their role in our business is invaluable.

Prime Product

Mike Rigby
CEO

What is your background?
I am the CEO of Prime Product Manufacturing, our core business is the Manufacturing and Packaging of Cosmetics, Toiletries and Fragrances

What problem were you trying to solve?
To transition a good business in to a great sustainable and resilient business.

How was the problem affecting you?
It is the next step in the evolution of the business. We have all been affected by the Covid 19 Pandemic, this is particularly evident when you look at the financial predicament everyone is finding themselves.

What possible solutions did you consider?
Review Customer relationships; Financial Modelling; Improved efficiencies resulting in a more effective approach; Revisited Financial burdens imposed by Customers etc.

Why did you choose The FD Centre?
Having met Mike Sacher over 3 years ago, I could see a broad base of knowledge, experience and financial acumen that was not in Prime. Subsequently we have taken Prime from a good company, with financial weakness, to a great company!

What makes FD Centre unique/special that you have not seen/experienced anywhere else?
I believe FD Centre offers a cost effective, flexible Value Add.

What would have happened if you had not engaged with us?
I could easily say that it would have just taken us longer. No, I think we would have kept missing what we need to do.

What measurable benefits have you seen?
Certainly improved results, working better together, sharing knowledge, impairing skills and certainly overall managing the business better.

What message would you have to other businesses considering a part-time or interim FD?
Give it a go, nothing to lose and everything to gain. Just the insight from professionals will give you a new outlook to improve any business. You must be able to listen and then collectively realign the business.