Nombali Sihlobo, Head of Finance
Head of Finance
Current Experience:Head of Finance at ayoba (Hybrid): Jun 2023 – Present (1 year, 8 months)
past experience:Consultant: Finance & Commercial Project Lead at ayoba (Remote): Mar 2023 – Jun 2023 (4 months)
Group Executive Finance Manager at Lonsa Group Limited (Full-time): Sep 2022 – Nov 2022 (3 months)
Group Financial Manager at Hulisani Ltd (Full-time): Sep 2017 – Jun 2022 (4 years, 10 months)
Finance Consultant at Independent Consultant (Full-time): Oct 2016 – Sep 2017 (1 year)
Financial Accountant at Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) (Full-time): Oct 2015 – Mar 2016 (6 months)
Reporting Accountant at Rand Merchant Bank (Full-time): Jun 2013 – Sep 2015 (2 years, 4 months)
Product Reporting Accountant at Standard Bank (Full-time): Jan 2011 – Jun 2013 (2 years, 6 months)
Article Clerk at Standard Bank (Full-time): Jan 2008 – Dec 2010 (3 years)
Qualifications:Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) in Accounting
Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) in Accounting
Country of Residence:South Africa
LinkedIn Profile: In our mission to highlight exceptional finance professionals, Accounting Weekly presents Nombali Sihlobo, an accomplished Head of Finance at Ayoba with over a decade of experience in finance and accounting. Nombali’s leadership, strategic vision, and commitment to financial excellence make her a key player in her organisation.
Nombali starts her day at 6:30 AM, usually exercising to set a positive and energised tone for the day ahead.
What time do you usually wake up on the weekend?
I wake up at 6:30 AM.
Are you an early bird or a night owl?
I’m an early bird.
How do you spend the first hour of your morning?
Usually exercising.
What sparked your interest in accounting or finance?
I never dreamt of a career in accounting; if anything, I had set my mind on being a health professional. My dad actually did some research on the CA profession and told me about it. I decided to try it, and it turned out to be the best decision of my life.
Can you share some key career milestones or defining moments?
Qualifying as a CA is probably my biggest career milestone.
What is your role within your company’s finance department?
I am responsible for the full finance function. This includes operations, budgeting and planning, financial reporting, as well as commercial support to the business.
How do you contribute to the overall financial strategy of the business?
By working in partnership with the business, providing commercial support in relation to initiatives that drive the financial strategy. I manage the operational spend in line with plans and bring accounting expertise where relevant.
What is one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your role? How did you overcome it?
This challenge is not unique to my current role but applies to my previous role as well, which was also in a startup business environment. I’ve noticed that the accounting impact on any decision-making process that affects financial key performance indicators is rarely considered as important. In a previous role, this resulted in a situation where the financial outcome was not what the business initially intended simply because it was not assessed from an accounting point of view. Given the opportunity to contribute to commercial considerations, I always make it a point to balance them with accounting guidance.
What tools or strategies do you use to manage the financial operations of the company effectively?
My environment is extremely operational, and cost containment is critical in ensuring we stick to the annual plan. One tool I find effective is forecasting and keeping a rolling forecast. This way, I am not only comparing the current view to the plan to date, but the rolling forecast also allows me to identify areas that need more focus in terms of cost containment.
How do you stay balanced during busy periods?
Exercising helps contain my stress levels. I also make sure that when busy periods pass, I take time to care for myself by doing the things that bring me closer to balance.
What do you enjoy outside of work?
Spending time with my family is the one thing that helps me recharge.
Do you mentor or support other team members in the finance department?
As a people manager, I believe that part of my responsibilities is to provide support and help develop my team members. I have also been given the opportunity to provide mentorship outside of work as part of being in the IWFSA Women in Leadership Alumni.
What advice would you give to aspiring finance professionals?
I would say acquiring the technical skills is the easier part; harnessing soft skills is real work and what gives you a better chance to succeed.
What’s your favourite quote or mantra that motivates you?
If you are not going to give it your best shot, don't even start!
Share a leadership lesson or piece of advice that’s been valuable in your career.
Being authentic is one way to develop self-confidence. Be brave but not perfect.
What’s something surprising about you that isn’t in your professional bio?
I love music. I can listen to any music genre, and I also love singing!
If you could have any superpower to help you in your job, what would it be?
The power to generate reports at the click of a finger. That way, my stakeholders get real value from my time and efforts.
Nombali’s story is a testament to the importance of resilience, strategic vision, and the power of mentorship. Her leadership continues to inspire and create meaningful change within the finance industry.
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