Mandisi Nombembe

• As a member of the ACCA Southern Africa management team, I am responsible for driving growth and sustainability across five key markets, namely South Africa, Mozambique, Lesotho, Eswatini, and Namibia.
• My core objective is to expand the ACCA profession and ensure the long-term financial viability of ACCA in these countries.

My responsibilities includes:

1. Strategy and planning

· Contribute to the development of the business development plan for the market, ensuring that it reflects employer needs and market conditions

· Identify and progresses opportunities to grow ACCA’s business through employer partnerships ensuring a clear and mutually beneficial proposition

· Work with relevant internal stakeholders to develop and deliver a plan of business development activity for designated employers

2. Engagement

· Develop and manage strong partnerships with employers in order to build ACCA’s brand and reputation, deepen our engagement and further ACCA’s strategic and growth objectives

· Plan and manage multi-level relationships and actively manages the sales pipeline for all designated employers

· Develop new and existing revenue streams with employers in order to maximise opportunities and grow ACCA’s business

· Work with partners to ensure that global solutions, content and expertise are leveraged and consistently implemented

· Conclude agreements with employers for commercial relationships that deliver against KPIs and targets

· Promote the ACCA qualification, products and services to employers, encouraging take-up through presentations and other sales activities

· Communicate changes to the ACCA qualification, products and services to employers in order to build advocacy

· Ensure employers are supported with ACCA processes including accreditation in order to develop engagement and improve performance

Other Functions

· Understand economic and market trends, education sector developments, competitor activities and ACCA’s product and service offering

· Report regularly on progress through the appropriate reporting mechanisms

· Actively support the wider work of the local market and contributes to the improvement of local procedures and systems

• Negotiated favorable contracts that maximized profits while maintaining strong client relationships.

I co-founded the Thuthuka Alumni Community (TAC) which is strategic initiative of SAICA. The objective of TAC is to mobilize the Chartered Accountancy membership to support Thuthuka's transformation initiatives across South Africa. I worked with the Thuthuka Education Upliftment Fund executive team to ensure alignment with our strategic objectives and goals.

• As a co-founder & lead member of the Thuthuka Alumni Community, I was responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of strategies to engage and mobilize our alumni community
• This included organizing networking events, workshops, and mentoring programs to support the professional development of our members
• Overall, my role in the Thuthuka Alumni Community was to lead and guide our members in driving positive change within the SAICA profession and beyond
• Through our collective efforts, we aimed to create a more inclusive and diverse accounting industry that reflects the rich talent and potential of all South Africans

I founded the Thuthuka Fundraising Committee which consisted of prominent CEOs, entrepreneurs and professionals to drive Thuthuka's financial sustainability. The Committees responsibilities included:

Developing fundraising strategies: Creating and implementing plans to raise funds for designated projects and initiatives

• Engaging stakeholders: Building relationships with potential donors, sponsors, and partners to secure financial support
• Communicating impact: Articulating the impact of fundraising efforts and demonstrating how donations contribute to transformational projects within SAICA
• Financial oversight: Responsible for managing funds raised, ensuring transparency, and accountability in financial transactions
• Cultivating donor relationships: Maintaining ongoing communication with donors, expressing gratitude, and stewarding relationships to encourage continued support
• Collaboration and coordination: Working closely with other committees, teams, and stakeholders to align fundraising efforts with overall organizational objectives
• Monitoring and evaluating fundraising performance: Tracking progress towards fundraising goals, analyzing outcomes, and adjusting strategies as needed to enhance effectiveness
• Developed strong partnerships with other businesses to allow for collaboration and more significant opportunities for growth.

As the National Business Development Manager, I was responsible for the front-end cluster of Thuthuka, which consisted of managing national and international donors and stakeholders and driving revenue generation. My responsibilities included:

• Managing a P&L in the access of R200million annually for Thuthuka Education Upliftment Fund - (TEUF)
• Monitoring and evaluating the impact of TEUF's programs and initiatives
• Conducting regular stakeholder engagement sessions to gather feedback and improve program effectiveness
• Developing partnerships with other organizations to leverage resources and maximize impact
• Representing TEUF at various events and conferences to promote the organization's mission and attract potential donors and partners
• Providing strategic direction and guidance to the TEUF team to ensure alignment with the organization's goals and objectives
• Collaborating with internal teams and external partners to drive innovation and improve program delivery
• Continuously monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of TEUF's programs and making adjustments as needed to achieve desired outcomes

I was responsible for providing strategic support and administration to the Executive Director. My responsibilities included:

• Township Economic Revitalization Projects: Developed and implemented business plans for community-based projects aimed at economic revitalization in townships
• This included the establishment of a community bread factory project and a farming project in Toekomsrus, with the goal of creating sustainable income-generating opportunities for residents
• Stakeholder Engagement Strategy: Managed stakeholder engagement activities for the office of the ED, building and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders such as government officials, industry partners, and community leaders to further SAICA's strategic objectives and enhance its reputation in the industry
• Integrated Ethics Steering Committee: Played a key role in the development of strategies to promote and integrate ethics in the Chartered Accountancy profession, working closely with the steering committee to identify opportunities for ethical enhancement and compliance within the organization
• Fundraising and Budget Planning: Provided support to the Senior Executive team in fundraising initiatives, budget planning, and financial management
• This involved preparing funding proposals, monitoring financial performance, and contributing to strategic decision-making regarding resource allocation
• Representation at Presidential BEE Commission: Represented the ED at the Presidential Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) Commission, presenting research findings on BEE ownership and contributing to discussions on policy development and implementation in the field of economic empowerment

I was part of the team that helped establish SAICA Enterprise Development, which is a SAICA-controlled entity. The objective of this entity is to drive SMME support, Youth Skills Development and Community development initiatives on behalf of SAICA. My responsibilities were:

• Managing and overseeing the profit and loss (P&L) for the access division in access of over R30 million
• Leading enterprise development projects across various regions in South Africa, such as Gauteng, Eastern and Western Cape, KZN, and North West
• Supervising a team of five project managers, ensuring effective coordination and execution of projects
• Driving full business development functions, including identifying opportunities, establishing partnerships, and securing new clients
• Cultivating and nurturing relationships with key clients and partners, such as J.P Morgan, Masisizane Fund (Old Mutual), Small Enterprise Finance Agency (Sefa), Sage Pastel, Lepharo Incubator (EXXARO), Deloitte, Department of Economic Development, and National Empowerment Fund
• Offering incubation support services to assist over 250 small businesses in achieving growth and sustainability
• Providing work-readiness training to more than 300 unemployed African and Coloured accounting graduates, enhancing their employability and career prospects.

I was responsible promoting the Chartered Accountancy qualification at high schools across South Africa and working with the Department of Basic Education to develop programs that can helps students improve pure mathematics results so that they can meet the equirements to enter university and pursue the Chartered Accountancy qualification. My Responsibilities were:

- Developing and implementing SAICA's business games project for high school learners: This assignment aligns with the organization's objective of promoting the accounting profession among young learners and nurturing future talent in the industry

• Conducting roadshows at universities to promote Chartered Accountancy: By engaging with students at SAICA-accredited universities, this task aims to raise awareness about the profession and attract potential candidates to pursue a career in chartered accountancy
• Managing the training and placement of unemployed accounting graduates: This assignment focuses on addressing unemployment in the accounting field by providing training and facilitating job placements for graduates, contributing to talent development and workforce sustainability
• Annual business planning: Being responsible for the overall strategic planning process ensures that organizational objectives are defined, and resources are allocated effectively to achieve desired outcomes
• Fundraising and business development initiatives: These assignments involve identifying opportunities for generating revenue and fostering partnerships to support the organization's financial sustainability and growth
• Budget management: Managing a substantial budget of R9 million annually requires strategic decision-making to allocate funds efficiently, monitor expenditures, and ensure financial accountability
• Participation in the business unit strategy committee: Being part of the strategy committee involves contributing to the formulation and implementation of strategic plans and initiatives that align with the organization's long-term goals and direction

I represented SAICA as the Chairperson for the National Gazelles program for the Department of Small Business Development and Seda. My job was to chair the selection committee which was tasked with selecting the 1st ever top 160 SMMEs who will be accepted into the program. My responsibilities included:

• Developing criteria and a selection process for identifying high-growth potential SMMEs to be supported by the National Gazelles program
• Reviewing and assessing business growth proposals and plans submitted by SMEs applying to participate in the program
• Collaborating with program partners such as EY, KPMG, The Small Business Institute, and Seda to provide expertise and resources to support selected SMMEs
• Monitoring and evaluating the progress and impact of supported SMMEs to ensure they are on track to achieve their growth objectives
• Identifying opportunities for networking, mentoring, and capacity building for selected SMEs to enhance their growth potential

The skills & Enterprise Development Hub was an initiative of SAICA that was funded by Sage Pastel; Sefa and The Department of Economic Development. I was responsible for managing the Hub. My Responsibilities included:

• Developing and implementing a strategy for the program to provide accounting and business support services to black-owned small businesses
• Building and maintaining strategic partnerships with government agencies, financial institutions, law firms, and other stakeholders to support the program's objectives
• Managing a team of accounting officers and overseeing their work in providing support to small businesses
• Mobilizing the chartered accountancy profession, particularly small and medium practice owners, to support small businesses through the program
• Developing and implementing a funding readiness program for small businesses in partnership with organizations like J.P Morgan
• Monitoring and evaluating the program's effectiveness and making adjustments as needed to ensure its success
• Providing leadership and guidance to the team to ensure the program's goals are met and objectives are achieved