Samantha Gounden
Pretoria
Summary
Dynamic finance leader with a proven track record at Digital Planet, excelling in financial management and team leadership. Spearheaded strategic initiatives that enhanced cash flow management and optimized financial controls, driving significant improvements in operational efficiency and stakeholder communication. Committed to fostering high-performing teams and delivering impactful financial insights.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Head of Group Finance
Digital Planet
Woodmead
04.2022 - Current
- Spearheaded strategic financial oversight to align organizational strategies with financial objectives.
- Directed accounts payable and receivable operations, ensuring compliance with financial regulations.
- Led tax compliance initiatives along with comprehensive financial reporting, including statutory returns.
- Mentored high-performing teams, fostering collaboration and enhancing leadership skills for operational efficiency.
- Articulated financial results to non-financial stakeholders, improving understanding and engagement.
- Analyzed processes to enhance efficiency and accuracy, thereby strengthening the company’s financial health.
- Managed relationships with external auditors to ensure adherence to accounting standards.
- Monitored cash flow strategically to maintain financial stability and operational efficiency.
- Led financial planning processes for multiple projects across the organization.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to align financial strategies with business goals.
- Managed budgeting processes to align with corporate strategies.
- Managed cash flow forecasting process and liquidity risk management activities.
- Created presentations for board meetings summarizing key financial metrics and performance indicators.
- Established relationships with banking partners and other third parties involved in financing activities for the group.
- Performed detailed analysis of variances between actual results versus budget and forecast results, providing insight on underlying drivers of variance.
Financial Manager
Digital Planet
07.2016 - 03.2022
- Conducted monthly financial health reviews, implementing changes to enhance performance metrics.
- Analyzed costs, pricing, and sales against budget plans to pinpoint improvement areas.
- Reviewed and approved VAT and tax submissions to ensure regulatory compliance.
- Managed payroll sign-off processes for accuracy across the entire group.
- Presented reports to the Executive Committee, recommending actionable financial strategies.
- Authorized payments, ensuring alignment with financial policies and procedures.
- Led annual budget preparation, aligning goals with strategic objectives.
- Collaborated with teams on expense management to optimize resource allocation.
- Transformed operational metrics and planned systems for business models.
- Analyzed monthly department budgeting and accounting reports to maintain expenditure controls.
- Collaborated with auditors during periodic reviews of corporate accounts and records.
- Managed accounts receivable and payable processes to ensure accurate reporting of financial transactions.
Financial Administration Manager
Digital Planet
09.2013 - 06.2016
- Creditor Reconciliation Approval: Approved all creditor reconciliations, ensuring timely payments to maximize discounts
- Inter-Company Reconciliation: Reviewed and approved inter-company reconciliations, ensuring accurate allocation of group payments
- General Ledger Reconciliation: Signed off on all General Ledger reconciliations, matching and finalizing according to the trial balance
- Journal Approval: Reviewed and approved all journals submitted by the department, ensuring proper account capture
- Contract Management: Ensured all new contracts were signed in accordance with company requirements
- Accounts Receivable Oversight: Verified that Accounts Receivable captured all support and management invoices and ensured timely collection
- Payment Authorization: Conducted final checks and authorized daily payments for accuracy and compliance
- Tax Preparation and Submission: Prepared and submitted VAT and provisional tax filings in compliance with regulatory requirements
Creditors Manager
Digital Planet
Sandton
02.2013 - 08.2013
Creditors Clerk
Digital Planet
Sandton
02.2012 - 01.2013
Creditors Clerk
First Assist Management
Wynberg
05.2010 - 01.2012
Creditors Clerk
Africa Cash and Carry
Crown Mines
01.2006 - 04.2010
Switchboard, Receptionist and Admin
Brand Cellular
Midrand
04.2005 - 12.2005
Education
Bachelor’s degree - Financial Management
Boom in Financial Management
01.2022
Leadership and Management -
Crucial Conversations
01.2020
Leadership skills training -
Care and Growth
01.2018
High Impact Communication Training for Leaders -
Futuristic training & dev
01.2016
Matric Exemption -
Laudium Secondary School
01.2004
Skills
- Finance Operations and Controls
- Team leadership
- Budget preparation
- Cash flow management
- Financial management
- Tax Compliance and Financial Reporting
- Financial Systems Optimization
- Cash Flow and Treasury Management
- Stakeholder Clarity and Communication
Accomplishments
- Completed my financial management degree cum laude, and graduated in the top 5 in the country
- Having won Employee of the Month twice, the finance team has won Best Department of the Month three times
- Won Employee of the Year in 2022
- Mentored 7 staff members, 6 of whom have gone on to lead and manage departments and people
Languages
English
First Language
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Head of Group Finance
Digital Planet
04.2022 - Current
Financial Manager
Digital Planet
07.2016 - 03.2022
Financial Administration Manager
Digital Planet
09.2013 - 06.2016
Creditors Manager
Digital Planet
02.2013 - 08.2013
Creditors Clerk
Digital Planet
02.2012 - 01.2013
Creditors Clerk
First Assist Management
05.2010 - 01.2012
Creditors Clerk
Africa Cash and Carry
01.2006 - 04.2010
Switchboard, Receptionist and Admin
Brand Cellular
04.2005 - 12.2005
Bachelor’s degree - Financial Management
Boom in Financial Management
Leadership and Management -
Crucial Conversations
Leadership skills training -
Care and Growth
High Impact Communication Training for Leaders -
Futuristic training & dev
Matric Exemption -
Laudium Secondary School
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