BY TASEKHAYA DLAMINI
This week we bring you a detailed interview with Dr. Thobile Dlamini, Chief Financial & Value Officer, who outlines her career journey, illustrating a progression from a natural affinity for numbers and a passion for accounting to leadership in audit, international finance, and public service. She encourages young professionals to excel, be curious, and engage in lifelong learning.
Career Chat: What first sparked your interest in accounting and finance, and how did that passion shape the career path you chose?
Dr Dlamini: My interest in accounting and finance was sparked early by a natural affinity for numbers. Mathematics came easily to me in high school, but it was when I was introduced to accounting in my senior years that something truly clicked. I was drawn not just to the calculations, but to the logic, structure, and discipline behind the numbers, the way they tell a story about performance, decisions, and accountability. My O-level results naturally guided me toward a Bachelor of Commerce degree, and when the time came to choose a specialisation, accounting felt less like a decision and more like a calling.
Completing my degree opened the door to a career in audit, a foundation that profoundly shaped my professional trajectory. Audit exposed me to a wide range of industries and business models, sharpening my technical expertise and deepening my understanding of how organisations really function. More importantly, it trained me to see beyond the obvious, to question, to probe, and to connect the dots others might overlook. That experience instilled in me a strong sense of professional judgement, integrity, and curiosity. It reinforced my belief that accounting is not just about numbers, but about insight, trust, and value creation, principles that have continued to guide my career and leadership journey ever since.
Career Chat: You began your career as an Audit Trainee. What were some of the defining lessons from those early years that still influence how you work today?
Dr Dlamini: Audit was foundational to my professional DNA. It taught me discipline, attention to detail, professional scepticism, and the courage to ask difficult questions. Those early years instilled in me a strong respect for governance, controls, and evidence‑based decision‑making. To this day, I still approach leadership with an auditor’s mindset, curious, objective, and committed to transparency.
Career Chat: Your career journey later took you across borders. How did these international experiences shape your perspective as a finance professional?
Dr Dlamini: Working across borders significantly broadened my worldview. It exposed me to diverse regulatory environments, cultures, and ways of thinking about value creation. These experiences sharpened my adaptability and reinforced the importance of context in financial leadership. I learned that while standards may be global, solutions must be local, relevant and culturally informed.
Career Chat: After building a strong career in audit, you transitioned into public service. What inspired that move?
Dr Dlamini: The transition into public service was initially motivated by personal and practical considerations; I needed to return home after working in Mozambique. At the same time, I felt a growing desire for change. Audit had been my professional foundation and the only world I knew at that stage. But, I sensed that to grow fully as a finance professional, I needed to broaden my horizons beyond assurance work. This move was therefore less about shifting from the private sector to the public sector and more about evolving from audit into hands-on finance leadership.
What I did not anticipate was just how transformative that decision would be. I entered an environment that required building something from the ground up, establishing an entirely new division, defining structures, processes, and ways of working. That challenge was both demanding and exhilarating. It pushed me to apply my technical expertise in a practical, impact-driven way and to think strategically about value creation in a public context. In hindsight, the move into public service was one of the best decisions of my career. It expanded my skill set, deepened my sense of purpose, and reinforced my belief that finance, when done well, can be a powerful tool for national development and institutional transformation.
Career Chat: Today you serve as Chief Financial Officer. What does your role involve, and what excites you most about the work you do?
Dr Dlamini: As Chief Financial & Value Officer (CFVO), my role extends far beyond the traditional boundaries of finance. While strong financial stewardship, governance, and risk management remain core, my primary responsibility is to provide strategic leadership that ensures financial decisions actively support the organisation’s purpose, strategy, and long-term sustainability. I work closely with executive leadership and the board to translate strategy into measurable outcomes, ensuring that resources are allocated where they create the greatest value.
What excites me most about my work is the ability to influence outcomes and shape the future of the organisation. I see finance not as a compliance or reporting function, but as a strategic enabler, one that connects vision to execution. Whether the gap is in employee wellness, human capital development, leadership capability, or technology and digitalisation, I am energised by identifying those gaps and designing practical, sustainable solutions to close them.
Adding value across the organisation I serve and developing people is at the heart of what I do. There is deep fulfilment in building systems, empowering teams, and creating an environment where both the organisation and its people can thrive. Knowing that finance can be a catalyst for transformation, resilience, and impact is what continues to inspire me every day.
Career Chat: With over two decades of experience in accounting, auditing, and finance, what key skills should aspiring professionals focus on if they want to succeed in this field?
Dr Dlamini: The foundation of your career is essential, as everything else builds on that foundation. Technical competence is essential, but it is not enough. Aspiring professionals should focus on ethical judgment, critical thinking, communication skills, and adaptability. The ability to translate financial information into meaningful insights for decision‑makers is increasingly important. Equally critical is emotional intelligence (EQ) — how you lead, influence, and collaborate with others. To succeed in any field, one must not wait for someone to point them in the right direction, but must also have a curious mind, seek out what is out there in the market, and what can make one more competitive and put one ahead of one’s peers. For instance, nowadays, there is Artificial Intelligence (AI); we all need to learn how to work with it, but if you wait for someone to tell you to learn this, you just might get left behind. When new technology comes into the market, the default feeling of individuals is that it is coming to take our jobs, but the clever person will ask, “What skill can I learn to ensure that I remain relevant?”
Career Chat: Looking back at your journey, what has been one of the most challenging moments in your career, and how did you overcome it?
Dr Dlamini: One of the most challenging moments was leading complex transformation initiatives under intense scrutiny and high expectations. The pressure was real, and resistance was inevitable. I overcame it by staying anchored in purpose, relying on data, building strong teams, and maintaining open communication. Resilience, faith, and self-reflection played a significant role in navigating those moments.
Career Chat: You initiated a Personal Finance Management program to help others better manage their finances. What inspired this initiative and what impact has it had so far?
Dr Dlamini: The inspiration for the Personal Finance Management program began with a personal realisation. Despite my professional expertise in finance, I recognised that I, too, could manage my personal finances better. That moment of self‑reflection prompted me to demystify personal money management, not just for myself, but for others who might be facing similar challenges. I began researching the subject deeply, driven by the belief that financial knowledge should be practical, accessible, and empowering.
As I engaged more with people in the workplace, it became clear that many were silently struggling with their finances. I saw how financial stress affected confidence, decision‑making, and overall well-being. This strengthened my resolve to equip individuals with practical tools and knowledge to take control of their financial lives. The program was therefore designed not as a theoretical exercise, but as a hands-on, real-life intervention aimed at restoring dignity, reducing anxiety, and building financial resilience.
The impact so far has been deeply encouraging. Participants consistently report improved financial confidence, more informed decision‑making, and reduced stress around money. These outcomes reinforced my conviction that financial wellness is not a peripheral issue; it is central to personal well-being and organisational performance. This work also influenced my PhD research, which focused on employee financial wellness and confirmed that financial stress has a direct impact on productivity, well-being, and human dignity.
Importantly, I view personal finance management as a lifelong journey rather than a once‑off achievement. Even today, I continue to learn, reflect, and improve my own financial practices. That ongoing commitment keeps the initiative authentic and relevant, and it reminds me that true leadership begins with self‑awareness and a willingness to grow, then extends outward to uplift others.
Career Chat: For young people aspiring to become Chartered Accountants or finance leaders, what advice would you give them as they start their journey?
Dr Dlamini: Be patient with the process and committed to excellence. Invest in your technical foundation, but also in your character and values. Seek mentors, stay curious, and do not be afraid to stretch beyond your comfort zone. Most importantly, remember that success is not just about titles; it is about impact, integrity, and how you lift others as you rise.
“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but everything has to be faced before it can be changed” Unknown
The Impact of Continuous Learning
Continuous learning has been central to my growth. Commitment to continuous learning shaped my leadership effectiveness, combining technical mastery, strategic thinking, and human impact.Each qualification added a new layer, from technical competence to strategic thinking to deep reflection on leadership and human behaviour. My doctorate challenged me to think systemically and evidence‑based, while remaining people‑centred. Learning keeps me grounded, curious, and relevant in an ever‑changing environment. The way I look at it is as follows:
Leadership Impact
Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) Research on financial wellness in the public sector strengthened insight‑driven, empathetic, and evidence‑based leadership.
Strategic Depth
MBA (Finance) Deepened strategic and commercial thinking, enabling leadership beyond functional finance
Professional Mastery
Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA). Built professional and technical excellence across audit and finance aspects.
Foundation
Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) Established strong analytical foundations and a lifelong learning mindset.
Continuous Improvement
Short Courses (Throughout Career) Reinforced adaptability, relevance, and a sustained commitment to continuous improvement. Kaizen
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