By Nelisiwe Mabutyana, Head of Finance: SPM
Many business strategies fail when they lack a solid financial foundation. A well-developed idea without proper financial planning can result in missed opportunities. At SPM, finance plays a central role in turning plans into action and ensuring that strategic goals are achievable.
Every successful organisation operates with a clear strategy. It defines where the business is going, how it plans to get there, and what success looks like. A well-crafted strategy helps align teams, prioritise goals, and guide decision-making across all levels of the business.
Strategy provides direction and helps the organisation stay focused. It enables teams to work toward common objectives and supports decisions that are grounded in long-term thinking. Without this clarity, businesses may lose momentum and respond to challenges without a structured plan.
Finance in Operations and Planning
At SPM, finance plays a hands-on role in how we operate. Clear reporting and accurate data give us visibility into how we’re doing and where we need to improve. This insight helps us set realistic budgets, stay on track, and course-correct when needed.
Forecasting and scenario planning also enable us to prepare for change, rather than just respond to it. Whether we’re planning for growth or adjusting to external pressures, finance provides us with the tools to act decisively.
Supporting Cross-Functional Execution
Finance is most effective when it’s embedded across the business, and that’s exactly how we work.
With HR:
- We plan workforce growth together, making sure hiring and training match our business goals.
- Finance helps evaluate incentive programmes and benefits to ensure they’re both effective and sustainable.
- When restructuring or team expansion is on the table, we provide the financial insight to guide decisions.
With Operations:
- Finance works alongside operations to understand where money is being spent and to identify areas where efficiencies can be found.
- We evaluate capital investments and help prioritise what delivers the most value.
- Together, we track performance and use the numbers to drive improvement.
With IT:
- Finance supports budgeting for systems upgrades, cybersecurity, and the technology investments that help us stay competitive.
This close collaboration helps ensure that the strategy is practical, prioritised, and financially sound.
Finance and Corporate Governance
Finance plays a crucial role in ensuring that strategies are implemented responsibly. It is closely linked to governance and compliance, helping to maintain the organisation’s integrity and support sound decision-making.
Key responsibilities include:
- Enforcing financial controls and policies to reduce the risk of fraud or misuse of funds
- Ensuring compliance with tax laws, reporting standards, and sustainability requirements
- Providing the board and executives with clear reporting and reliable risk information
These practices help to uphold accountability, maintain ethical standards, and support confidence among stakeholders.
Turning Plans into Progress
Since finance is involved at every step, we’re able to ask better questions, explore smarter options, and move forward with confidence. This hands-on approach ensures the strategy is not just a plan on paper; it is actively executed, tracked through measurable outcomes, and adjusted as needed.
To support this ongoing progress, businesses often focus on key financial strategies, such as:
- Increasing revenues and market share while managing costs
- Identifying opportunities to automate business processes
- Optimising cash management
- Financing growth through internal and external sources
- Establishing robust internal controls and enterprise risk management (ERM)
Bottom of Form
What’s Next for SPM
We’re operating in a world that doesn’t stand still. Markets shift, technologies evolve, and customer expectations continue to rise. While finance is sometimes seen as a support function, at SPM, it’s truly a cornerstone of effective business strategy. It provides leadership with critical insights into our financial health, enabling informed decisions, efficient resource allocation, and sustainable growth.
Beyond driving profitability, finance plays a vital role in assessing risks, tracking performance, and ensuring compliance. Embedding finance into every stage of our strategic planning is essential to achieving long-term success, operational resilience, and sustainability, especially in today’s competitive and fast-changing landscape.
As new challenges arise, our finance team will continue to be a key partner, helping SPM grow with purpose, agility, and discipline.