Ricus Fourie, Group Management Accountant
Group Management Accountant
Current Experience:
Group Management Accountant at Andrada Mining · Full-time Sep 2023 - Present · (2 yrs 3 mos)
Past Experiences:
Cost Accountant at Sylvania Metals (PTY) LTD · Full-time May 2022 - Sep 2023 · (1 yr 5 mos)
Cost Accountant / Project Accountant at Impala Platinum · Full-time Nov 2020 - May 2022 · (1 yr 7 mos)
Accountant at Grobbelaar Accountants · Full-time Dec 2019 - Nov 2020 · (1 yr)
Intern at Grobbelaar Accountants Centurion Dec 2015 - Dec 2018 · (3 yrs 1 mo)
Qualifications:
Postgraduate Diploma in Finance and Accounting
Country of Residence:
South Africa
LinkedIn Profile:
He’s the youngest in the boardroom, but he’s not here to take notes. As Group Management Accountant at Andrada Mining, Ricus isn’t just crunching numbers, Ricus is aligning strategies, unlocking cost savings, and making sure executives sleep well knowing the cash flow is under control.
He questions everything, simplifies the complex, and turns Excel into a team sport. And he’s proof that real leadership isn’t about age, it’s about impact.
What time do you usually wake up on weekends?
7:00 AM
Are you an early bird or a night owl?
Night Owl
How do you spend the first hour of your day?
I spend the first hour of my morning getting my mind ready and focused for the day ahead, especially since my days can be quite unpredictable.
What sparked your interest in accounting or finance?
Back in school, I was always curious about how things worked and what everything actually cost from a zero-based costing point of view, and that curiosity pulled me into accounting and finance.
Can you share some key career milestones or defining moments?
A few defining moments for me have been driving efficiency improvements at every company I’ve worked with, whether through cost savings or boosting production. Another big milestone was becoming the youngest member of management at 27.
What is your role within your company’s finance department?
I handle budgeting, cash flow management and overall cost efficiencies across the group.
How do you contribute to the overall financial strategy of the business?
I help shape the financial strategy by making sure the C-suite has a clear view of cash flow across both opex and capex. My role is to give executives the comfort and control they need to manage their budgets confidently.
What is one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your role? How did you overcome it?
One of the biggest challenges has been getting executive strategies aligned across the exco team. Clear communication and simplifying the work as much as possible helped everyone engage properly and move toward a unified strategy.
What tools or strategies do you use to manage the financial operations of the company effectively?
I rely on strong communication and make sure all HODs and executives are involved, which helps keep the financial operations running smoothly.
Share your strategies for staying balanced, especially during busy periods
I stay balanced by focusing on whatever needs attention most in the moment. And when it comes to family, I make sure to give them my full attention, even if it’s only for half an hour, before getting back to work that needs to be done.
What do you enjoy outside of work? Any hobbies or activities that help you recharge?
Outside of work, I enjoy training and spending time with friends and family over good food and drinks.
Do you mentor or support other team members in the finance department? How do you help develop the skills of others?
Yes, I’m a big believer in continuous learning. I take the time to help team members understand and correct their mistakes by breaking things down clearly. I also keep an open-door policy for anyone who wants to learn more, whether it’s finance-related or even just improving their Excel skills.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to work in a finance department?
I would suggest emphasizing teamwork, as a finance function cannot operate effectively with just one person, it relies on clear communication across the team to ensure accuracy and meet deadlines. My advice is to approach problems logically rather than strictly from a financial perspective. Most colleagues won’t be financially literate, so presenting information in a clear and simple way will make it easier for them to provide the data or insights you need.
“Understand the business first, then focus on the accounting”
Share a leadership lesson or a piece of advice that’s been valuable to you in your career
A valuable leadership lesson I’ve learned is to truly listen when someone is speaking and avoid interrupting, it's hard to really understand others if you’re focused on talking.
What’s something surprising about you that isn’t in your professional bio?
I’m really passionate about sports and enjoy playing or following any kind.
If you could have any superpower to help you in your job, what would it be?
The ability to read the minds of C-suite executives
What’s your go-to strategy for staying productive during long workdays?
I take short, two-minute breaks regularly to step away from my desk and recharge.
If you could relive one day from your career, which day would it be and why? What made that day special?
The day the board approved the group’s budgets that I had prepared entirely on my own, it was special because it showed my work had real impact and was recognized at the highest level.
Ricus shows us that good finance is about clarity, logic, and making others feel in control. His advice? Speak simply, think practically, and don’t forget to listen.
Imagine what our profession could be if more finance pros led like this.
Want to position yourself like Ricus?
Join CIBA and we’ll show you how to turn financial strategy into influence, and income.
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