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Travers Cape, Finance Expert in Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Travers Cape

Finance Expert in Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

Member since April 28, 2022
Travers is a chartered accountant who has a 16-year career of work in senior financial positions across retail, engineering, and startup industries for companies such as EY, Babcock, Massmart, and Nu-World. His last role was that of a CFO at a Johannesburg retail listed company with a turnover of $250 million. Travers enjoys freelancing as it provides him with the opportunity to work across a variety of industries and challenging projects, including financial modeling and fractional CFO roles.
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Career Highlights

Education

Select Certifications

Case studies

Expertise

Employment

  • Director

    2018 - PRESENT
    Freelance
    • Co-authored the article "Combined assurance: Is Your Organization Adequately Assured?" published on bbrief.co.za and "The Single Most Important Article For Websites in 2019", published on njin.co.za.
    • Built financial KPI’s for a retail company, which included determining the formulas and chart of accounts used, this resulted in growth of 10% in most of the KPI’s.
    • Developed a transfer pricing policy for a global shipping company with offices in South Africa. The approach allowed the company to continue trading in South Africa with revenues of excess of $50 million.
    • Raised $5m as the fractional CFO of a renewable energy business in South Africa. Set up the governance and relative financial processes. Assisted in the strategy focusing on growth opportunities.
    • Served as the founder of a medical cannabis business in South Africa. Developed the business plan and financial model. Currently in the process of raising funds.
    • Led the finance team at a construction company as a fractional CFO, overseeing improvements in efficiencies within the finance department. Implemented financial processes for a construction company, allowing them to win work of $20 million in 2019.
    • Raised $5m as the fractional CFO of a renewable energy business in South Africa. Set up the governance and relative financial processes. Assisted in the strategy focusing on growth opportunities.
    • Built business plans for numerous businesses, including developing the financial statements, scenario, and risk analysis which were implemented.
    • Built a budgeting model using a driver-based model for a listed Swedish company. This model was developed into a budgeting tool and implemented across 100 regions.
    • Led the conceptual and detailed design and iterative build phases of an FP&A EPM for a large company.
    Focus areas: Fundraising, Startups, Finance, Financials, Transfer Pricing, Reporting, Accounting, Cash Flow, Financial Modeling, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Business Models, Revenue & Expense Projections, CFO, Financial Ratios, Financial Analysis, Private Company Valuation, Fractional CFO, Valuation, Valuation Modeling, Financial Reporting, Cash Flow Modeling, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Three-statement Modeling, RiskMetrics, Pitch Decks, Pitch Deck Consultant, Cash Flow Management, Growth Strategy

  • Controller | Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

    2022 - 2022
    Kaleafa Inc.
    • Reconciled the distribution accounts from 2020, considering the various partners and agreements.
    • Reconciled the back office allocation process and developed a process flow.
    • Improved the control environment by implementing certain procedures, such as the closure of month-end, improving the month-end checklist, and developing process flows.
    Focus areas: Controller, Accounting, CPA, Controllership, Sage, Sage Intacct, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Revenue & Expense Projections, Forecasting

  • CFO

    2021 - 2022
    Nu-World Holdings Ltd
    • Implemented a new process in the sales function, whereby sales invoices are scanned together with proof of deliveries. This has reduced paper use and made 250m of warehouse space available, saving $1 million in annual lease expenses.
    • Built daily financial reports for the executive committee, which provided an updated business dashboard and increased revenue by 5%.
    • Corrected the impairment model, which increased the bottom line by $3 million.
    • Responded and cleared accounting and listing requirements queries from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
    • Developed and filed the annual and integrated report for the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Further, ensured all respective filings for reports and other announcements were correctly completed on time.
    Focus areas: FX, Cash Flow, Reporting, Corporate Governance, Board of Directors, Inventory Management, Lease Accounting, Taxation, Debtor & Creditor Management, Financials, Cash Management, Financial Modeling, Strategy, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Business Models, Revenue & Expense Projections, CFO, Financial Ratios, Financial Analysis, Valuation, Valuation Modeling, Financial Reporting, Cash Flow Modeling, Three-statement Modeling, RiskMetrics, Cash Flow Management

  • Senior Financial Manager: Shared Services Center

    2020 - 2020
    Massmart Limited
    • Improved the control environment in debtor and creditor management and reduced provisions by $20 million.
    • Developed and implemented processes in the debtor and creditor functions which passed internal, external, and SOX audits. This included developing a RACM for all functions.
    • Identified and cleared non-reconciling items in the general ledger, leading to reconciled accounts for the first time in five years and an improvement in profit of $2 million.
    • Led a team of 20 direct and over 300 indirect reports in the Shared Services Center across regions and introduced efficiencies within the teams by re-organizing work and processes to best suit the team.
    • Mentored two staff members who progressed in the business and excelled in their new roles.
    Focus areas: Payroll & Benefits, Rebate Programs, Debtor & Creditor Management, Accounting, SOX, SOX Compliance, Controller, Financial Ratios, Financial Analysis, Valuation, Financial Reporting, RiskMetrics, Cash Flow Management

  • General Manager: Finance

    2011 - 2018
    Babcock International Group
    • Selected as one of 25 employees from a universe of 30,000 employees of Babcock International to attend an MBA at the University of Strathclyde.
    • Hired SAP payroll specialists to implement SAP Payroll, which improved payroll processes and efficiency and reduced processing times by two business days.
    • Merged an acquisition that included valuing the business, finalizing the legalese, and determining the correct accounting treatment. This merger resulted in increased revenue of $20 million.
    • Raised $50 million for a vehicle financing division of Babcock.
    • Led the Treasury, Taxation, and Statutory functions across the 15 divisions within Babcock Africa for six years.
    • Established processes and policies across the financial functions of Babcock Africa, improving inefficiencies in the accounting and finance departments. Developed accounting memos for complex accounting issues.
    • Established the accounting function for the educational and vehicle financing division by developing processes and policies.
    • Built detailed financial models for possible acquisitions of companies. This included determining the financial valuation and sensitivity analysis. This resulted in raising funding for Babcock and the acquisition of identified companies.
    • Developed business plans for possible businesses and ventures identified within the company, which led to the creation of one company valued at $10m.
    • Prepared the Strategic Plan for Babcock Africa, which included all the opportunities for growth of $100m. Implemented a review process where the progress against this strategic plan was reported.
    Focus areas: Payroll & Benefits, Taxation, Cash Management, Cash Flow, Corporate Governance, Accounting, Finance, Reporting, Business Development, Strategy, Financing, Financials, Financial Modeling, Forecasting, Budgeting, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Fundraising, Business Models, Revenue & Expense Projections, Controller, Financial Ratios, Financial Analysis, Private Company Valuation, Valuation, Valuation Modeling, Financial Reporting, Cash Flow Modeling, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Three-statement Modeling, RiskMetrics, Pitch Decks, Cash Flow Management

  • Audit Manager

    2005 - 2011
    EY
    • Led a project at the third-largest gold mining entity globally to list a $300 million bond on the London Stock Exchange.
    • Conducted the pre-study at a potential client that led to a $2 million project, which assisted a parastatal in identifying its assets and improving its descriptions in the asset register.
    • Managed the rationalization of entities project at a global gold mining entity, which reduced costs by $2 million.
    • Led audits of South African listed and medium-sized entities for five years, which included entities with revenue of $1 billion.
    • Led a project team, of 25 members, at a parastatal to identify its assets and correct descriptions in the asset register.
    • Led the audit of a US-listed company, reviewed the SEC filings, and answered any questions directed to the company by the SEC.
    Focus areas: Auditing, Audits, SOX Compliance, Management, Consulting, Financial Ratios, Tax Research & Planning, Fixed Asset Management, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)

Education

  • Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA)
    2015 - 2017
    University of Strathclyde - Glasgow, Scotland
  • Honors Bachelor Degree in Accounting
    2001 - 2004
    University of Johannesburg - Johannesburg, South Africa

Certifications

  • Chartered Accountant
    APRIL 2008 - PRESENT
    South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA)

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