Sylvia Herta Pugin De Vries is a Chartered Accountant with over 30 years of experience in finance, accounting, and management consulting roles. She has held CFO and director level positions at various companies, and currently works as an independent consultant. Her experience includes financial reporting, systems implementation, change management, and business transformation projects. She has extensive expertise in finance functions, financial analysis, budgeting, and strategic leadership.

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Sylvia Herta Pugin De Vries CA (SA)
Mobile: 083 234 0303 E-Mail: sylviapugin@webafrica.org.za
Professional Summary:
I am a professional Chartered Accountant CA (SA) who has gained both Executive and
Management experience in the Professional Management Consulting and Financial Services
industries, in Finance Transformation Projects, Strategic Programme Executive Leadership &
Management roles, complex Financial Information Systems Implementation, Research and
Development and Strategic Change Management initiatives, which include inter alia a Strategic
Financial Information Systems RFP process that considered an ERP solution for both Oracle and
SAP Solutions. I have also held directorship / C-Suite finance roles and am equally comfortable
delivering at a strategic level or in an operational capacity.
Qualifications:
Tertiary: B. Compt. Hons, Finance, General, University of South Africa (1985); CA (SA) South African Institute of
Chartered Accountants board examinations (Passed first attempt) (1986).
Secondary: Grade 12/ Matric, Sir John Adamson High School (1980), Deputy Head Girl.
Professional Memberships:
Registered as a professional Chartered Accountant CA (SA) with the South African Institute of Chartered
Accountants (SAICA). Member of the Institute of Directors in South Africa (IoDSA).
Work Experience:
Professional Finance Management Consultant: (2015 – Present)
• I am currently consulting at Stanlib as Head of Finance for South Africa and Africa
• My previous project at Stanlib was programme managing the 2016 budget process
• Implementing the new budget process and liaising with Asset Managers to evaluate their businesses
for their 2020 strategy and budget
• Year-end CFO role in 2015
• Consolidations, tax calculations and capital adequacy calculations, regulatory returns to the FSB, East
Africa business rescue and strategy plans, capital requirement plans, budget and recapitalisation
planning
• Assisting with the setup of the global distribution office in London
• Acting Head of Finance for South Africa and East African Operations and assistance with year-end
requirements in this capacity
• Process improvement initiatives
Business / Finance Transformation Consultant (Special Projects) at Wesbank: (2013 – 2015)
• I was contracted to consult into and assist with the Wesbank Finance Transformation Project
• Forged and aligned the necessary relationships between Wesbank and the rest of the FirstRand group
• Reviewed existing financial systems, processes, and information reporting.
• Planned for finance transformation implementation and implemented transactional efficiencies
• Set up one platform for procurement, annual financial statements, knowledge management for finance
department, and financial reconciliation project using Infogix

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Programme Executive: Finance Transformation, FirstRand Bank Ltd, South Africa (2008 – 2013)
• Ensured that the programme of change met its objectives and delivered the projected benefits and
ensured agreement of those objectives among the relevant business stakeholders
• Ensured the strategic fit of the programme objectives and benefits
• Managed the delivery of the objectives and benefits and took corrective action where necessary to
ensure successful delivery
• Three-part programme with R187 million budget over three years. Secured the budgeted investment
• Programme management, change management, training management, Data Warehousing Programme
Owner, communications management, Financial Re-Engineering Programme Manager, Chair of
Programme Steering Committee.
• Formal project closure, post-implementation review, problem resolution and referral
Head of Research and Development: Financial Information Systems, FirstRand Bank Ltd, South Africa (2003 – 2008)
• Researched, prepared RFPs, and implemented a large Hyperion (Oracle) Financial Management System
9, a consolidation tool, firstly for FirstRand Banking Group and then for the FirstRand Group (Net
interest income of R33 billion) for statutory and regulatory reporting. Total number of users – 900.
• Beta testing for Oracle Hyperion. Successful implementation, which is used for monthly, statutory and
regulatory reporting
• Basel 2 development and implementation
• Designed user training manuals and assisted in user training
• My team was responsible for development, training, Help Desk, and maintenance
• Liaison with business stakeholders and requirements identification and planning
• Budget under management was R60 million. Costs under management were R150 million
Project Accountant, FirstRand Bank Limited (2002 – 2003)
• Co-ordinated the Basel 2 project (finance), which included the project liaison with all finance project
managers
• Virtual general ledger, MIS framework, CFO report, Saambou deal, EVA performance bonus scheme,
interactive annual financial statements
• Management of Project Accountants
Group Financial Manager, The Technology Group (Pty) Ltd (2001 – 2002)
• Corrected a three-year audit backlog
• Management accounts, annual financial statements, M&A, Company Secretary duties, Corporate
Governance, cash flow and treasury duties
Financial Director, First Link Insurance Brokers (Pty) Ltd (2000 – 2001)
• Overall responsibility for the company’s finances
• Special Project involvement, annual budgets, monthly management reports, quarterly board reports,
annual audit, liaising with auditors, annual financial statements
• EXCO (Executive Committee) member, involved in strategic decisions and planning, acquisitions due
diligence
Financial Director Designate, Damelin Education Group (Pty) Ltd (1999 – 2000)
• Assisted all divisional heads with financial management and controls
• Ensured timeous production of financial and management results
• Managed accounting systems, cash flow, asset management
• Controlled and supervised internal audit function

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Chief Financial Officer, Alliance Odyssey Capital Management (Pty) Ltd (1997 – 1998)
• Initiated all financial systems, controls and compliance
• Financial, operational and administrative leadership
• Was also responsible for Company Secretary and Human Resources duties
• Implemented accounting systems
• Set financial objectives, policies and practices
• Liaison with New York office, implemented and maintained compatibility
• Assisted with setting up of new companies
Financial Consultant, BJ Consulting cc (1996 – 1997)
• Consulted to: Regus International Holdings BV, Seagate Software Ltd
• Implemented audit control systems
• Monthly management accounts, cash flows and budgets. Preparation for annual audit and liaison with
the auditors
Financial Projects Director, Price Forbes Group (Pty) Ltd (1995 – 1996)
• Responsible for monthly preparation of management accounts and analysis (R2.4 billion turnover)
• Salaries, new computer system, salaries’ business process re-engineering project, due diligence on new
business prospects
Senior Financial Manager, Resort Condominiums International (1992 – 1994)
• Responsible for all financial aspects of the business
• Supervised the production of monthly consolidated management accounts
• Implemented new accounting package, financial analysis, budgets, cash flows and treasury activities for
all three branches
• Management of 13 staff. Training and development of accounting / finance staff
Group Financial Manager & Divisional Financial Director, VRN Steel Merchants (1989 – 1992)
• Implemented divisionalisation programme
• Financial year-end and audit planning. Group tax. Preparation of the annual financial statements
• Performed Company Secretary duties
• Monthly financial reporting, tax planning and liaison with the auditors
Financial Manager, Van Reenen and Nicholls (Pty) Ltd (1988 – 1989)
• Financial management, tax planning, group treasury, tax returns
Audit Manager, KPMG Accountants and Auditors (1981 – 1988)
• Audit planning and review. staff planning. Responsible for significant audits e.g. Messina Ltd, Dorbyl
Railway Projects and Delswa Clothing Company.
• Completion of auditing articles and completion of studies towards CA (SA) qualification part-time whilst
working full-time.