Renee Strauss Email & Phone Number

Cape Town Area, South Africa

Responsible for the financial management and reporting for all TFG stores in the rest of Africa (outside of RSA). The division currently trades in 6 countries with approximately 200 stores.Closely involved with the take-on activities of Jet in the TFG Finance & Advisory division. This included ledger feeds, merchandise accounts payable feeds, advising on transitional services agreement with Edcon, calculation of the purchase price payable, specification of agreed upon procedures with external auditors and preparation of Competition Commission filings in Namibia, Botswana and Eswatini. Coordination of the TFG transfer pricing project, involving functional analysis of the TFG Africa business, recommending transfer pricing methodology in Africa, drafting of intercompany agreements for merchandise, services and franchise rights, benchmarking & CUP analysis. On completion of the project, responsible for the quarterly calculation and charging of fees to the Rest of Africa, as well as the preparation of local files for all the countries and closely involved in the South African local file.Established board reporting to legal entity boards on a quarterly basis, adopting dividend policies and ensuring optimal cash extraction by means of merchandise settlements, charging of fees and declaration of dividends. Monitoring and maximising means of improving return on capital employed in each entity.New country openings: determining investment requirements, finding local advisors, setting up SAP ledger, establishing local processes and controls. Work closely with TFG group reporting team to ensure the Rest of Africa legal entities report accurately and timeously. Involved in key accounting implementations over the last few years, including the adoption of IFRS 16 and IFRS 15.April 2014 to June 2018 - Senior Finance Manager: TFG Africa

Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

With MMI having a presence in twelve African countries, main responsibility was to support the 12 local life insurance companies (Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Zambia, Tanzania and Mauritius). Worked closely with the local finance managers and was first point of contact between the MMI group and the International division for accounting, reporting and management information matters. Had responsibility of managing a small, closed life insurance book in South Africa called Metropolitan Life International (“MLI”). Key contact for interim implementation for SAM (Solvency Assessment and Management) for the MLI life insurance license in 2014.Statutory reporting on a number of companies in different jurisdictions including preparation of IFRS compliant financial statements and consolidation packs feeding into the MMI group consolidation.Responsible for the accounting output of the Exergy policy administration system used by subsidiaries in Namibia, Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria. This involved the initial specification as well as continuous involvement with accounting issues arising from the policy system.Policy administration for a small life book in South Africa with a Mauritius branch. Included dealing with FSB queries and liaison with our management agents in Mauritius on licensing, compliance and tax issues for the branch.Responsible for Exchange Control applications for foreign direct investments and annual reporting to the SARB on our foreign investments in subsidiaries.Involved in various projects representing the International finance function, ranging from starting up new operations in a country, change of subsidiary year ends to align with the group year end, management information system project, service level agreement review project and the group dividend withholding tax project.

Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Monthly/quarterly and annual reporting on one division and one legal entity within the group. Completion of quarterly South African Reserve Bank returns for the group.Assisted in CU (Commercial Union) life license integration project whereby previously separately reported entity was included in main reporting entity. Included liaison with different departments, generating of accounting entries and restatement of previously reported results.Involvement in and responsible for projects & processes in the Statutory environment, including compilation of information for the Metropolitan Retirement Annuity Fund, Kenya accounting configuration project and integration of Channel Life Namibia.

Nottingham, United Kingdom

Supervised external audit work in engineering and construction manufacturing businesses, power generation and process industries.Returned to SA when UK work permit expired.

Cape Town, South Africa

Postgraduate Diploma In Accountancy, Accounting

B.Com (Hons) - Financial Accounting

B.Com - Law Subjects

Matric