Finance professionals have been urged to pursue chief executive and other top leadership positions, arguing that the evolving role of chief finance officers (CFOs) has equipped them to drive organisational growth and long-term sustainability.
The call was made at the launch of the 10th Chief Finance Officers (CFO) Awards, organised by ACCA Uganda in partnership with Deloitte Uganda.
Charlotte Kukunda, Country Manager of ACCA Uganda, said the role of the CFO has changed significantly over the past decade as businesses navigate economic uncertainty, digital transformation and changing sustainability expectations.
“The mandate of the Chief Financial Officer has transformed fundamentally, from gatekeepers and custodians of numbers and compliance to growth drivers, and from back office to boardroom leaders. You have become strategic co-pilots navigating complex economic waters,” Kukunda said.
She said today’s CFOs are expected to provide strategic leadership rather than simply oversee financial reporting and compliance. Speaking at the launch, Kukunda noted that finance leaders have helped organisations navigate major disruptions, including the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain challenges and rapid technological change.
She urged finance professionals to embrace digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, while integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles into business strategy. The 10th edition of the awards is being held under the theme, “A Decade of Excellence; A Legacy of Leadership, Shaping the Future.”
Kukunda said the theme reflects on the resilience demonstrated by finance leaders over the past decade while encouraging the next generation of professionals to prepare for leadership in a rapidly changing business environment.
Over the past nine years, the awards have recognised 50 finance professionals with 76 awards across the public, private and civil society sectors, including small and medium-sized enterprises and large corporations. Kukunda said recipients continue to receive mentorship under the programme to support their professional growth. Several former award winners have since moved into chief executive positions.
They include Irene Mwoyogwona, formerly Head of Finance at Pride Bank Uganda, who is now Chief Executive Officer of BRAC Uganda Bank Ltd, and Geoffrey Byekwaso, formerly General Manager Finance at Centenary Rural Development Bank, who became Managing Director of Centenary Bank Malawi in 2024 before assuming the same role at Centenary Bank Uganda this year.
Byekwaso credited the awards programme with nurturing leadership talent within the finance profession. Joseph Sekabira, Associate Director at Deloitte Uganda, said the awards were established to recognise the contribution finance leaders make to organisations and the wider economy.
He said since Deloitte partnered with ACCA Uganda in 2017, the programme has sought to elevate the finance profession by celebrating excellence and leadership.
The awards are open to finance leaders from all sectors, including financial services, energy, telecommunications, media, real estate and retail. Nominations, including self-nominations, are open through ACCA Uganda’s online platforms and the Deloitte Uganda CFO Programme Hub until September 18, 2026-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
