WC CFO TheStrategicCFO#44 Online NZ Final - Flipbook - Page 1
Forecasting FINANCE
There’s a lot of people
who rely on our services
– travel industry, energy
industry, water industry,
mining, aviation –
not just the general
public.
”
Pranay was born in Fiji but studied
in New Zealand, where he landed his
first job. This was in the public sector
and he came under the tutelage of
an inspiring manager. “As a young
accountant you always want to work
in a Big Four firm,” Pranay says, “but
one of the best things I did was I got
to work with a fantastic leader and
thinker by the name of Dave Foster for
Wanganui District Council (in New
Zealand’s North Island) This is where I
learnt the art of engagement, mentoring
and leadership. Pranay credits Dave in
developing his ability to think laterally
and strategically.
“The early ’90s was a time when the New
Zealand public sector was going through
significant reform, and started looking
at activity-based costing, policy versus
service delivery, and I started doing
some innovative stuff with long-term
infrastructure and financial planning.
I got some amazing experience in the six
years I was there.” He credits this New
Zealand experience with honing his
ability to think laterally. “I like to add
www.CFOMagazine.com.au
value in a broader capacity than just my
finance role,” he says.
jokes: “If this CFO gig doesn’t work out
I’ll be selling photos at Vic market.”
I look at my role now
as a problem-solver and
what helps is the critical
thinking ability.
A recent holiday hiking in Tibet gave
him more than just material for jawdropping photos; it also reinvigorated
his appreciation of humanity and, by
extension, his role in the workforce.
”
At the age of 29 Pranay landed the
CFO role at an 800-bed hospital, and
from there moved to Australia, where
his resume includes The University
of Western Australia (Perth) and The
University of Melbourne, Victoria
University and La Trobe University
where he was headhunted to lead a
significant transformation of Financial
Management of University. More
recently he was asked to lead similar
changes at the University of Western
Australia as the interim Chief Operating
Officer responsible for Finance,
Information Technology and Facilities
Management.
Pranay also is a firm believer in
developing and mentoring talent. “As a
leader it is our responsibility and duty”.
He also believes in having a team
that complements each other as “ the
CFO is only the director, motivator and
champion and can not possibly have the
skills across everything” When Pranay
isn’t overseeing the figures, he sees
the world through a different lens,
pursuing his passion for photography
and poetry. He has a healthy number of
Instagram followers for his images, and
His passion for photography is
matched by his passion for driving
a values-based leadership within a
corporate setting. “this is something
that I see lacking in organisations these
days, where the pursuit of results and
advancement is at the deliberate expense
of respect and values. This is something
that needs to change”
Tibet was a really
surreal and humbling
experience – the hike
itself is the journey,
learning the life stories
of the Sherpa. It brought
me back to the things I
value most – humanity
and people.
”
“In the corporate world we get caught
up in the executive space – there are a
lot of egos – and we forget the humanity
part of it. Tibet reinforced for me of
what I value” – that positive change,
improvement and transformation is
possible with values-based approaches”.
