Etienne Botes

Chartered Accountant (SAICA, 2018) with more than eight years of post-articles experience in group financial management, financial reporting, and operational finance across multiple industries. Most recently served as Group Finance Manager at The New Forests Company, managing consolidated IFRS reporting, multijurisdictional tax compliance, cash flow, budgeting, and internal and external audits across South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, the UK, and Mauritius. An adaptable finance professional with strong business acumen demonstrated across a wide range of roles and industries.

Group Finance Manager - The New Forests Company

(2025-01 - 2026-07)

Position concluded; seeking a new professional challenge. Forestry and Manufacturing

• Managed consolidated IFRS reporting, budgeting, and forecasting across operations in South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, the UK, and Mauritius.
• Coordinated external audits across multiple entities, acting as the primary liaison with auditors and resolving technical accounting matters.
• Oversaw multi-jurisdictional tax compliance in collaboration with external tax advisers.
• Served as the finance contact for joint venture partners, providing financial information and support on commercial and reporting queries.
• Led group treasury activities, including intercompany funding, working capital and cash flow management, enhancing visibility over consolidated liquidity.
• Prepared monthly, quarterly, and half-year shareholder reporting packs.
• Led the preparation of corporate and head office budgets.
• Maintained and strengthened the control environment and performed internal audit and compliance reviews.

Group Financial Manager - M Premjee and Sons (+ 4 companies in retail and property)

(2023-02 - 2024-12)

Sought a more challenging role where I could use a wider range of my skills. FMCG Wholesale/ Retail and Property

• Oversaw the full accounting function across five companies.
• Prepared monthly management accounts and conducted sales and data analysis.
• Managed buyer-group rebate invoicing and tracked rebates against purchases.
• Managed daily cash book processing, debtor allocations, and bank accounts.
• Served as primary point of contact with the bank and managed the card machine payment system.
• Supervised the cash office and reviewed daily cash reconciliations.
• Performed major supplier creditors reconciliations and resolved reconciling items.
• Submitted COIDA and Stats SA statutory reports.
• Drafted annual financial statements in Draftworx and coordinated audit sign-offs.
• Calculated income tax and provisional tax; processed payroll and EMP201/EMP501 submissions.
• Prepared and submitted VAT201 returns; attended SARS VAT audits.
• Managed the annual stock-take process.

Financial Manager - Capsicum Culinary Studio (ADvTECH Group)

(2021-09 - 2023-02)

Sought a role offering broader hands-on experience. Education

• Led the finance department and managed a team of six.
• Acted as business partner to the Campus Heads on operational and financial decisions.
• Prepared operational and capital budgets; monitored expenses against budget.
• Part of implementation team for Dynamics 365 and a new student management system.
• Assisted with facilities management function.
• Assisted with audits as required; maintained and improved internal controls.
• Ensured reporting and tax compliance requirements were met for group finance.
• Managed bank accounts and maintained controls over payment processing.
• Took overall responsibility for the record-to-report process, including month-end close and reconciliations.

Group Accountant - AutoX (Pty) Ltd

(2018-04 - 2021-08)

Sought a role that provided more hands-on financial management experience. Manufacturing

• Managed the year-end audit process.
• Ensured IFRS compliance; compiled group and separate annual financial statements.
• Headed the full income tax and VAT compliance function.
• Reviewed balance sheet reconciliations and led the treasury function.
• Oversaw foreign creditors and FX-denominated payables.
• Served as a member of the forex hedging committee.
• Project Manager for implementation of a business intelligence platform.
• Served as contact point for group bankers and submitted weekly and monthly reporting
• Reported to Stats SA and the Reserve Bank.

Trainee Accountant - RSM South Africa Inc.

(2015-02 - 2018-01)

Completed three-year training contract

• Completed review, audit, tax, and compilation engagements across diverse industries (manufacturing, fast food, retail, services).
• Set and monitored engagement budgets; reviewed work prepared by junior clerks.
• Attended client meetings and wrote client-facing reports.
• Researched technical topics; supervised and trained junior staff. Delivered all jobs on time.
• Largest clients: manufacturing, fast food retailing, and services sectors.

Physiotherapist - Geldenhuys Physiotherapists

(2012 - 2014)

Practice Owner - Etienne Botes Physiotherapists

(2007 - 2011)

Physiotherapist - Hanlie Meyer Physiotherapists

(2006 - 2007)

Community Service Physiotherapist - Department of Health

(2005 - 2005)

Assessment of Professional Competence (APC: Board 2) - SAICA (2017)

Initial Test of Competence (ITC: Board 1) - SAICA (2016)

Post Graduate Diploma in Accounting (CTA) - Accounting - Monash SA (2015)

Bachelor of Accounting Science - Accounting - UNISA (2014)

Master of Business Administration - Business Administration - MANCOSA (2011)

Bachelor of Physiotherapy - Physiotherapy - UP (2004)

Senior Certificate - Andrew Rabie (2000)