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‘I want to be known for my professionalism’

29 Jun, 2018 - 00:06 0 Views
‘I want to be known for my professionalism’ Mr Kudenga

eBusiness Weekly

This week, Business Weekly publishes an interview with the founder of one of the leading local chartered accountancy company, BDO, Ngoni Kudenga. In the interview Business Weekly (BW) and Ngoni Kudenga (NK) discussed a wide range of issues including the BDO founding partner’s role in the  firm, the organisation’s vision, early participation of blacks in the accountancy profession and prospects for BDO among others. Below are excerpts from the interview.

Q: What is your mandate as the Managing & Founding Partner of BDO?

A: My primary mandate is to lead and grow the organisation. As part of an international network, it is my role to ensure that he firm meets the quality standards prescribed to all BDO member firms. As the founding partner I also make sure that the firm sticks to our founding values which have seen us grow and sustain the business to this day.

Q: What is your vision for the organisation?

A: To be the leader in exceptional client service in our industry. As a person, I really enjoy seeing small businesses grow into large corporates, becoming notable “forces to reckon with”. This is within our DNA as BDO as this is ethos of our own story.

I started this business because I have a real passion for training fellow Zimbabweans to become Chartered Accountants (CAs) and I am very pleased to note that we have trained more than 1000 accountants since we opened our doors in 1981.

I cannot overemphasise the importance of professionalism. I would like BDO Zimbabwe to be a model for professionalism in Zimbabwe.

In our conduct as professionals, no matter what the service, we maintain an unbiased position and we do not compromise our standards, ethics or professional standing.

There is no room for debate on this one and everyone in my team knows that professionalism comes first, it is simply not up for debate.

Q: What has taken most of your time as the Managing Partner?

A: I love my profession and would like to see the profession really grow and be well respected in the business fraternity. As a result, most of my time is taken up in industry discussing issues with business leaders and finding out how best we as CAs can become part of the solutions needed in our local businesses.

Q: If there is one thing you would change in the way we do business in Zimbabwe, what will that be?

A: I would urge the young generation to get involved in giving back to the community and serving a cause/organisation that could use their talent and skills. One should be able to say, “I contributed to the success of the country”.

I have supported the nation by serving on Boards and on Committees as a way of contributing towards building Zimbabwe.

Through the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Zimbabwe (ICAZ), I have been involved in pertinent economic issues.

I currently chair the Institute’s Economic Forum Committee which brings in experts to dialogue & suggest methods to address topical issues which are often requested by government to help State Owned Entities, and other government partners meet their various project needs.

Q: What’s one obvious thing that you thought you really had to change when you formed the organisation?

A: The face of the CAs in the profession in the eighties did not reflect the average Zimbabwean racially. It was no secret back then that the common notion was that black Zimbabweans were not for the profession.

Today, the story has changed, we need to address the issues of diversity as a whole and I am pleased that I have a team making strides toward programs of diversity and inclusion to cater to the millennials for example, who have a new way of thinking, a new way of doing business and engaging with their seniors in the workplace.

I hope our story serves as testament to other young local entrepreneurs that with the right focus, team and competence, you can set up a business which competes with the multinationals.

Q: If there is one reputation that you would want to be known for, what would that be?

A: Professionalism. And a key component to achieving that is technical competence.

Q: What style of management philosophy do you employ with your current position?

A: Open door policy. I always encourage participation from all levels in our various programs. I urge anyone in the organisation to bring their business ideas to me. I am passionate about talent identification and creating knowledge centres where people can develop and grow their ideas.

Q: What do you currently identify as the major areas that need attention at BDO?

A: Technology. I may belong to the old school, but I am fully aware that we must embrace technology and excel if we are to remain leaders in our industries, even as a nation.

We have gone out of our way to ensure that we keep pace with the changes in technology.

We are also putting a lot more emphasis on talent. Our people drive our performance as a business.

We have put programs and measures in place to identify and nurture talent and we have a culture that enables us to excel in our various areas of work, be it Audit, Tax or our various Advisory Services.

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