Anthony Johnson-Watts

Background

About Anthony Johnson-Watts

I am a chartered accountant who has worked in the retail, manufacturing and banking industries. This has allowed me to gain exposure to a large number of different business practices helping me to broaden my skill set. In my career to date I have moved from being behind a till to auditing JSE listed companies, finally finding my calling in Absa as the CFO of the Trade and Working Capital business. Taking the role when I did presented its own challenges, with the normal way of work being disrupted by COVID and the adoption of remote working. This added an extra dimension to what was already a challenging situation, but one that I took in stride! Results speak for themselves, and over time I have created a strong and trusting relationship through excellent delivery between myself, the broader finance team and client facing colleagues. Along the way, I also discovered a new passion: leadership. Stepping into a management role and guiding the work and development of my team and colleagues is something that really drives me. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and this stands true in teams as well. I strive to focus on collaboration, mentorship, and communication, ensuring every team member can be at their best. In my time with the bank I have been part of the separation from Barclays, the on-boarding and rebranding of our African operations, automation of our reporting and development of individuals who have been head hunted within the bank. My journey would almost certainly have continued with Absa were it not for relocating. However, I am looking forward to the new opportunities and new challenges that await!