“You don’t have to see the whole staircase — just take the first step” — Martin Luther King Jr

Sibongile Zungu

Category

Financial Services
 

Organisation / Company

Standard Bank Group

 

Position

Head of finance: Business solutioning consolidation

 

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Profile

Raised in Imbali, a township in Pietermaritzburg, Sibongile Zungu, 33, was the first in her family to attend university — and today, she is one of the youngest finance leaders in South Africa’s banking sector. A qualified chartered accountant and head of finance for business and commercial banking  (BCB) at Standard Bank Group, Zungu oversees consolidated financial reporting for a division that generates over R10 billion in headline earnings annually across local and offshore markets. Sibongile’s leadership drives financial governance, strategic forecasting and executive-level decision-making across a complex portfolio, but her impact goes beyond boardrooms. A finalist in the TransUnion Rising Star Awards and Standard Bank’s Individual Excellence Awards, she has also launched diversity initiatives and championed automation in financial reporting. Her mentorship work spans tutoring township learners in mathematics, guiding aspiring CAs through the Thuthuka programme, and coaching over 30 graduates on career readiness. Selected for Yolanda Cuba’s elite mentorship circle, Sibongile says, “I’m building something far greater than myself.”

Qualifications

  • Chartered Accountant – CA(SA), 2017
  • Master of Commerce, University of the Witwatersrand
  • Bachelor of Accounting Sciences Honours in Accounting Sciences, University of Pretoria
  • Bachelor of Accounting Sciences degree, University of Pretoria

Achievements

  • Appointed youngest member of the IGSA Executive Committee at age 29
  • Fast-tracked to management at Unilever – achieved one of the fastest promotions in Unilever South Africa’s finance division — rising to management after just one role and within 18 months
  • TransUnion Rising Star Awards finalist (2022)
  • Standard Bank Group Individual Excellence Award finalist
  • Led the finance automation and dashboard innovation
  • Championing the career navigator programme at Standard Bank Group – spearheaded the design and launch of a Diversity & Inclusion Career Navigator initiative
  • Led and supported financial governance improvements across the Netherlands, West Africa, and Malaysia through internal audit secondments and special projects
  • Contributed to executive-level discussions by delivering strategic financial insights, consolidated reporting, and performance analysis to support key decisions across Business and Commercial Banking
  • Selected to be part of Yolanda Cuba’s Mentorship Circle—an elite mentorship programme led by the Vice President of MTN Group
  • Completed university in record time with first-time passes in both chartered accountancy board exams

Mentors

First and foremost, I look up to my parents, who both come from rural areas — Richmond and Bulwer, respectively. I was the first in both families to pass matric with a bachelor’s pass (university entrance), the first to attend university, and I remain the only member to hold postgraduate degrees and a professional designation. Despite limited resources, my parents provided unwavering support and instilled in me the values of hard work and perseverance. Through their sacrifices, they raised a young woman who continues to break barriers and uplift others. Professionally, I admire authentic leaders who remain grounded and committed to creating impact. One such leader is Thembeka Maseko, chief financial officer  of Standard Bank Group’s Personal and Professional Banking division. Her journey, marked by adversity, is a true inspiration. Despite her rise to executive leadership, she continues to give back meaningfully — something I aspire to emulate in my own path. I have also been fortunate to have several mentors throughout my career. I am currently part of a mentorship programme led by Yolanda Cuba, vice-president at MTN Group. This elite programme selects candidates through a rigorous process, and under her guidance, I am learning the importance of building a personal brand — udume ngani (“what are you known for”) — from a leader who became a Deputy chief executive before the age of 30. Earlier in my career, I was mentored by Vishwanath Nirgin, Africa controls director at Unilever. She saw potential in me early on and provided opportunities for international exposure, which helped me develop the skills and confidence to thrive in the finance team. Her belief in me was transformative, and I remain deeply grateful.