By GVK-Siya Zama
The construction industry, with its inherent challenges and constant evolution, demands commitment, dedication and adaptability. To retain an employee for 25 years in such a dynamic environment says something about a company’s value. GVK-Siya Zama is one such organisation, and its Chief Financial Officer, John de Sousa, stands as a testament to this longevity.
For 25 years, De Sousa has been an integral part of the team that guided the company through significant transformations. His rise from financial manager in the group’s Western Cape business to Group Chief Financial Officer is not only a testament to his skills, it also reflects GVK-Siya Zama’s commitment to nurturing young talent.
This support, and John’s deep understanding of the business, has enabled him to guide the group’s financial strategy and leadership over the years, while navigating the waters of exponential growth and levelling up to being one of the biggest privately owned contractors in the local construction industry.
When De Sousa joined GVK-Siya Zama in 2000, the company was primarily a painting and restoration business. De Sousa, just 27 at the time, admits, “The prospect of joining the construction industry was daunting at first. I perceived it as unpredictable, constantly in flux.” However, it was precisely this dynamic environment that would eventually capture his entrepreneurial interest.
His early experiences were shaped by knowledgeable mentors. “The leadership that surrounded me from the start was instrumental in my development,” De Sousa recalls. “They were industry stalwarts and had a wealth of knowledge that they were more than willing to share.” This foundational learning instilled in him the importance of having a holistic business understanding, from the ground up.
“Taking a keen interest in any industry you join is essential – immersing yourself in every aspect of the business is key to managing a business holistically,” he adds. For De Sousa, this meant understanding the financial implications of every facet, from materials and people to suppliers and plant. This discovery into operational realities laid the groundwork for his future financial leadership.
One of GVK-Siya Zama’s most significant challenges, and an important period in De Sousa’s career, was the transition from a painting and restoration company to one of the country’s largest privately owned construction firms. This shift required laser focus on the purse strings to fund the group’s exponential growth.
It is precisely this autonomy and fiscal discipline that De Sousa believes has been key to the company’s success and independence. “Cash is king! Managing and driving our cash flow through a huge growth spurt has been integral to building a sustainable business that could withstand the rigours of one of the toughest industries,” he explains.
In his early years with the company, De Sousa also piloted the automation of the business and the establishment of its IT infrastructure. When he started with the company, manual bookkeeping was still the norm. His initiative in driving this transformation enabled real-time, detailed analysis of project costs against priced allowances in bills of quantities.
This, combined with more structured policies and procedures, set the company up for successful expansion. “None of that would have been possible, however, without having had a team of dedicated and competent employees who were willing to roll up their sleeves and work tirelessly towards our shared vision of success,” he emphasised. Many members of this young, dynamic team have grown and matured with the business and fulfill leadership positions today.
Besides his financial acumen, De Sousa’s most significant non-financial contributions include taking charge of transformation and skills development in the business. His efforts resulted in the GVK Education Fund which assists the children of GVK-Siya Zama’s employees in attaining valuable skills. The programme has resulted in numerous success stories over the last 10 to 15 years.
“South Africa needs programmes like these to succeed,” he says. “It also encourages a sense of reciprocity and family within the company.” This programme remains close to his heart as he firmly believes that extending a helping hand starts at home.
Reflecting on career highlights, De Sousa recalls the management buyout that he was part of some 10 years ago. “It was a significant time for the business, and many senior managers in the company set the group on an exciting gallop of expansion and modernisation while opening numerous opportunities for young employees in the business.
The onset of the Covid pandemic followed some five years later, and in retrospect, De Sousa asserts that it has made the business stronger. “At the time, it required knuckling down to keep the business on track. However, with a sound foundation, steered by solid business principles and a strong team, one can navigate such a storm and emerge better equipped to deal with such adversity.
About current trading conditions, De Sousa says, “The construction industry has undergone significant changes, particularly in the last decade, with increasingly low margins and intense competition. Our task as financial leaders encompasses much more than standard accounting practices. We need to be involved operationally, from tender pricing and attending project meetings to signing final accounts, and everything in between. Along with a change in trading conditions, the employee landscape and the scarcity of skills, business owners must remain agile to continue building sustainable businesses.”
A committed family man and the father of two teenage daughters, De Sousa prizes the value of respect. “Respect is the most important value that has steered me. It encourages listening, compassion and understanding, and in return, reciprocity in leadership. It contributes to team building and commitment to a common cause, and it creates a sense of family.”
For aspiring finance leaders in the construction industry, De Sousa offers this advice: “If you want a bit of excitement in what can sometimes be deemed a boring and mundane career in accounting, put on your hard hat and boots and join the construction industry where every day will produce something different!”
Source: Novus Group – Press Bulletin
