Written By: Ben Wikner
Date: 10 September 2025
Industry: Telecommunications
Region: South Africa
Part One: A Perfect Storm
In this two-part case study, Malander Advisory reveals how we helped a high-growth South African telecommunications business transform a looming financial crisis into a long-term strategic win. Faced with four simultaneous audits, limited internal capacity, and intense regulatory scrutiny, the client’s finance team was on the brink of burnout.
We didn’t just provide finance support services – we delivered a comprehensive transformation. Our mission wasn’t just to survive the audits. It was to build a finance function that could thrive.
The Challenge: A Perfect Storm of Pressure
At one of South Africa’s fastest-growing Internet Service Providers (ISPs), momentum was strong – but so was the strain. Amid rapid expansion, new executive leadership, fresh funding, and increasing regulatory demands, the company found itself facing four major audits in just twelve months.
The internal finance team – highly capable but structured for day-to-day operations—was never designed to handle such a sustained compliance workload. Time spent reconciling historical transactions came at the cost of forecasting, strategic planning, and business development. What began as a short-term audit backlog quickly escalated into a strategic bottleneck.
The business needed high-quality finance staff, fast—without the risk and delay of a traditional hiring process. They needed managed resources and strategic finance solutions that would relieve internal pressure without sacrificing control.
The Solution: Listening First, Acting Strategically
That’s when Malander stepped in.
We didn’t arrive with a one-size-fits-all solution. We brought a tailored, advisory-first approach built on three pillars:
- Deep-Dive Diagnostics
- Process Overhaul
- Proactive Partnership
Our first step was to embed our interim finance professionals within the client’s team – not as external consultants, but as strategic collaborators. We conducted detailed reconciliations across multiple financial years, followed by a complete clean-up of legacy data.
Next, we assessed and optimised core financial processes, introducing robust internal controls and improving operational clarity. At the same time, we began designing the next phase: a modernised finance function powered by smarter systems and proactive compliance readiness.
This wasn’t just financial consulting for another high growth business – it was a strategic finance rebuild delivered through a finance partnership that fit seamlessly into the client’s operations.
The Execution: No Surprises, Just Results
Our operating principle was simple: No Surprises.
We committed to clear communication and rigorous pre-audit preparation. Each deliverable – whether a reconciled ledger or an audit-ready report – was vetted for quality and completeness before submission. Every audit was not just a pass, but a performance – a demonstration of control, transparency, and readiness.
The pressure was intense, but the results spoke for themselves:
- Four clean audit outcomes
- Zero compliance breaches
- Zero disruption to business operations
What began as an impossible mission became a model of financial maturity. Malander delivered cost-effective finance support for businesses that not only solved the immediate crisis but laid the foundation for scalable growth.
The Transformation: From Reactive to Resilient
Twelve months later, the transformation was undeniable.
Where the finance team had once been reactive and overextended, they were now strategic and empowered. Equipped with a clean financial slate, upgraded systems, and sustainable controls, the company could finally redirect its energy toward growth.
This wasn’t just an outsourced accounting project – it was a business advisory engagement that delivered measurable, lasting impact. The organisation gained:
- A culture of proactive finance leadership
- Systems designed for growth and regulatory compliance
- Renewed confidence from investors and internal stakeholders
With fractional finance teams and outsourced finance support, we turned a moment of vulnerability into a launchpad for future success.
From Audit Burden to Strategic Asset
In Part Two of this case study, we’ll take you behind the scenes of the accounting system overhaul that followed – how we rebuilt a fragmented ERP environment into a strategic asset aligned with the company’s growth vision.
What’s Your Mission Impossible?
Your business might not be facing four audits this year – but you’re likely managing your own version of financial strain:
- A need for better financial visibility
- Lack of internal resource
- Compliance pressures
- Outdated systems
- Inefficient processes
Malander Advisory offers finance outsourcing for UK SMEs, interim finance services in South Africa, fractional CFO services in the USA, and global finance support services to help you scale efficiently and confidently.
Let’s turn your finance challenges into growth opportunities.
Contact us today to find out how Malander Advisory can help you future-proof your finance function.