'For all the women who walk this journey'
- Wits Alumni Relations
Standard Bank CEO and Wits alumna, Funeka Montjane, honoured for her commitment to empowering women in the chartered accounting profession.
Funeka Montjane (BCom 1999, BCom Hons 2000), Standard Bank personal and private banking CEO, has received the 2024 Woman of Substance Award from the African Women Chartered Accountants (AWCA).
The accolade celebrates female leaders who have made significant contributions to the chartered accounting profession and promoted business, social and economic upliftment in South Africa.
“By empowering excellence and inspiring change in her own career and the banking industry at large, Funeka Montjane embodies the AWCA’s mission to identify, nurture and lead,” said AWCA president Buhle Hanise.
Previous Witsie recipients include Brigalia Bam (DLitt honoris causa 2019), Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka (DLitt honoris causa 2019) and Chancellor of Wits Dr Judy Dlamini (MBA 1999, PGCE 2022).
Recipients play a significant role in raising funds for the AWCA Bursary Fund, which provides financial support to female tertiary students who aspire to be chartered accountants. The fund also helps to address the shortage of qualified African (black, Indian and coloured) women chartered accountants by providing critical funding for postgraduate studies, enabling students to complete training contracts, board exams and achieve the South African chartered accountant qualification.
Montjane said she learned about the chartered accounting profession when she read a news article, drawn to the amount that the professionals earned monthly. At the time, her grandmother earned a monthly salary of R100. She was in a school where one or two pupils passed matric and was not good at mathematics — a key subject to studying accounting. But her grandmother would not allow her to drop mathematics when she struggled with it. Instead, she got her a tutor who helped her get an A, allowing her to attend at university.
“I am deeply honoured to receive the Women of Substance Award. This recognition is not just for me, but for all the women who are walking this journey. My path to becoming a CA (SA) began in grade 7 when I first read about [the profession's] existence. The journey was challenging, but I had a supportive environment, from my grandmother to my first manager, who helped me along the way,” she said at the awards ceremony in Sandton earlier this month.
“This achievement is a reminder that we must continue to create supportive and enabling environments where CAs can thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of gender. By working together we can build a future where women are empowered to lead, drive change and make a significant impact.”
Montjane joined the Standard Bank group in 2008 as the chief financial officer of personal and business banking, moving to home loans and head of credit in 2011, until her current role since 2021.
Watch her recent Masterclass interview below.
Sources: African Women Chartered Accountants and Standard Bank