Heunis shines at Oryx Properties and beyond
Oryx Properties Limited Group, Francis Heunis makes her contribution to better wider communities while in her current role
Chief financial officer (CFO) of the Oryx Properties Limited Group, Francis Heunis, has been selected as one of ten young Institute of Chartered Accountants of Namibia (ICAN) achievers in Namibia, highlighting how she has excelled as a young chartered accountant in Namibia, while also making meaningful contributions to the wider community.Heunis began her career at Oryx Properties in 2018 as the finance manager.
Two years later, she was promoted to chief financial officer, and in 2021 she was appointed to the Oryx board of directors.
"My passion for property led me to apply for a position at Oryx, and at the same time, the job also afforded me the opportunity to add value and improve and positively transform the business. Within our small team, it has been a privilege to have been able to make a meaningful contribution."
Changing roles
Heunis is a certified chartered accountant and holds a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA).
At Oryx, she ensures that the financial integrity of shareholders and other stakeholders forms the basis for proper decision-making.
"The role of CFO’s has changed over the last couple of years, and an added requirement is to support the overall business function and guarantee sustainable business. This allows for an exciting and forward-looking business vision and strategy focus to be at the core of my function."
Among the greatest moments at Oryx so far, she recalls the successful financial system implementation in 2019 and the release of the 2022 financial results, which were better than anticipated, taking the challenging economic environment into consideration.
"Getting to these results had not been easy and meant that the massive task we were faced with at the beginning of the year had to be broken down into smaller tasks and required each team member’s dedication and commitment. It is gratifying to see that it all came together, and we can celebrate our successes and build on the future," she said.
Wider impact
As part of her role at Oryx, Heunis has been able to also have an impact on the Namibian community and society.
"My role as CFO is to maximise shareholder value through sustainable business practices and through that, it enables me to make a meaningful contribution to our shareholders and the society and communities impacted. During Covid-19, we had to provide rental relief to tenants valued at roughly N$50 million to ensure the sustainability of our tenants’ businesses. I believe this has, however, led to us getting closer to our tenants and really understanding their businesses and their unique requirements.
"We also joined hands with the City of Windhoek on the Mayoral Relief Fund project during the lockdown period. With this project, Oryx, together with some of our retail partners, contributed and distributed more than 700 food parcels to Windhoek’s vulnerable communities. During these initiatives, the direct impact on people’s lives was evident, and the whole experience was heartwarming."
She added: "Apart from Covid initiatives, I am extremely proud to be part of a team that actively contributes towards society through various initiatives."
Preservere
When asked about her advice for young Namibians, she said she encourages young Namibians who are starting out in their careers to dream big and find a vision and purpose for their lives, not only professionally, but also on a personal level.
And then to adapt their mindset towards focusing on it, every single day, with every single choice, so that it becomes a habit, a norm, and a routine.
"This is easier said than done, as the easy way out of anything is to just give up. However, your determination and vision for your life, will help you to continue going and growing as an individual, with a positive mindset. The reality is that motivation gets you started, but discipline is what keeps you going. I would like young Namibians to just keep going regardless of how tough it may get, because there will be great rewarding days, but there will also be challenging days. This will build perseverance, which is something that I have learned in my career and for which I am grateful," she said.
The attached photo was taken when Oryx donated stationery supplies to Sheiddy, a young boy living with a disability, with a willingness and passion to learn.