Meet Our Founder
Avril Notelovitz
C.A. (SA) MCIPS
About Us - One80Degrees Financial Solutions
Avril Notelovitz is a Chartered Accountant and turnaround specialist with a proven track record for turning business problems into opportunities that impact the top and bottom line. She sees opportunities and offers creative solutions by getting things done.
During her time as Head of Procurement and Vendor Management at Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), a division of FirstRand Bank Limited, between 2008 and 2019, Avril became known for implementing sustainable and practical turnaround strategies. Under her watch, RMB saved more than R1 billion. These savings were signed off by CFO’s within the businesses under her purview, and the ROI number was on average, four times the world’s best in class number provided by Gartner.
Avril developed a knack for corporate multi-tasking and staying hands-on at all times during her university days, when she self-funded her tertiary education while working for Kessel Feinstein (now Grant Thornton BDO Spencer). She passed C.A. (S.A). Board exam with her first attempt, and also holds a BCom Honours degree in Accounting Science. This degree was preceded by a BCom degree in Industrial Psychology and Economics.
A proven track record in problem-solving
Before building RMB’s procurement and vendor management departments from scratch, Avril served as their local and international Group Head of Regulatory Reporting between 2004 and 2008. In this role, her problem-solving skills were tested to the extreme when RMB came under severe regulatory scrutiny by the SARB for failing to deliver accurately on their Reporting Submissions. In spite of only being with the bank for six weeks when this happened, Avril played a crucial role in restoring the bank’s reputation by receiving a clean audit report within 18 months – six months before their deadline.
She addressed inefficiencies in her department, by, amongst others, re-implementing an automated system that previously was not used correctly and bringing governance to the full process.. All of this ensured that RMBs Regulatory functions functioned effectively.
Avril’s problem-solving skills were not just confined to the constraints of RMB. She also had the privilege to serve on the Banks Act Task Committee representing FirstRand. This committee had representatives from the Banking Council, the Audit Firms, the Banks and SAICA to transform the old Regulatory Returns into the Modern B.A. returns of today. This endeavour enabled banks to align processes and optimise processes in Finance, Management Accounting and Regulatory Returns.
Before Avril’s time at RMB, she worked at Investec for almost 15 years. There, she was instrumental in implementing Training outside the Public Practice (TOPP), which was a new programme offering commercial training of newly qualified C.A.’s. Avril worked on this initiative with the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) task team and the Executive of Investec. Many of the C.A.’s she recruited onto this program are now captains of industry and CEO’s of listed companies.
As a Financial Accountant at Investec, Avril gained invaluable experience in every aspect of a Bank’s Finance Department – from budgets to management accounting, Regulatory Reporting, Financial Reporting, Annual Report compilation and International Ratings Agency packs. She also gained first-hand experience in the implementation of new financial systems.
Looking back at her time at Investec’s Finance Department, Avril recalls times when she was recruited for opportunities at other leading players in the industry.
Avril chose to stay put while juggling her career and raising two beautiful children.
New beginnings
In 2019, Avril was ready to move on and make a wider difference and founded One80Degrees Financial Solutions (Pty) Ltd (One80Degrees).
With her kids now grown up and out of the house, Avril felt ready to take on a whole new level of professional risk: To extend her entrepreneurial skills to a business that makes a positive impact on the South African economy by implementing turnaround business strategies.
One80Degrees is enabling her to make a quicker, stronger impact, and become a true entrepreneur who grows her own business while helping other entrepreneurs thrive in their ventures.
Avril is widely regarded as a rainmaker in her field of expertise.
Introducing
Founded by Avril Notelovitz, we work and collaborate with selected, like-minded professionals of varied experience to change businesses for the better. Avril and her associates have over 30 years’ experience in business problem-solving and will hone in on all the finance and support mechanics of your business.
Where applicable, our One80Degrees turnaround strategies involve:
- Getting to know the people in your team and understanding how they operate;
- Reviewing your systems and processes;
- Collaborating with existing personnel and teams to redesign your organisational structure and operating models across the Finance and Support Value Chain;
- Reshaping Procurement and Vendor Management Processes;
- Exploring all avenues to optimise your business’s support and Finance functions;
- Upskill and empower existing finance and support teams so that they can, on a sustained basis, recognise cost inefficiencies and achieve substantial cost savings fast.
There are no sacred cows in One80Degrees turnaround strategies. We are committed to break the mould and employ professional scepticism and insight to identify, and fix any possible business problems.