Omotayo Aghedo is a finance professional passionate about helping organisations achieve fiscal health while making meaningful human connections. As Head of Finance at Eazzy Tranzact Limited, she plays a pivotal role in modernising financial processes, controls, and reporting systems. With a B.Sc in Accounting from Ekiti State University and various certifications in her field, her career has been defined by a consistent ability to identify hidden financial challenges, implement innovative policies, and drive operational efficiency to support business growth and sustainability. In this interview, she talks about factors causing women to have financial challenges and approaches to solve them.
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Take us through your illustrious career in the finance sector?
My career in finance spans nearly a decade, marked by continuous growth and increasing responsibility. I began as a Corporate Accounting Trainee at WFO Roedl & Partner, gaining hands-on experience using advanced accounting software to generate financial reports and conduct thorough inventory and cash counts for diverse clients. This foundational experience, honed under the guidance of experienced Chartered Accountants, prepared me for my next role at Ping Xpress.
Over three years at Ping Xpress, I progressed from Finance Analyst to Accountant, expanding my skillset from financial management, data analysis, and reconciliation to encompass assets accounting, business and budget analysis, and operational management. Following Ping Xpress’ acquisition by Nairagram, my contributions were recognised with a promotion to Senior Accountant, where I played a key role in shaping and driving the company’s financial strategy.
After several fulfilling years in the dynamic cross-border payments industry, I sought a new challenge in the power and energy sector, so I moved to Strom to lead finance operations and provide critical financial information to the Board and senior leadership. My focus on enhancing the company’s financial health led to significant improvements. Most recently, I returned to the cross-border payments vertical as Head of Finance at my current organisation, leveraging my extensive experience to further drive strategic financial growth.
What are those things causing women to have an ailing financial trajectory and how can it be rectified?
Women’s ailing financial trajectory stems from the underrepresentation of women in high-earning professions, compounded by the persistent gender pay gap, career interruptions due to disproportionate caregiving burdens, and limited access to financial education and resources. Systemic biases within financial institutions and deeply entrenched societal norms further contribute to this significantly disadvantaged trajectory, requiring transformative interventions across policy, education, and social structures to achieve genuine economic parity.
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What do you enjoy most about the work you do?
What I enjoy most is the strategic aspect of finance, crafting financial strategies that not only safeguard the company’s resources but also propel exponential growth. There’s immense satisfaction in identifying opportunities for cost optimisation and resource allocation that directly contribute to the company’s bottom line, all while facilitating its expansion and success.
In your career path, what are some of the virtues you live by?
Throughout my career, several core virtues have guided my actions and decisions. Integrity is paramount; I believe in ethical conduct and transparency in all financial dealings. I also prioritise diligence and attention to detail, ensuring accuracy and thoroughness in my analysis and reporting. Furthermore, I strive for continuous learning and improvement, constantly seeking new knowledge and skills to enhance my effectiveness. Finally, collaboration and teamwork are essential; I believe in fostering strong working relationships and leveraging the diverse skills and perspectives of my colleagues to achieve shared goals.
How have you consistently delivered measurable growth in the organisations you have worked in?
In each of my roles, I’ve focused on delivering measurable growth by combining strategic financial planning with operational efficiency. For example, at my current role, I developed a new budgeting process that resulted in a 38 per cent reduction in operational costs within five months, directly contributing to a 35 per cent increase in profitability. Similarly, at Nairagram, I spearheaded a project to streamline the accounts payable process, leading to a 50 per cent reduction in processing time. My success stems from a data-driven approach, leveraging financial analysis to identify areas for improvement, developing targeted strategies, and diligently tracking key performance indicators to demonstrate the impact of my initiatives.
As an experienced accountant and a finance professional, what should women do to be successful in their careers?
To thrive in finance, women need a multi-pronged approach. First, build a strong foundation: master your role and pursue relevant certifications you need to thrive in your career and continuously update your skills. Second, network strategically: actively engage in industry events, join professional organisations, and build relationships with mentors and sponsors who can champion your career growth. Third, advocate for yourself: confidently present your accomplishments, negotiate your compensation, and don’t hesitate to seek out challenging opportunities. Finally, cultivate resilience, build strong support networks and remember to prioritise your well-being amidst the pressures.
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What does financial inclusion mean to you and how can it be championed across sectors?
Financial inclusion, to me, means ensuring equitable access to affordable and appropriate financial services for all individuals and businesses, regardless of gender, location, income, or social status. It’s about empowering people to participate fully in the formal financial system, enabling them to save, borrow, invest, and manage their finances effectively. Championing financial inclusion across sectors requires a collaborative effort. Governments can create enabling regulatory environments, investing in infrastructure and promoting financial literacy programmes.
Financial institutions can develop tailored products and services that cater to diverse needs and expand their reach to underserved communities. The private sector can leverage technology to deliver innovative and accessible financial solutions. Civil society organisations can play a crucial role in educating and empowering individuals, advocating for policy changes, and monitoring the progress of inclusion initiatives. Ultimately, a coordinated approach across these sectors is essential to bridge the financial inclusion gap and unlock the transformative potential of financial empowerment for all.
With the current economic situation, what is your advise especially to struggling businesses on staying afloat?Businesses need to focus on adaptability and resilience. What is the lifeline of your business, your cash flow?
Always keep an eye and monitor your cash flow. You need to cut out unnecessary expenses. Businesses need to focus on solutions that are cost effective without tampering or compromising with the quality of product or service that you are offering to the customer. The customer has changing needs. You need to understand what those changing needs are. To do that, you need to build stronger relationships with your customer by delivering exceptional value to them to retain their loyalty to you and your business. Technology is a good tool to always leverage on. It helps to reduce costs and also increase your operational efficiency. Where possible, you need to diversify your income streams so that you reduce your dependency on a particular source or a single source. One key thing to always note is collaboration. You need to partner with other experts in your industry to help with sharing resources, ideas, and how you can basically reduce costs. Finally, don’t shy away from seeking professional advice or support from financial institutions if and when needed. Remember that survival often comes down to smart, proactive decision making.
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Has there been any gender inequality bias within your space, if yes, how can it be resolved?
Unfortunately, gender inequality remains a challenge in many industries, including the fintech and payment space. Women are often underrepresented in leadership roles, most times overlooked for opportunities due to unconscious biases that exist. To resolve this, we need to have a deliberate action for change. Companies, first of all, should foster inclusive policies such as mentorship programmes for women and recruitments that are gender balanced. Leadership should also actively champion diversity by creating spaces where the voices of women are heard and valued. On a much broader scale, we also have to empower our young girls to pursue education and leadership roles from an early stage. Remember that change only happens when we create opportunities and challenge the norms that are perpetuated by us.
As a career woman who is making an impact, what would you tell younger women about achieving their dreams and being the best versions of themselves?
To every young woman out there, I want you to believe in your potential even when the whole world doubts you. You need to focus on developing your skills and take every opportunity to learn and grow. Remember that no one attributes their success to one that started or happened overnight. Hard work and persistence are the greatest allies you can ever have. You need to also surround yourself with people who inspire and challenge you and don’t hesitate to seek mentors who can guide your journey. More importantly, you are unique in your own self, so you need to embrace your uniqueness. There’s power in being authentic. Your authenticity is the one that sets you apart. No matter the barriers, no matter the challenges, no matter the hurdles you face, remember that your dreams are valid and with determination and resilience, you can achieve anything that you set your mind to.
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