Gila Cruise
About Gila Cruise
Gila Cruise serves as the Head of Finance Specialist Bank (Lending & Funding) at Investec, a position she has held since 2020. With a background in finance spanning over two decades, she has held various roles in prominent institutions, contributing to advancements in financial processes and reporting.
Work at Investec
Gila Cruise has held multiple positions at Investec, demonstrating a progressive career within the organization. She currently serves as the Head of Finance Specialist Bank (Lending & Funding) since 2020. Prior to this role, she was the Head of Finance Private Bank from 2007 to 2015 and served as CFO Private Bank from 2015 to 2020. Additionally, she worked as a Finance Manager at Investec from 2002 to 2007. Throughout her tenure, she has contributed to various financial initiatives and improvements.
Previous Experience in Banking and Finance
Before her current role at Investec, Gila Cruise gained diverse experience in the banking and finance sector. She worked at ABN AMRO Bank N.V. as a Credit Analyst for two months in 2001. She also held the position of Treasury Analyst at Global Crossing Telecommunications, Inc. from 2000 to 2001. Earlier in her career, she worked at Nedbank as Finance Special Projects from 1999 to 2000 and served as a Senior Auditor at Grant Thornton International Ltd from 1996 to 1998.
Education and Expertise
Gila Cruise holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting (BCompt Honours) from the University of South Africa. In 2023, she furthered her education at the Institute of Directors (IoD), studying the Role of Non-Executive Director. Her educational background supports her extensive experience in finance and accounting, equipping her with the necessary skills for her roles in the financial sector.
Key Contributions and Achievements
Throughout her career, Gila Cruise has made significant contributions to financial processes and reporting. She played a key role in developing a one data platform that enhanced data transparency and simplification. Additionally, she streamlined month-end procedures, reducing the time required for month-end close processes. Gila led the finance team in implementing IFRS 9 and drove continuous improvement and automation in financial processes, focusing on efficiency and accuracy.