Hermine Smit

Hermine Smith

  • Insurance Industry Leader and Partner
  • 25+ years experience

"As Transition Lead, I will remain actively engaged throughout the transition, providing direct oversight of governance, stakeholder engagement, knowledge transfer and readiness activities. Supported by a dedicated PMO and experienced leadership team, I will monitor progress against the transition roadmap, ensure timely resolution of risks and dependencies, and maintain focus on the milestones critical to a successful transition. My personal commitment is to help Sanlam achieve a well-governed, low-risk transition that protects reporting deadlines, builds confidence across stakeholders and lays the foundation for a successful long-term audit relationship."

As Transition Leader, Hermine brings more than 27 years of audit, assurance, audit quality and professional practice experience, including 13+ years as an Audit Partner. Formerly Africa Audit Quality Leader and National Professional Practice Director at a Big Four firm, she has led audit quality transformation initiatives across Africa and globally, served on regional executive and global quality committees, and overseen complex governance and remediation programmes. Her experience spans financial services, fintech, telecommunications, technology, industrial and public sector organisations, combined with deep expertise in governance, stakeholder management and programme oversight.

Largest Financial Services clients serviced:

Audit partner:

  • Nashua Finance (a division of Reunert Limited) – Asset-Based Finance, Leasing and Rental Solutions for Office Automation, Technology and Business Equipment

Audit technical coach:

  • First National Bank Botswaa Limited - Commercial Banking and Financial Services.
  • GCB Bank PLC - Commercial Banking and Retail Banking.
  • The Western Union Company - Money Transfer and Financial Services.
  • Purple Group Limited, including EasyEquities - FinTech, Investment Services and Retail Investing.
  • Audit technical support and Quality leader during the take on of Old Mutual by a big 4 firm

Group / Multinational audit experience

Hermine has extensive experience working with large group and multinational organisations, both as an Audit Partner and through senior audit quality leadership roles. Her direct audit experience includes Vodacom Group Limited, Net 1 UEPS Technologies, Inc., Nashua Finance (a division of Reunert Limited), PG Bison (a division of KAP Limited) and Imperial Logistics (a division of Imperial Holdings Limited), as well as South African Post Office SOC Limited. Through her roles as Africa Audit Quality Leader, National Professional Practice Director and External Quality Partner to the Nordic region, she also provided oversight and support to engagement teams across multiple jurisdictions, giving her deep experience in the governance, coordination and execution of complex group audits and audit transitions.

Qualifications and professional affiliations 

Current:

  • CA (SA)
  • South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA)

Previous: 

  • Registered Auditor (RA) (13 years)