With climate change and carbon footprints topping the global agenda, the resources sector has reached a critical crossroads, where both commercial and environmental sustainability are converging and vexing business minds—and models—alike.
As a result, says Ryno Matthee, executive director-Resources, Accenture’s capacity to help clients overcome these challenges on a global scale is more crucial than ever. And as part of Accenture’s global network of energy hubs, Accenture Energy in South Africa can help local companies leverage global experience to achieve high performance. “Accenture’s strength lies in its network matrix approach, sourcing the right resources and expertise from its local and global network capability,” he observes.
Accenture’s global reach positions it perfectly to act as a guide, helping companies develop entry strategies for specific countries. "Governments now claim greater stakes in their national energy resources, and companies wishing to exploit these resources are expected to contribute to developmental targets. Accenture helps define ways companies can address those needs,” he explains.
Beyond helping oil and gas companies secure access to reserves, there are specific ways Accenture’s Resources operating group helps them achieve high performance. A typical obstacle to achieving high performance is a disjuncture between a forward-looking business strategy and an outdated and cumbersome operating model, Matthee says. “We help our clients optimize their operating models to drive out costs.” For instance, in one oil and gas company that had “a high level of disconnect”, Accenture helped reduce its operational complexity, resulting in reduced costs. In addition, it drives savings through innovative sourcing of key materials—and optimizing back-end processes through standardization.
Matthee warns against indiscriminate cost cutting. “Any cutback should be sustainable and not hurt future growth opportunities,” he stresses.
Matthee wears two hats—as Resources Management Consulting Lead, he has about 66 professionals reporting to him, but he also directs Accenture’s Finance and Performance Management Practice in South Africa, overseeing a team of about 40.
Born in 1971, Matthee matriculated in Johannesburg before reading law and later, accounting, which he studied full-time at the University of Pretoria, graduating in 1995. He then did a post-graduate degree in accounting at the University of South Africa, completing it in 1998. He joined Accenture in October 2004 as a senior manager in its Resources practice, before being promoted to executive director in September 2008, and later, Management Consulting Lead in September 2010.
Matthee is an avid reader and mountain-biker, and dabbles in abstract painting. The proud father of a seven-year-old son and five-year-old daughter, most of his free time is spent with his family.
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