CFO of the Week: Mwende Kausya of Equity Bank Limited

Mwende Kausya stands among Kenya’s most accomplished finance leaders, bringing more than thirteen years of distinguished experience across finance, strategy and external audit within the financial services industry.

As Financial Director at Equity Bank Limited, she combines technical mastery with strategic foresight, guiding the institution’s financial architecture with precision and clarity.

Her formative years at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in both Kenya and London provided an exceptional grounding in global best practice. Rising to Audit Senior Manager, she developed deep expertise in Enterprise Risk Management, Internal Audit, Financial Accounting, External Audit and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). That period sharpened her ability to navigate complex regulatory environments and deliver insights that strengthen organisational resilience.

Before joining Equity Bank, Mwende served as Regional Chief Financial Officer at Access Bank (Kenya) PLC and as Head of Finance and Strategy at Middle East Bank Kenya Ltd.

In these roles she consistently translated financial data into strategic direction, reinforced governance frameworks and supported sustainable growth. Her leadership style is collaborative yet decisive, grounded in accountability and a clear-eyed focus on long-term value creation.

Beyond her executive responsibilities, Mwende is deeply committed to developing the next generation of finance professionals. She views mentoring as both a professional duty and a personal passion, believing that shared knowledge multiplies excellence across the industry.

A graduate of Egerton University with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Mwende holds dual professional credentials as a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and a Member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK).

Today, as Financial Director at Equity Bank Limited, Mwende Kausya continues to embody the highest standards of financial stewardship. Her career reflects a rare blend of technical depth, strategic agility, and purposeful leadership — qualities that position her as a defining voice in Kenya’s evolving financial landscape.

TheCFO Magazine’s CFO of the Week recognizes exceptional Chief Financial Officers across the globe, celebrating their outstanding leadership, impactful achievements, innovative solutions, extensive industry expertise, and invaluable contributions to their organizations.