AMP Capital’s new CFO Margaret Payn has set her sights on strengthening the finance team’s role in order to provide more insights to the business.
Payn was appointed to oversee the company’s global finance operations in February and replaces Jim Dawson, who left AMP Capital after three years as finance director.
Payn, a trained accountant, joins the investment management firm after three years driving capital, finance and productivity initiatives at Suncorp, Westpac and Lloyds International. Prior to that, she held several roles at ANZ including group MD of strategy and marketing, and was tasked with delivering a more customer-centric business model.
Other companies on Payn’s resume include Schroders in Sydney, London and Hong Kong and KPMG in London.
Payn told CFO World she was attracted to the role at AMP Capital because of the company’s culture and values, adding the emphasis on people was a very attractive one.
“I also wanted to work in a business in which I'd had some experience – I enjoyed working in the funds management industry while at Schroders and had experience both in a finance and in a business capacity,” she continued. “Finally, the strategy for the organisation was very sound and something I could believe in.”
Payn’s initial focus is to be immersed in every aspect of the business and then identify where the finance team can have the most impact.
“The business has asked finance to work in greater partnership with it in a decision support capacity, so re-orienting the finance team to provide more insights to the business is a focus,” she said. “I will seek to understand the detail behind the business strategy and work with the finance team on ensuring we direct our discretionary resources to the places they will have most impact longer term.”
AMP Capital MD Stephen Dunne highlighted Payn’s deep knowledge of financial services both in Australia and abroad, particularly in fund management, as key reasons for her appointment.
“Margaret joins us at a time when we are expanding internationally and deepening our investment capabilities while driving efficiencies in everything we do,” he said.
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