The Executive Director for Finance at Absa Bank Ghana LTD, Munatsi Mkushi (Kush), has stated that financial literacy, not just job skills, is a key factor in long-term career success. Speaking at a recent Absa ReadytoWork webinar, he explained that young professionals who take a strategic approach to financial management can better navigate career growth, reduce financial stress, and build a more sustainable future.
He highlighted that many young people enter the workforce focused primarily on earning, without paying deliberate attention to how to effectively manage and grow their income. Kush explained that a structured approach to income, expenses, saving and investing can lead to greater financial stability which in turn can support flexibility in career decision-making.
He urged young professionals to adopt longer-term thinking in their financial decisions, saying, “You shouldn’t focus on interest rates alone, for example, because they are only one of many considerations for investments… time and risk are other important drivers of investment outcomes.”
Kush also outlined fundamental financial strategies that can help young professionals build stability and reduce career-related stress. He encouraged them to look beyond traditional savings accounts and consider other investment avenues, explaining that diversifying investments can provide both security and financial growth.
“When you have control over your finances, you have control over your career,” he noted. “Financial planning allows professionals to think beyond short-term survival and make better long-term decisions.”
Kush also highlighted that a strong grasp of finance is not only beneficial for individual financial planning and flexibility, but it is also an essential career skill in diverse fields. Whether in HR, marketing, or operations, financial literacy serves as a transferable skill that enhances decision-making and professional success.
These insights align with Absa’s ReadytoWork initiative, an e-learning programme that provides young professionals with essential career skills for the world of work. The programme covers areas such as money management, entrepreneurship, and financial planning. Unlike traditional job-readiness programmes, ReadytoWork emphasises financial literacy as a core part of career success. By helping young people understand how to budget, invest, and plan for the future, the programme aims to help them make informed financial decisions that support long-term professional and entrepreneurial growth.
Kush encouraged young professionals to take a proactive approach to financial literacy, urging them to engage with ReadytoWork’s financial modules, seek financial education, and start making small but strategic financial decisions that will benefit them in the long run. He emphasised that financial discipline is crucial, stating, “Planning financially is important, but you also need to set up practical ways to execute that plan successfully—and that takes discipline. Financial management is a habit. If you set clear financial goals and build a routine around them, you create better conditions for long-term financial security.”
