Hi Kgomotso. Many people do have the same concerns including those who want to move from corporate to public sector. It always feels intimidating, but it's definitely doable. If you have a CIMA qualification, you're already in a strong position; it shows you've got the skills and commercial mindset that corporate employers value.
The key is making your experience easy to understand and relatable to corporate recruiters. I recommend tailoring your resume to use corporate equivalent language for your public sector experience, especially because the initial screening of CVs is done by AI in many corporates. For example, translate fund management to budget management, policy implementation to strategic project execution, and service delivery to customer experience etc. Highlight all your transferable skills like reporting, stakeholder management, governance, risk management, data analysis, and storytelling which are highly relevant in corporate finance, consulting, or regulated industries.
Corporate employers want to see that you can drive efficiency and results. Highlight projects where you cut costs or improved processes, negotiated with vendors, and used financial insights to influence decisions. Also, target industries that are easier to transition into with your background, such as regulated sectors like utilities, healthcare, or financial services, or consulting firms that work with government clients. Finally, connect with other CIMA or CGMA members on LinkedIn or at local events, referrals go a long way!
At the end of the day, you already have the skills; it's just about framing your experience so corporate recruiters can see it.
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Tariro Mutizwa
CFO
CIMA Africa
Centurion
+27817808785
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-03-2026 10:04
From: Kgomotso Kotu
Subject: Welcome - Introduce yourself & help build our community!
Kgomotso , Pretoria
Topic: How to Pivot from the public sector (government) to corporate
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Kgomotso Kotu
Ga-Rankuwa
+270733128163
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