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Oluwatoyin Olufon on building a trusted accounting-tech from ground up

Published 4 days ago10 minute read

, is the Principal Partner of Lefort Consulting and has served as a consultant to the World bank, the Security and Exchange Commission, multinationals and indigenous companies. As a fellow of ACCA UK, member of ICAN and CITN, a Certified Business Leader (University of Notre Dame), a digital innovation expert and an INSEAD alumna, Oluwatoyin is positioning indigenous and global businesses and institutions for sustainable growth, efficiency, and profitability. In this exclusive interview with of Business Africa Online (BAO), Oluwatoyin speaks on her entrepreneurship journey and mission to stand with businesses as a trusted ally. Excerpts.

Alaba: What inspired this technology driven service company focused on accounting, tax and advisory? 

Oluwatoyin: The inspiration behind LEFORT came from a desire to see more indigenous businesses not just survive but thrive – and gain global dominance. In our part of the world, most businesses don’t suffer from a lack of vision. Whether born out of passion or survival, the entrepreneurial drive is evident. But vision alone isn’t enough. These businesses need solid structures, informed financial decisions, and the kind of support that positions them for sustainable growth. 

That’s where we come in as an anchor. Just like a child full of potential still needs the direction and discipline of a parent to grow into a responsible adult, businesses need nurturing support – especially in areas like accounting, auditing, tax, digital transformation, business and financial advisory – to scale responsibly and confidently. That’s what informed our name: LEFORT—a fortress for businesses. We exist to be a stronghold for entrepreneurs and business decision-makers, offering them the clarity, compliance, and confidence they need to lead boldly.

Technology is central to how we do this. We don’t just adopt tools – we build intelligent systems around them. For example, in our audit processes, we don’t rely on sampling that can miss key data. Instead, we conduct 100% transaction reviews to ensure complete accuracy and offer actionable insight. When preparing financial reports, we integrate tax planning from the outset, so our clients know exactly what’s profit? what’s tax? and what’s possible? It’s clarity from the beginning – not an afterthought. 

At LEFORT, our mission is to stand with businesses as a trusted ally, equipping them with the tools, insight, and confidence to build boldly, operate transparently, and grow sustainably. This is more than a company; it’s a calling to fortify businesses for the future. To compete locally and globally. 

Alaba: Can you walk us through how technology is integrated into your service delivery? 

Oluwatoyin: At Lefort, we leverage technology for service delivery across our services in audit, accounting, and tax advisory and we have built a system that removes guesswork from financial operations and replaces it with clarity and real-time insight. In accounting, we deploy cloud-based systems that allow for seamless transaction recording, reconciliation, and reporting – giving our clients real-time insights on their operations. For our audit services, we use data automation tools that allow us to review 100% of a company’s transactions—not just samples. This eliminates the risk of sampling errors, exposes hidden irregularities, and provides a more holistic view of financial health. This approach increases trust in the audit process and improves the quality of decisions that follow.

On the tax side, we integrate tax planning directly into the accounting process. Our tools automatically track taxable events and obligations, so clients don’t get surprised at the end of the year. This level of automation ensures compliance, reduces penalties, and supports strategic financial planning from the ground up. 

As part of our broader digital transformation journey, we’ve guided clients and internal teams in moving from traditional, manual processes to automated systems to enable them scale and operate efficiently. From automated client onboarding to workflow management, we’ve digitized key processes to improve accuracy, speed, and transparency. This transformation isn’t just about adopting tools—it’s about ensuring clients stay competitive and efficient and rethinking how we deliver value in a techdriven world.

Beyond service delivery, we also created The Techy Accountant, the CSR arm of Lefort, to empower finance professionals at different levels in their careers with the digital tools and tech skills required to thrive in modern finance. It’s our way of futureproofing the accounting profession while supporting the growth of talent up to the global stage.

Alaba: What drives your passion for improving how business and finance services are delivered in today’s fast-paced business environment? 

Oluwatoyin: Personally, I’m an advocate of working smart. If smart work is what is indeed done, it saves time and increases productivity. Businesses are fast paced. If a business doesn’t keep up, it will become out-dated. And if this is the case for businesses, as their anchor and advisor, then it naturally becomes my lifestyle of reimagining service delivery to help them stay on the right path. Also, data in this present world is as precious as oil. Through it, insights are drawn for the future and past events are uncovered. But in this part of the world, there is a gradual awakening to this reality, so, daily I look to help businesses make sense of their data to help make informed decisions, and this uncovers the groundbreaking mode of service delivery offered at Lefort.

Alaba: Can you describe your approach to training accountants and finance professionals to be tech-savvy? 

Oluwatoyin: Our approach in training accountants and finance professionals is both premium and tech-savvy. We believe that to truly support the growth of businesses in today’s digital age, we need to invest in the development of the professionals who power those businesses. This is why we established The Techy Accountant dedicated to equipping finance professionals with the technical skills they need to excel in an increasingly tech-driven world. Our approach to training is multi-faceted. We start by laying a strong foundation in core accounting knowledge, such as IFRS/IAS standards and tax regulations, ensuring that professionals have the fundamental expertise needed to navigate complex financial landscapes. But we don’t stop there. 

We integrate technology at every level of learning. For instance, we train professionals on industry-leading accounting software – tools that are essential for modern finance teams to manage financial operations efficiently. We also offer AI-powered training, helping our trainees become adept in using technologies like Adam AI and Tyms, an accounting software powered by artificial intelligence. This enables them to automate repetitive tasks, improve data accuracy, and make data-driven decisions in real-time. 

By focusing on both the technical and practical aspects of finance, we ensure that accountants and finance professionals are not just tech-savvy, but future-ready— prepared to harness technology to improve accuracy, efficiency, and strategic decision making in their careers. 

Alaba: How do you ensure that your training programs are effective and relevant to the needs of professionals? 

Oluwatoyin: The Techy Accountant was established in response to a clear skill gap in the finance and accounting industry. We recognized a disconnect between what was being taught in tertiary institutions and what the job market demanded from young graduates. Many professionals were entering the workforce without the essential skills to excel in today’s fast-paced, tech-driven environment. From the outset, we’ve been committed to ensuring that our training programs stay aligned with the needs of both the current economy and the job market. We continuously evaluate the evolving financial landscape to update our curricula, making sure they reflect the latest industry trends, emerging technologies, and the skills most in demand. 

Our training programs go beyond theory; they are designed to be dynamic and interactive. We don’t just provide passive learning through pre-recorded videos. Instead, we offer live sessions where participants can directly engage with facilitators, ask questions, and discuss key concepts. This encourages a deeper level of understanding and keeps participants actively involved. Additionally, to ensure the knowledge sticks, we regularly assign practical exercises and assignments that challenge participants to apply what they’ve learned in real-world scenarios. 

To further bridge the gap between training and employment, we have integrated internship and job placement opportunities into our programs. We connect topperforming trainees with internship opportunities through organizations that request interns, allowing them to gain hands-on industry experience. This real-world exposure helps them apply their newly acquired skills in practical settings and significantly improves their employability. 

In addition, through our recruitment arm, qualified trainees are also referred for job roles that match their acquired skills. By staying responsive to the ever-changing needs of the financial landscape, we ensure our programs remain not only effective but deeply relevant to today’s finance professionals. 

Alaba: Can you briefly share any success stories of how your technology-driven services has benefited clients? 

Oluwatoyin: One of our standout success stories is with our client, Feed Avenue Limited. When we first connected, their accounting and the digital structure of the business was in disarray. We jumped in to help with their digital transformation & implementation bringing structure to their business & financial process. 

Additionally, we enhanced their supply chain management. But our work didn’t stop there. We also focused on the change management aspect, ensuring that the transition to the new system was smooth and that the staff embraced the changes positively. As a result of these efforts, Feed Avenue has scaled up and is now thriving, showing how a combination of technology and the right people can lead to sustainable growth.

Alaba: What have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced, and lessons you have learned as a founder? 

Oluwatoyin: One of the biggest challenges I have faced as a founder is that sometimes, we seem to be more passionate about a business’s success than the owners themselves. In some cases, we have a clearer vision of the future—especially in terms of financial strategy and the broader economic landscape- than the business owners, who may not yet see the long-term benefits of certain decisions which can lead to some resistance in the beginning, where the owners may hesitate to embrace changes we suggest, but as they see the results, their mindset shifts and they come to appreciate the foresight and efforts we put into helping them build a sustainable and profitable business. 

What we’ve found is that once they do see the results, the relationship strengthens. In fact, we’ve never lost a client since inception. The only time our business relationships have paused is when clients move abroad and are no longer able to continue their operations here. This reinforces a key lesson we’ve learned: if you solve people’s problems holistically, they stick by you. It’s about providing value at every step, addressing their needs fully, and being a reliable partner in their growth journey.

Alaba: Lastly, how do you see the company contributing to the future of accounting and tax technology? 

Oluwatoyin: At LEFORT, we believe the future of accounting and tax technology must include Africa – not as a consumer, but as a creator of solutions. While Western financial solutions dominate much of the global market, we recognize the untapped potential within the African ecosystem to drive innovation tailored to local and global needs.

To help realize this potential, we hosted the first physical AccounTech Summit International in Lagos last year which brought together over 2,000 finance professionals, innovators, and CEOs to address critical issues such as sustainability, fintech solutions, and the evolving needs of the accounting landscape. This summit was more than just an event; it was a platform for creating awareness and fostering dialogue around the importance of homegrown African solutions. 

As we look toward the 2025 summit, which is set to take place on August 27th and 28th 2025, we aim to further spotlight African startups that are developing innovative financial accounting software solutions. This is particularly important in a market where Western alternatives often overshadow local innovations. By bringing attention to African-driven solutions and creating opportunities for collaboration, LEFORT is helping position the continent at the forefront of accounting and fintech evolution. 

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