Most people in finance learn the rules — Anjolaoluwa Ayeni mastered using them to build, protect, and scale.
She built her accounting career from Lagos to Atlanta using sharp systems, forensic thinking, and zero fluff. She exposed corporate fraud buried deep in reports and now leads fund operations at a global investment firm in the U.S.
Starting in entry-level audits, Ayeni oversees financial close processes across funds worth hundreds of millions. The shift? Systems that scaled, strategy that aligned, and standards that held.
“Every number tells a story,” Ayeni says. “My job has always been to make sure it’s honest.”
She got here without cutting ethical corners, and her approach offers a model for finance professionals who are ready to lead rather than just follow.
Early Moves That Mattered
Ayeni’s foundation in accounting is solid. She holds a Master’s in Professional Accountancy from Georgia State University, graduating with distinction and earning Beta Gamma Sigma honors—no small feat in business academia.
But degrees alone don't build legacies.
She inherited a business trapped in outdated manual processes at Gilgal Meat Mart Store. There was no automation, oversight, or guardrails.
“I realized that without systems, even honest businesses could falter,” Ayeni reflects. “Installing QuickBooks wasn’t just an upgrade—it was a survival move.”
Within months, she digitized operations, reduced errors, uncovered internal theft, and gave the business a financial backbone it needed.
Ayeni’s proactive leadership and technical acuity fundamentally transformed financial oversight at Gilgal, according to one industry expert familiar with her work.
Turning Disorder Into a Growth Engine
At Legit.ng, one of Nigeria’s largest digital media platforms, Ayeni faced a new kind of chaos:
Month-end closes took 14 days. Budgets are built on guesswork, not strategy.
Rather than managing around the dysfunction, she redesigned the financial reporting process completely.
“Efficiency isn't about working faster,” she explains. “It’s about building systems that work for you, not against you.”
Real-time data entry and structured workflows cut the month-end close from 14 days to just 3. Leadership quickly noticed and fast—tracked her promotion to Head Accountant.
In the same role, her forensic instincts kicked in again. Pattern recognition and data analysis led her to uncover misconduct by a former leader—an act that preserved financial integrity and strengthened the organization from within.
Fund Operations at Scale
In 2022, Ayeni relocated from Nigeria to the United States to expand her expertise and gain experience in global finance operations.The move was driven by her desire to operate at a higher scale—across multi-jurisdictional fund structures, tighter compliance frameworks, and fast-moving investment cycles.
It meant learning an entirely different ecosystem of regulation, professional culture, and communication—while proving her value in one of the most complex corners of finance: fund accounting.
Now at Balbec Capital LP, a global alternative asset manager, Ayeni leads fund operations at scale. That includes:
- Managing investment activity across multiple fund structures
- Working on monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes
- Tracking and reconciling cross-entity cash flow for joint ventures
- Implementing internal processes that increase efficiency and accuracy
She’s also part of a growing trend: finance professionals driving digital transformation. In 2023, statistics reported that 72% of finance teams globally plan to increase automation investment over the next two years, with operational analysts leading much of the shift.
Ayeni isn’t just adapting to new systems—she’s architecting them. She’s developed Excel-based tools tailored to fund operations and is actively leading the integration of platforms that streamline how investment data is recorded, reviewed, and reconciled across entities. Her work reduces errors, accelerates close timelines, and equips her team to scale with precision.
Mastering the Art of Resilience
Every career faces obstacles. But for Ayeni, each challenge became a blueprint for better systems.
At Gilgal Meat Mart, she introduced internal controls that immediately flagged theft and supplier issues, protecting the business’s bottom line.
In Legit.ng, she rebuilt financial reporting from the ground up—implementing audit trails and real-time transparency that permanently solved month-end delays.
And at Balbec Capital LP, Ayeni quickly adapted to the complexities of global fund operations, mastering intricate structures and strict regulatory landscapes.
Ayeni has the ability not only to detect operational risks but to build sustainable, efficient processes that withstand scrutiny, said a senior financial expert familiar with her work.
“Setbacks taught me resilience isn’t about pushing through,” Ayeni shares. “It’s about creating structures so strong that they withstand pressure on their own.”
Big Goals, Clear Motives
Ayeni’s vision for the future isn’t centered on title or status. It’s about impact, especially in two areas:
- Reducing corporate fraud: With a growing interest in forensic accounting, she plans to take a more active role in preventing financial misconduct. Her aim is to create processes that catch fraud early, before it becomes a crisis. She is currently working on launching FraudShield Analytics, a U.S.-based platform for AI-driven fraud detection and internal control modernization.
- Mentorship: Ayeni also wants to support younger professionals—especially those entering accounting for the first time. She’s already taught ACCA classes at TNSS and was the youngest instructor on the roster. That work earned her a feature on ACCA’s official platform.
Her long-term goal is clear: create a finance culture where ethics aren’t optional—and where new accountants are taught to spot the cracks before they widen.
What Ayeni’s Journey Teaches Us
Ayeni’s career is living proof: Accounting isn’t just about compliance—it’s about curiosity, clarity, and courage.
At every stage, she asked the deeper questions:
- Why is this process so slow?
- Where is this discrepancy hiding?
- What is this data not telling us?
That mindset uncovered fraud others missed, built workflows others hadn’t mapped, and streamlined financial systems that others had tolerated.
Your Turn: What’s Broken?
If you’ve ever felt stuck in slow processes or outdated tools...If you’ve ever sensed that something in the financials didn’t add up but weren’t sure where to start...If you’re wondering how to make a real impact early in your career...
Ayeni’s story offers a clear roadmap: Change doesn’t always come from the top. Sometimes it starts with the person who notices the flaw—and refuses to ignore it.
Final Thoughts
Ethics. Automation. Accuracy.
Ayeni has built her career around these three pillars—across two continents and industries as different as retail and private capital. Her path shows that systems don’t just scale businesses—they build trust.
That’s what sustainable finance leadership looks like.
Now, how are you using your skills to make finance more accountable?
Let us know your thoughts.
