Alum Hanru Redelinghuys enjoys staying ahead of the curve. He started his first business at age 11 (yes, 11!) and today, still in his early 30s, oversees the financial reporting for Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE). Hanru reports SPE’s results all the way up to Sony Group in Tokyo, Japan. It’s a starring role, he says, that wouldn’t be possible if not for his training on the legacy Mazars, now Forvis Mazars, stage.
Did you really start a business when you were just 11 years old?
Believe it or not, yes! You might say I had a bit of an unusual childhood. I was born in South Africa where my mom and dad were live-in house parents for two college sororities. So, at any given time I was surrounded by some 300 female students. Within the house, my parents allowed me to set up a small concession stand—known as a tuck shop—where, for a few hours a day, I sold snacks and other necessities to the students. I did it for seven years, and I used the funds to help pay for my studies.
Did this influence your decision to go into accounting?
Definitely! I learned a lot about business and what it means to be client-facing at a very early age. It also made me realize I enjoyed working with both numbers and people, so public accounting seemed like a natural fit.
Was the plan always to join the firm after college?
Honestly, I had never heard of Mazars until I attended a Career Day during my senior year. And what I heard about the firm blew me away. Here was an opportunity to get all the benefits of a midsize firm while serving major clients. It looked like a terrific opportunity to get true, end-to-end client service experience. I pictured myself excelling in an environment like that.
How did you get from Mazars in South Africa to Sony Pictures Entertainment in Hollywood?
Well, L.A. wasn’t my first stop, and my entire U.S. journey was unplanned. Having been at Mazars in Cape Town for a few years, I went to New York City for what was supposed to be a six-month secondment. The industries I found myself in, technology and media, were entering a big growth phase then and, somehow, six months turned into four amazing, challenging years.
Then, in 2019, I was asked to transfer to Los Angeles to help build out our new office there. That’s where I continued building on my technology and media portfolio. About three years in, I received an unsolicited offer to join a commercial real estate company. As much as I loved the firm, I was up for a new challenge in private industry and accepted. Then, just a year later, a recruiter reached out asking if I might be interested in a position at a “major entertainment company.” I was intrigued and said, yes, I’d love to hear more.
Which, of course, turned out to be Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Right. I joined in March 2022 as the Director of the Group Consolidation & Reporting (GCR) team. After a little over a year, one of our senior vice presidents—a 26-year SPE veteran—surprised us by announcing his retirement. This led to an organizational reshuffle, and I was further surprised to be asked to take on additional responsibilities. I would not only lead the GCR team but also oversee the financial reporting of the corporate world. Shortly thereafter, I was promoted to vice president. There is certainly a case of being in the right place at the right time, but it’s also a testament to the training I received at Forvis Mazars. I’m now making big decisions for one of the biggest entertainment companies in the world. My experience at legacy Mazars set me up incredibly well for my current role. I see it every day!
What are some of the challenges your industry is facing?
We’re still getting back on our feet after the actors’ and writers’ strike in 2023, and a lot of the impact of the strikes is being felt this year. As you can imagine, everything’s backlogged, and there’s been a big rush to get production and everything associated with creating content back up and running. But I’m optimistic about the future of the industry and very enthusiastic about our content coming out. We released Bad Boys 4 a few months ago, which did very well at the theaters—it is my favorite movie of 2024 so far! I’m also very excited about our Spider-Man Universe movies coming out later this year.
What does it mean to be a Forvis Mazars alum?
I’m incredibly grateful for having the opportunity to work for and with such respected leaders and exceptional co-workers. And the fact that I, in turn, was trusted to be involved in developing other people’s careers, that’s very special. The firm has so much opportunity to offer. My advice—Be ambitious. Be aspirational. Don’t wait for any opportunities. Just go for it! There is something so special about this firm, and it’s really easy to pinpoint—it’s the people!
More about Hanru
- Born in the small fishing village of Lambert’s Bay, South Africa (approx. 125 miles north of Cape Town)
- Received his accounting honors degree from Stellenbosch University (Stellenbosch, South Africa)
- Helped establish the Forvis Mazars South Africa National Training Committee and was highly involved in training in Cape Town, New York City, and Los Angeles
- Previously served as vice chair of SAICA’s Trainee Accountants Society in Cape Town
- Involved with charities that provide first-edition books to underprivileged schools in South Africa
- Enjoys rugby, soccer, hanging with friends and family, and going to the movies
- Lives with his partner and two beautiful dogs
- Encourages everyone to visit South Africa with its “amazing people and beauty … the long flight is worth it.”
