Being the internal link between strategy, finance and operations
What about serving Deloitte as your client instead of external clients? This is
what you do when you work at the finance department of Deloitte Support. ‘You’re
the link between strategy, finance and operations. Or, you’re a business partner
for financial matters.’ Jill Lenders, Business Controller, and Giovanni Postma,
Teamlead Engagement Financial Advisor, explain. 'It's our job to support
Deloitte’s advisory and accounting business, so they can gain insight into their
financials.'
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From working student to business controller
Jill (28) started her career at Deloitte in 2015, while she was still studying
Accountancy & Finance in Maastricht. ‘I was searching for a part time job next
to my studies. Deloitte seemed like an interesting place to start, and fitted
well within my field of interest. That’s why I started as a working student in
Benefits & Pension Advisory, within Deloitte Financial Advisory. I always wanted
to do a Ph.D after my graduation. But I liked working at Deloitte so much that I
preferred to stay there. After three years I became the Teamlead at Client
Project Control, and a year ago I switched to a position as a Business
Controller at Clients & Industries. Both are part of Deloitte Support. Deloitte
offers you plenty of room to choose your own career path, and this was my
opportunity to become a controller. Just like I wanted.’
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With open arms
Giovanni (37) has also been working at Deloitte for quite a while. ‘After I
graduated in Business Administration, I started as an Invoice Manager in 2011.
What I liked about Deloitte? I was looking for a place where I could develop
myself and would be challenged enough, and Deloitte is a very dynamic, big,
international firm. In the past eleven years, not a year went by without some
kind of change’, he says cheerfully. ‘In my spare time, I’m a volunteer at
Brandweer (fire department) Beemster. Two years ago, I thought it would be fun
to have a regular job there. So I made the switch and started as a controller at
Brandweer Amsterdam. However, it wasn’t long before I wanted to return to
Deloitte. Deloitte is such a dynamic and innovative organisation, I really
missed that. Fortunately, I was received with open arms.’
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Strategic aspects
Currently, Jill and Giovanni are both working at Deloitte Support. “As a
Business Controller Clients & Industries I’m focused on the financials of
Deloitte - major client accounts and various industries. Not one industry in
particular, but the complete industry axis', Jill says excitedly. ‘I am a
strategic sparring partner and I support the budgeting and forecasting
processes. What is the financial outlook for next year? But also: how are we
going to design our strategic planning model for the next five years? Next to
that, I assist with the monthly reports for the Industry Leaders and ad hoc
analysis issues such as the best possible margin strategy. It’s a job with great
versatility, it’s fun and challenging. It can be demanding at times, but it
always energises me.’
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The spider in the web
Giovanni is a Teamlead Engagement Financial Advisor (EFA). He’s in charge of a
team of eleven EFA colleagues in the Netherlands, nine working students and
eight colleagues in India. ‘We offer end-to-end support with Deloitte’s CRM and
ERP systems, and help our colleagues in the business with the processes if they
don’t know what to do. Also, we offer advice on how to organise projects for
external clients. We deliver account reports, calculate volume discounts, and
keep track of the profitability of projects and clients – and so much more. As a
Teamlead, I'm the link between the various chains and partners or managers. I
make sure that demand and supply meet. That’s a wonderful thing to do.’
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Out of your comfort zone
‘It’s amazing to see how many opportunities Deloitte has to offer’, Jill
continues. ‘You’re constantly being challenged to step out of your comfort zone.
That’s what makes it interesting. If you want to, you can move from one
discipline to another. There’s a wide range of financial jobs. Also, you can
make a cross-function switch to, for example, Audit or Tax. Everyone is
open-minded and wants to share their expertise. You get plenty of opportunities
and can have an open conversation about this with each other.' Giovanni smiles:
‘No wonder that Deloitte was recently in the Top 25 of the World’s Best
Workplaces!’
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CHOOSE YOUR IMPACT
You will share your talent with the 1000 colleagues of Deloitte The Netherlands
various
Support departments. Within our teams, co-operation and personal development are
key.
View all Support vacancies [/vacancies/support] and connect your future to
Deloitte.
View all Support vacancies [/vacancies/support]

