5 minute read

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]
5 minute read

Building rainbow bridges: the journey of an LGBTQ+ ally

GRETEL PAHMER SÁNCHEZ
Consultant Transformational Change

Connect your future to deloitte