Linda (34) started her career at Deloitte as an intern in 2008. ‘I liked that internship so much that I decided to stay at Deloitte’, she explains. ‘I especially enjoyed the informal vibe. Work hard, play hard and always time for a laugh. There’s no hierarchy here. People often think that there’s a big distance within a Big Four firm between professionals on the one hand, and partners and clients on the other hand. Nothing could be further from the truth. The communication lines are short and the doors are always open. Also, there’s a great sense of freedom and responsibility. Professionals are rewarded for their ambitions and well taken care of. People are a big part of the organisation’s image, so well-being is a top priority. Deloitte wants to be the best place to work, and it shows.’

Raised in an entrepreneurial family After the internship, Linda worked at Deloitte for 16 hours a week while she was writing her thesis. ‘In 2009, I started as an Assistant Accountant. Also, I decided to do a post-HBO AA Accountancy. In 2015 I registered as an AA Accountant, and since October 2019 I have been working as a Senior Manager at Deloitte SME Integrated Services.. I’m in charge of the teams in The Hague and Rotterdam, servicing various family businesses and private equity clients. As a child, I was raised in an entrepreneurial family. My parents owned a bodywork construction company. During family dinners, business was a common topic of discussion. So I can relate to entrepreneurs really well and have had sympathy for small and medium businesses ever since I was a child.’

Relating to the client ‘In my job, I get to meet people from all kinds of family businesses. That makes the work very diverse and varied. Every client and every assignment is different’, Linda says. ‘As an accountant, you need to relate to what is going on. You’re close to your clients. It’s a very confidential relationship. That’s vital, since we support clients both with their businesses and with private equity – for instance, tax filing, management reporting, business processes, HR strategy, or preparing the business for an M&A transaction. That requires the highest level of openness and mutual trust. You need to show your clients the opportunities and encourage them to change. That’s challenging and fun at the same time. For family businesses, you need to be aware of the emotional angles. For instance, the transfer of ownership to a son or daughter can be very emotional. As an accountant, you’re part of various discussions that require that you can relate and adapt to your client’s situation.’

Young and diverse team Linda is also responsible for HR People Management and she coaches a number of colleagues. ‘Our department is actually a small office within a big firm. We have a young and diverse team with all-rounders and specialists. Diversity and inclusion are a key topic within Deloitte. The right mix of gender, culture and background only makes a team stronger. But that requires openness and communication. You need to feel safe to discuss any kind of subject. At Deloitte, you can. In January I gave birth to my second child. Since I prefer combining my job with raising my children, I discussed the option of working 28 hours instead of four days. That was no problem at all. Work/life balance is a top priority at Deloitte. As long as you feel comfortable, both professionally and on a personal level, your performance will benefit.’

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