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Who am I?
Let me briefly introduce myself. My name is Edward van Dijk. I am 29 years old and live in Breda. In 2009 I chose to study Business Economics at Tilburg University. I found the versatility of the program an advantage, as it allowed me to choose many different directions. In the subsequent master’s, I decided to study Accountancy, but I also wanted to gain practical experience. I therefore chose to follow the master and post-master program at Nyenrode Business University. I hope to complete the final phase of the post-master program very soon!
The packed lecture halls with often hundreds of fellow students remain to be a vivid memory for me. As will the 8-week study blocks, which in three years covered every imaginable subject within economics, business economics, and fiscal economics. This gave me a broad theoretical basis. Of course, I also found time for fun during my student years. My best memory of my time in Tilburg is the study trip to Brazil with 20 fellow students, organized by Asset. As one of the lucky ones, I had the opportunity to go to Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo. These super cities made a big impression on me. I believe the study tour is still being organized and I highly recommend it!
Van Oers
Then along came van Oers. In mid 2019 I decided to transfer to the audit department of Van Oers in Breda. This is a well-known accounting firm in West Brabant, consisting of five offices. I felt at home immediately. Van Oers has a very professional look and feel, along with a personal approach. I immediately liked the approach to professionalism and the investment in the growth of (young) professionals, the most important parts of the audit field. In addition, the client portfolio really appealed to me. Van Oers serves both SME clients as well as large for-profit companies in a wide range of sectors, which is also nicely explained on the website. For my own development, I was looking for diversity in my client portfolio. In consultation with Van Oers I was offered diversity, which provides me with many challenges in my daily work.
Working at Van Oers
Van Oers currently has over 380 employees working in the various disciplines that Van Oers offers. In my department, I work with approximately 65 colleagues, a number that is still growing. In the field of Auditing & Assurance, our department is one of the largest in the region. The work as an auditor mainly consists of auditing financial statements of companies subject to audit.
“Due to the good organization and the growth I am experiencing in my own development, I am still satisfied with the choice I made.”
To make it concrete, it is best to explain how a regular day for me looks like. As a Senior Staff member, I manage the team members and report to the manager of the assignment. The assignments vary. I sometimes work with three colleagues together on a project, but I also have assignments with 8 colleagues. The work itself is diverse but can be roughly divided into interim and balance sheet audits. During the interim audits in autumn, we focus mainly on gaining insight into the company and testing the internal controls. During the balance sheet audit, we anticipate on the identified risk factors, by analyzing the figures and verifying the information presented in the financial statements. My own role consists of going over the tasks for each item or part of the audit with a Staff member, reviewing the work performed, performing the most complex tasks, and communicating the status and findings to the manager. The project is thus carried out together, in which each team member has his own share.
Van Oers believes that involvement is extremely important. Informal activities are always announced with great enthusiasm. An example of a fun activity is the annual employee event, The Voice, which is a popular gathering among all Van Oers employees. In addition, my own Audit department often organizes activities for the entire team, such as a quiz or a (digital) escape room. Because Van Oers also considers quality to be extremely important, I often see my colleagues at seminars.
In short, we work very hard. Due to the good organization and the growth I am experiencing in my own development, I am still satisfied with the choice I made.
Corona
I can’t help not to mention the COVID-19 crisis time at the time of writing this interview. I work mainly remotely, that is, at home at the dinner table. Van Oers has provided me with all the tools to work effectively remotely. This has been effortless. Daily phone calls, but especially switching with colleagues and customers via Microsoft Teams is my fixed daily rhythm. Because I currently work, eat and sit in one place for almost the entire working day, I almost always exercise for an hour after work. This, in turn, is a big advantage: no more travel time and therefore more flexibility!
My advice
I have always had a good sense of numbers. Economics, management & organization, and math were always my favorite subjects in high school. I must admit that I had a hard time making a choice in my studies. The choice for a somewhat broader preliminary education was for me a great outcome to discover several directions in the financial world. I soon discovered that I was most interested in the “behavior” of organizations. Why do organizations, and especially the people in these organizations, make the choices that lead to success? A company is more than numbers! The accountancy branch fits in nicely with this!
My advice: First of all, I recommend that you enjoy your student life. Cliché, but this period flies by. Before you start your career, my advice is to get a better understanding of where your interests and ambitions lie. What is the ideal job for you and what gives you energy? If you are looking for a professional organization with an informal atmosphere, where development and growth are key, then I definitely recommend you to contact Van Oers!
