Fion Veseli works as a Junior Data Analyst at Vermetten and has made an impressive mark on the Advisory team in a short time. Read below how he likes working at Vermetten! From diversity to data Fion has been working at Vermetten for a year now. “My career at Vermetten began with a shared position between Assistant Accountant and Data Analyst, but soon I found my calling as a Data Analyst.” As a valuable consulting team member, Fion has plunged into the world of data analysis and consulting. Whether it’s sustainability, research or strategy projects, you can turn to Fion! Changes and growth opportunities “Almost every month has looked differently,” says Fion. “I can grow well here and do what I enjoy. In the future, my focus will be on strategy and sustainability projects. We are a fun team. I can do my own thing and occasionally we discuss topics together. Decisive consultation is in our blood!” Not a number, but a valuable contribution Vermetten’s culture is a good fit for Fion. “There is a lot of confidence in my ability here. At Vermetten there really is room for growth. This is my first office job and I appreciate to experience such a degree of freedom. I can choose the path in which I want to specialize. I can present both internally and externally and my result is paramount. I think it is special to get this level of responsibility.” Fion feels completely part of the Advisory team and because of the small scale of the team, he sees the immediate impact of his work. Study and getting to work right away! Before joining Vermetten, Fion studied economics and completed his bachelor’s degree. He wasn’t done learning yet, so he started his master’s degree. The flexibility offered by Vermetten allows him to adjust his working hours according to his personal wishes and study requirements. “When I mentioned that I want to work and study part-time, the first reaction was, ‘How cool that you want to work so much alongside your studies!’ I am going full steam ahead with both, and that is greatly appreciated here. That motivates me tremendously!” A driven culture of freedom and trust Fion emphasizes Vermetten’s down-to-earth approach. The core values – expertise, decisive and effective working style – are not only shared but also actively integrated. Fion: “I think they are appropriate values for the corporate culture. There is no fuss, people look at what needs to be done and do it. It’s an organization that doesn’t sell nonsense. They are honest and stand behind their services.” That forms the backbone of Vermetten. There is always room for development Interested in a career at Vermetten? Fion advises, “Just come for an interview! Come to get a taste of the organization and talk to us. Vermetten is pretty broad so chances are there’s something for you.” He emphasizes that the organization is diverse and there are opportunities regarding every point of interest. After all, he started as an Assistant Accountant and was soon able to develop to where he is today. “If you want to develop yourself, there is room for that. I can learn an enormous amount and that is encouraged. In short, it’s a great start to my career!”
From Strategy to Integration: Process, Skills and Opportunities in M&A
In the realm of investment banking, few areas offer as dynamic and impactful a career as mergers and acquisitions (M&A). In our previous article, we explored the various ‘front office’ careers available after earning a finance master’s degree, highlighting the significant role M&A plays within the investment banking sector. This article delves deeper into the intricacies of M&A, shedding light on its processes, the essential skills and backgrounds beneficial for success in this field, and the prospective exit opportunities it offers. Processes in M&A The M&A process is intricate and multifaceted, typically involving the following stages: Strategy Formulation It begins with strategic planning, where companies identify their objectives for pursuing an acquisition or merger. This stage sets the foundation for the entire process. Target Identification Companies or advisors search for and assess potential targets that align with the strategic goals set forth in the initial phase. Due Diligence A critical phase where detailed investigations are conducted to confirm and validate all material facts regarding the target company, including financial, legal, and operational aspects. Valuation and Deal Structuring This involves determining the value of the target company and structuring the deal in a way that meets both parties’ objectives, taking into consideration financial, tax, and legal implications. Negotiation Parties discuss and agree upon the terms of the transaction, aiming to reach a deal that is beneficial for both. Integration After the deal is closed, the focus shifts to integrating the acquired entity into the buyer’s operations, a complex process that can determine the long-term success of the merger or acquisition. Each stage of the M&A process attracts professionals who have the requisite skills that thrive under specific challenges. For instance, the meticulous and skeptical nature required for due diligence contrasts with the visionary and decisive traits that strategy formulation demands. Similarly, the negotiation stage benefits from resilient and persuasive individuals, while integration requires organizational savvy and empathetic professionals. A career in M&A opens doors to numerous exit opportunities, as the skills acquired are highly transferable and valued across industries. . Required Backgrounds and Skills A career in Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) is highly dynamic and requires a broad set of skills that can be often cultivated through diverse career experiences. Some of these career experiences include: Corporate Finance Working in a corporate finance department offers insight into how businesses manage their finances and make strategic decisions. This experience is invaluable for understanding a company’s financial health and identifying potential M&A opportunities that can create value. Strategy Consulting Consultants who specialize in corporate strategy work closely with companies to identify growth opportunities and operational efficiencies. This experience allows them to assess how potential mergers or acquisitions could fit into a company’s overall strategy, making it a valuable background for M&A. Private Equity & Venture Capital Professionals in private equity or venture capital develop a keen eye for valuing companies and identifying potential investment opportunities. Their experience in assessing companies’ growth potential and strategic fit is directly applicable to M&A. In general, the M&A sector is known for its demanding yet rewarding nature. Professionals often work long hours, especially during the closing phases of a deal, which can be both exciting and exhausting. The fast-paced environment requires a high level of commitment, resilience, and the ability to thrive under pressure. Thus, having a high level of resilience and stress management is a trait that is often key for success in the M&A sector. Equivalently, commitment and a strong work ethic are non-negotiables in M&A. The long hours and fast-paced environment demand professionals who are not only passionate about their work but also dedicated to seeing projects through to completion. Moreover, the most successful M&A professionals tend to be those who can balance their technical expertise with social adeptness. The ability to analyze a company’s financial health and then persuasively articulate the value proposition of a deal requires strong abilities in number crunching and relationship building. This is especially critical during negotiations, where understanding the nuances of both the financial details and the counterparty’s motivations can lead to more favorable outcomes. The client interaction aspect of many M&A roles also highlights the importance of interpersonal skills and being able to engage effectively and empathetically. Despite the challenges and the dedication required, the intellectual stimulation, exposure to high-profile deals, and the opportunity to significantly impact corporate landscapes make M&A a highly sought-after career path. This unique combination of high stakes, intense learning opportunities, and the chance to shape industries attracts some of the most brilliant and ambitious individuals in the business world. A career in Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) is highly dynamic and requires a broad set of skills that can be often cultivated through diverse career experiences. Exit Opportunities A career in M&A opens doors to numerous exit opportunities, as the skills acquired are highly transferable and valued across industries. This is one of the reasons why many are drawn to M&A. Gaining experience in the field makes professionals highly versatile and adaptable to various roles across the business spectrum. Some of these skills include the ability to navigate complex negotiations, understand intricate financial structures, and drive strategic decisions – all of which equip M&A professionals with a unique perspective on business operations and strategies. Corporate Strategy Transitioning into corporate strategy allows M&A professionals to apply their analytical skills and strategic foresight within a corporate setting, often in roles such as Chief Strategy Officer or strategic planning director. These positions involve identifying growth opportunities, leading market analysis efforts, and developing long-term business plans. The experience in M&A equips professionals with the ability to not only devise strategies but also to understand the practicalities of implementation and the potential impact on the company’s financial health and market position. Private Equity and Venture Capital In PE and VC, the skills acquired in M&A are directly transferable and highly valued. Professionals stepping into this domain typically engage in sourcing and executing investment opportunities, managing portfolio companies, and devising exit strategies to maximize returns. The valuation expertise, due diligence
Working at EY – Thijs Kerstens
Thijs Kerstens | Staff Audit & Consultant Climate Change and Sustainability Services Thijs Kerstens has been working at EY as Staff since September 2023, having previously completed an internship at the Audit department in Eindhoven. At EY, we offer you a flexible career with many opportunities for advancement. This provides the opportunity to seize new opportunities. Thijs has arranged his personal development through a dual package with both Audit and also Sustainability. Who are you and how did you end up at EY? I’m Thijs Kerstens, 24 years old and born in Rucphen, a village between Roosendaal and Breda. After high school in Roosendaal, I started studying Business Economics in Tilburg in 2018. After this, I did a master’s degree in Accountancy and a master’s degree in Strategic Management, still at Tilburg University, which I enjoyed. During my studies, I was active in Asset A&F and attended many accountancy events this way, where I ended up being most enthusiastic about EY. Then, in 2022, I did an internship in the Audit department of EY in Eindhoven. Why did you choose to do an internship during your studies? During my studies at university, mainly during the Bachelor of Business Economics, I noticed that in my opinion we did not get much of what possible work would look like later in practice. This was the main reason why I wanted to learn more about what work was like in practice during my Masters in Accountancy. During my time as an active member at Asset A&F, I attended several formal (and also many informal, but that is another story) accountancy activities and here I had several positive experiences with EY. So from these experiences, I can recommend all students to attend activities of study associations and if possible to organize similar activities yourself. I am convinced that you can gain a lot from these kinds of experiences later on, but I would especially like to mention that I experienced these as very nice extracurricular activities. Finally, because of the positive experiences, I decided to do an internship at EY, where I was able to combine writing my thesis with shadowing and working in the field. What motivated you to apply to EY next? Ultimately it was mainly because I liked the internship I had done, I liked the people I was able to work with at the time and I also liked the work. Eventually, after finishing my master accountancy, I still doubted whether I was ready to start working, especially since there had been the Corona period in between and I wanted to do something else before starting my full ”working” life. At the time I discussed this with several fellow interns, with the recruiter from EY and with friends, after which I eventually chose to start a second master’s degree in Strategic Management. Here I came into contact with several consulting companies, which was mainly due to the track (Consultancy) I had chosen. However, I always compared the companies with my internship at EY in Eindhoven and, this combined with the contact I had always kept with several interns and colleagues within EY, made me want to come back here at the end of this master. After an extended period of contact with Lisanne van Ree (the predecessor of Madelief Berendsen, campus recruiter of EY Eindhoven/Limburg) I was eager to return to the place that had pleased me very well during the internship. You chose a dual package with both Audit and CCASS. Why did you choose this? I noticed during my internship in the Audit department that I enjoyed the work, but also that I wanted to see more things. So this was one of the reasons I chose my second master’s at the time. Eventually, during my studies, I found out that there was a lot of legislation related to sustainability coming up (think of the European Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, CSRD), which I was very interested in. So I ended up writing my master accountancy thesis, for which I did a thesis internship at EY on this topic. During my internship I also got in touch with several colleagues who worked in the sustainability department, which I found very interesting and after which I noticed that I became interested in both audit and sustainability. This eventually made me want to combine them. At the same time, during my internship I also found out that I wanted to use my background in accountancy, and would like to develop further to become a chartered accountant, which is why I am still following the postmaster at Tilburg University. EY was open to this and that made it possible for me and allowed me to pursue this combination. “My interest in sustainability and the legislation surrounding it, combined with the diversity and challenges in accountancy, led to the unique opportunity to combine these two fields” What does a workday look like for you at EY and what are the aspects of your job that you enjoy the most? This is a fun question for me, but very difficult to answer. My first six months are now behind me (I started on September 1, 2023) and I don’t think any week has been the same for me, let alone an average workday. Generally, I have college on Fridays for the postmaster, but this has been on hold for the past 3 months (from January through March you are free from the postmaster because during this period many companies prepare financial statements and therefore there is a lot of work for accountants), so I’ve been able to focus a lot on work for the past few months. I enjoyed being able to focus on work the past few months, but I am also looking forward to the start of the postmaster again, which means that as of April 5 I can be found on the Tilburg University Campus on Fridays. Furthermore, I like that at EY the days are different and
A board year as Chairman & External Affairs at Asset | Accounting & Finance
In this article, both Stijn and Sebastiaan discuss their roles as a board member of Asset | Accounting & Finance. First, Stijn will talk more about his experiences as the Chairman, and then Sebastiaan will share more about his work as External Affairs. Stijn Smits As a Chairman, Stijn is responsible for the policy of and external communication to parties such as Asset and the University. He also coordinates the StudyTour committee and the Alumni Committee. In this article, Stijn explains what his position entails and how he spends his days as Chairman of Asset | Accounting & Finance. In this article I want to share with you my story as Chairman of perhaps one of the most special years of my life. I have not regretted for a second becoming a board member. However, I often get the question, “What do you actually do every day?” In this article, I want to answer that and get rid of that question once and for all. I will take you through an “average” week as Chairman of Asset | Accounting & Finance. 9 a.m.: Every Monday morning we begin with our regular board meeting, which starts at 9 a.m. by default. We always hold these meetings at our offices in Building E, above Café Esplanade, where we can generally be found throughout the week. During this meeting, we discuss a wide range of topics, including our daily tasks, the activities of our committees, planned events, and other relevant matters at the Asset General level. Of course, we also take time to catch up on our weekends. 1 p.m.: After the meeting, we often have lunch together, after which everyone returns to their tasks. I often prepare meetings scheduled for later in the week. I also use the time after our board meeting to prepare for Asset General’s rundown scheduled for Tuesday morning. During the rest of the day, I work on various smaller tasks, such as looking for alumni willing to speak about their career paths at an information session we host for students, the Master Experience Day. In addition, I review reports from students participating in the Certificate of Extracurricular Excellence program for both Accountancy and Finance, a certification program we run jointly with the university’s Accountancy and Finance departments, which I coordinate. 4:30 p.m.: I sit down with Sven to go over the acquisition and formal events of the StudyTour. He supports me in this when it comes to contacting offices. Tuesday 9.30am: Tuesday morning begins with an Asset General meeting, namely the General Board Meeting (GBM). This is a meeting with all the Chairman of the Asset departments, the EBT and the MAK (all supported by Asset). Within the General Board of Asset I am the Treasurer, which means that I am responsible for all finances within Asset and lead the Treasurers Meeting. This is the financial body of Asset in which all treasurers are represented. I am also responsible for liaising with Asset’s external stakeholders. GBM is chaired by Hugo Uitdehaag, the current Independent Chairman. Even though it can sometimes be a bit chaotic sitting with all the Chairmen together, GBM is often one of the more enjoyable meetings of the week. You can see what is going on in other departments. But you also discuss issues that are important at the faculty level. 13:00: After GBM, we always have lunch together with our A&F board at 13:00. This is always a nice moment in the week. We discuss the latest gossip and often talk about the parties and get-togethers we’ve had. As you might have noticed, we deliberately don’t talk about A&F-related matters. We do this enough during the rest of the week. I am just not joining you for lunch, as I am having lunch later with Judith and Joyce from the university’s Accountancy Department. 2:00 p.m.: Later in the day, a lunch appointment is scheduled with Joyce Ladenstein of Student Career Services and Judith Künneke, the Academic Director of the university’s Accountancy Department. As Chairman, I am primarily charged with liaising with the university. We support each other and exchange ideas on various topics, such as education, student development and our official events. Usually, our meetings take place online, but a few times a year we also go to lunch together. We speak to each other about once every three weeks, but in addition I am in regular email contact with both of them. 15:30: On Tuesday afternoon I always meet with the StudyTour committee. This is an important meeting because we talk about the state of affairs and what still needs to be done for the StudyTour. The meetings with all stakeholders not only ensure that there is good contact with the other parties that we as Asset | Accounting & Finance have to deal with, but you also get to know everyone personally and build nice relationships. Wednesday 10 a.m.: This morning we are scheduled to meet with Peter de Goeij and Leontine van der Heijden, respectively the Academic Director and the Education Coordinator of the Finance Department. Joyce also joins this meeting again. We discuss the usual business and also focus on the upcoming edition of the Private Equity Day. Together with Sven, I am currently busy preparing for this event. Besides business matters, we also regularly share personal experiences, such as how our weekend went and my considerations regarding my choice of study. At the beginning of the year, I didn’t have a clear idea of how I wanted to shape my career, but through the many conversations with the university and companies during our events, I have gained a better understanding of how I want to shape my career after college. 2 p.m.: Wednesday afternoon is always dedicated to my room service at the General Board Office, Hugo’s office. This is a time during the week when I can shut down from the sometimes busy A&F room and work on hard tasks. I often prepare for the Treasurers
Working at PwC – Sam Dijkshoorn
Meet Sam. A connector, accountant, innovator, DJ and solver at PwC Netherlands. Can you tell us a little about yourself? ‘I’m Sam Dijkshoorn and I’ve been working in assurance at PwC for 4 years now. Together with my colleagues, I am responsible for auditing the financial statements of various clients. I am also part of the Social Board and the recruitment team. Recently, I became a Digital Accelerator. In this role, I think about how we can use digital tools to improve the processes surrounding the audit. In my spare time, I volunteer at football club AZ and occasionally play as a DJ in clubs or at festivals. I can also often be found on the tennis court. “I like working at a young organization. Every assignment has a different team composition. In addition, there are many social activities organized.” How did you end up at PwC and what exactly do you do? “During my bachelor in Economics & Business Administration, I participated in a PwC recruitment event. Here I got to know PwC in an informal way and talked to employees. After this event, I had the opportunity to write both my undergraduate and graduate thesis at PwC. I believe this is one of the best ways to get to know the company well. Because my internship period was very positive and I immediately felt at home at PwC, I started the entry-level program at our assurance branch immediately after my internship: One Assurance Academy. “I get to deal with many different clients and topics. This allows me to grow quickly and develop in various areas.” What is your (study) background? “I completed the bachelor’s degree in Economics & Business Administration at the University of Amsterdam and also obtained my master’s degree here. What does your workday look like? ‘A typical workday at PwC doesn’t exist. Every day is different: on Monday I work from home, Tuesday and Wednesday I’m at a different location with clients, Thursday I work in the office and Friday is my part-time day. In addition, I get to change clients every few weeks, which makes the work very varied. I work in different environments, with various clients and colleagues. During my work, I conduct interviews with clients, discuss with my teams, coach colleagues and audit various items in the financial statements, among other things.’ What makes your job fun? ‘I get to deal with many different clients and topics. This allows me to grow quickly and develop in various areas. Moreover, there are numerous opportunities within PwC. People listen to what you like and where your interests are. The fact that I became a Digital Accelerator last year is another example of this. In addition, my work at PwC is very flexible, which gives me enough time to do things I like to do besides work. I like working for a young organization. Every assignment has a different team composition. In addition, many social activities are organized: such as the gala, winter sports and regular get-togethers. This allows me to get to know many different colleagues. A number of colleagues have now become good friends!’ Tell us something about the culture at PwC ‘The culture at PwC suits me very well. I feel at home when I’m in the office because the atmosphere is informal and the organization is not very hierarchical. From associate to partner: everyone is open to help you or just having a chat. In addition, there are no fixed workstations. Because of this, you sit with different colleagues every day and get to know many new people. I usually sit with my own team, but I also regularly meet up at the office with friendly colleagues. “In addition, my job at PwC is very flexible, this gives me enough time to spend on things I like to do besides work.” What else is on your bucket list? “My bucket list includes obtaining my chartered accountant (RA) degree. I have now completed the theoretical part of my training as a chartered accountant and have started the final year of my practical training. I am also very much looking forward to the Audit Course. This is an annual event where MSc Accountancy students get the chance to learn about accountancy by going on a trip together to a changing destination. This year I get to come along as an attendant. If you’re interested in accountancy at PwC, this is highly recommended. What project makes you proud? ‘In addition to my work as an accountant, I am also part of the Social Board. The Social Board organizes social activities for our accountancy colleagues to contribute to the connectedness within the department. I am proud that our team has organized many social get-togethers and a number of sporting activities over the past year. For example, we held a padel tournament.’ What do you think of the work-life balance at PwC? ‘The flexibility at PwC is great. I’m fairly free to organize my own workday, as long as it’s discussed with my teams. Sometimes I work from home, other times I work in the office or on location at the client. In the morning I regularly play tennis with my sister for an hour and then I make up the hours missed in the evening. As a result, I have a good work-life balance. Because I have a busy social, sports and musical life in addition to my work, I work 36 hours a week. This gives me the space to go to AZ on Thursday night and spend some extra time on Friday to prepare my DJ set.’ What would you like to say to your future colleagues? ‘Do you want to discover whether PwC suits you too? Write your thesis at PwC and check out our careers page for events and opportunities. Hope to see you there!
A board year as Treasurer/Secretary at Asset | Accounting & Finance
In this article, Isa Brangers and Charlotte van der Veeke share their experiences as board members of Asset | Accounting & Finance. Who are you? Isa: My name is Isa Brangers and I am 21 years old. I am originally from Nederweert-Eind, but moved to Tilburg in 2022, at the beginning of the third year of my bachelor. When I moved here I immediately became active at Asset, first in the general events committee and later also in the sports committee of Asset | Accounting & Finance. Now one and a half years later, I have finished my bachelor in Business Economics and I want to start my master accountancy after my board year. Charlotte: I am Charlotte van der Veeke and I am 19 years old. I am from Almelo, which is quite a distance from Tilburg. However, I chose to come to the beautiful Brabant and have absolutely no regrets. I am currently in the second year of my bachelor in Business Economics and joined A&F last summer. After being in the Orientation Committee for six months, I liked it so much that I decided to do a board year. Why did you choose to do a board year at Asset | Accounting & Finance? Isa: Based on the recommendation of my former roommates, I joined A&F, which immediately brought me into contact with many new, fun people. Soon my calendar filled up with all kinds of informal events. Initially, I was on the general events committee, where I still didn’t understand exactly what Asset | Accounting & Finance entailed. After six months, I decided to join the sports committee as well, which gave me a better idea of what was going on in the rooms. Initially, I was convinced that a board year wouldn’t be for me; it seemed too busy and I doubted whether I wanted this responsibility. However, I had almost completed my bachelor’s degree and the decision to choose a master’s was very close. I did have the idea that I would like to study Accountancy, but I didn’t know what this looked like in practice. After hearing countless positive stories about board years, I decided to apply anyway, hoping to meet new people, organize great events, see different companies and finally make the right choice regarding my master’s. Charlotte: I chose a board year because I want to develop myself on a personal level. I feel like I still have a lot to grow in certain areas and I didn’t manage to do this during my studies. Therefore, I think this is a good way to make my desired development possible. In addition, it is a welcome distraction from studying and I can fully dedicate myself to the association. Because I had such a good time last semester, I am looking forward to taking the association to the next level. The choice for secretary is because I am very organized which is convenient for this position. The best thing about my job is that you can ensure everything stays neat. While the rest of the board members are busy completing their tasks, you can make sure that those tasks come together properly. You take minutes during the board meeting, you take note of the new members that the Vice-Chairman brings in, you make the annual planning for the organized events of the other directors (and your own, of course) and you can pick up smaller tasks from them if they don’t have time for them. This is how, little by little, you lift the association to the next level. What does a week as Treasurer/Secretary look like? Isa: As a Treasurer, you are responsible for all the finances within Asset | Accounting and Finance. At the beginning of the year you set the budget, which you keep updating throughout the year. What I find very interesting is that almost everything costs money, so you are involved in all the decisions. Unfortunately, sometimes you are forced to be strict and reject interesting but overpriced ideas. On the other hand, of course, you can occasionally bring good news if there is room in the budget left for a spontaneous drink. I also coordinate four more committees: Activities- Sports-, Investment Night and Lustrum Committee. With these, there are weekly meetings, in which you work together towards the events. What I like about this is the variation. With the Investment Night committee, you work all year towards a big formal event, while with the activities and sports committee, you focus on small informal activities for active members. As a nice bonus, we are celebrating our anniversary this year. So I like the challenge of being responsible for this series of major events together with the committee. It is great to see that such a large group of members and former members attend our activities and that we can share this experience together. In my opinion, a board year is a unique experience where on the one hand you carry a lot of responsibility, but at the same time you have a lot of room for your own interpretation. It allows you to build a large network both formally and informally. One of the biggest advantages of a board year, in my opinion, is the alternation between formal and informal events. After a formal event, it’s always nice to have drinks with the other board members and board members. However, drinks on evenings before formal events are not so recommended, but these are part of it too! Charlotte: As secretary, I am involved in various tasks. One of these is the weekly Secretary Meeting on Wednesday afternoons, where you get together with all the secretaries of the other departments to keep all administrative matters in order. In addition, around this time of the year, we as secretaries are busy preparing the new annual schedule, which is also an important part of my duties. In doing so, you ensure that next year’s events have a set date and
