Realize your ambitions under optimal conditions – Working at Bol

“When we met at the career event I thought: yes, yes, that will do. But it really is the following,” says Jasmijn Giesen (22). “Here they do everything to create the right preconditions for you.” Marijne Jurjus (23) couldn’t agree more. “Definitely! As a starter, I experience all the space I need to discover and learn. A lot is asked of you and a lot is possible.” Even part-time work or parenthood does not stand in the way of a career. Alice van Helden (32): “Good work-life flexibility allows you to shape your career path at Bol Advisors according to your own ambitions.”

We sat down with three female employees in Bol Advisers’ audit department to hear what it’s like to work at Bol. Jasmijn has just been employed for six months as a junior assistant auditor. She studied business administration at the RU in Nijmegen, with a master’s degree in Economics (specialization Accounting and Control). Marijne has been working there since September 2023, also as a junior assistant accountant, and after studying Economics, she followed the same master’s degree as Jasmijn. Alice has been in the profession for eight years and is an audit manager. She has also chosen HR duties in her department and developed the buddy program.

Different than a Big4
Alice: “I have been working at Bol for four years now, but started at a national office eight years ago. This experience was very valuable, even though the work-life balance there was not always optimal. As a starter, the gap between the theoretical knowledge gained and daily practice was large, so I was mostly navigating instead of really learning. At Bol, I experience a completely different approach. Here, direct communication is encouraged and there is room for asking questions. The work environment is open and collaborative, which has a positive impact on your professional development.”

Being able to discover what suits you
Jasmijn: “When you’ve just finished your studies, it’s hard to decide what you want. What I like here is that it’s okay that I don’t know everything yet. In fact, they facilitate my search. During the orientation at the career events, I got the feeling that many other companies expect you to already have a plan. At Bol, they work with you to find that plan.” Based on interests and talents, employees are helped to find the right path for themselves. Bol uses various means for this, including a traineeship. Marijne: “As a trainee you can look around in other departments. I work in the assurance department, but as a trainee I also visit the international practice and business controlling. This way I can discover what I find interesting and what suits me best.”

“The work environment is open and collaborative, which has a positive impact on your professional development.”

Learning from and with each other
There is also a boot camp program, in which Jasmijn and Marijne participate. With ten starters, they meet monthly for training sessions. Sometimes person-oriented, sometimes profession-oriented. Marijne: “At the beginning we made the DISC personality analysis. We now know each other’s pitfalls and can help each other with them. Another meeting was about work pressure and time management. Helpful and fun.” They learn from and with each other. Even the term Bol family is mentioned. Alice: “We consciously choose to organize the programs department-wide, so afterwards the threshold is lower to approach each other professionally. Knowing each other leads to better and more efficient cooperation, across the various Bol branches.” Overall, Jasmijn is struck by how driven everyone is. “Colleagues dedicate themselves 100% to customers and the bar is high. That appeals to me enormously.”

A personal buddy
In the audit department, they also work with a buddy program. Alice: “This means that all (junior) assistants are paired with an audit leader or audit manager, who receives thorough buddy training in return. A buddy provides professional guidance and personal attention. You can choose your own buddy.” Marijne is enthusiastic about this system. “You get valuable feedback and/or professional tips. To give an example: as early as last December, my buddy warned me about the first quarter of this year. That’s also called the busy season; a busy time that can be experienced as intense as a newcomer, especially if you don’t know everything yet. But because of the tips my buddy gave me then, I didn’t experience the first months of 2024 as boring at all. In addition, my buddy is also a kind of confidant. I can discuss everything.”

Shaping your own career path
Bol encourages professional development and performance, but also has an eye for ‘people’. Alice: “Although accountancy is still predominantly a ‘man’s world’, I do see a growing group of women going for a career in Accountancy. Especially for mothers this can be challenging and sometimes requires a different work-life flexibility. At Bol, we look for the right conditions to combine this.” To move up, you don’t necessarily have to work full-time. You also have career opportunities at Bol on a part-time basis. And more and more men are working part-time as well. Jasmijn: “Choosing part-time does not mean that you are not ambitious. You still have the same goal, but just choose a different path.” What matters is that employees take their own responsibility within the agreed number of hours they work. Marijne: “That also means I can go home earlier on Wednesdays because of my sports course. At least, if work allows it. Friends in a similar position told me that this is not common.”

Creating your own space
Bol also wants to keep work interesting for non-starters. In the audit practice, they have created “free space” for that purpose. Alice: “For 80% of the time you do your ‘normal’ work. For the other 20% you can take on a different role that allows you to develop yourself in other areas. I chose HR, but that could also be data analysis, or helping to shape developments in the field of sustainability. Sustainability is a new specialty, as large companies will be required to report on this topic starting in 2025. As an advisor, you work with the client to make the company in question more sustainable.” By thinking with the client as an advisor, you develop different qualities than those of the independent, reviewing auditor. Jasmijn: “This is how Bol makes a case for a work environment that continues to challenge and stimulate.”