For the Dutch version, click here As External Affairs, Nina is responsible for the contact with current and future partners of Asset | Accounting & Finance. In addition, she coordinates the Accountancy Cycle, Accounting Expedition and Orientation committee. In this article, Nina explains her function and her experience as an External Affairs of Asset | Accounting & Finance. Why did you choose for a board year at Asset | Accounting & Finance? As a committee member of Asset | Marketing, I organized a fantastic trip to Malaysia during my second year of my bachelor. However, I did not think about a board year back then; I wanted to go on exchange and finish my bachelor’s in Business Economics. Only during my exchange in Sydney, I began to think more seriously about it. I’m not sure whether the reason was my carefree student life which suited me well or my personal development growth, but a board sounded more and more attractive. This feeling became stronger during my time as a member of the Financial Business Dinner committee of Asset | Accounting & Finance (A&F), which felt very comfortable. Another reason which contributed to my choice was the difficulty of choosing the right master. However, as someone who is known for doubting a lot, it is not a surprise that I was in doubt about this decision as well. After several conversations, my doubts turned out to be unnecessary which led me to the well-considered decision to apply. The only decision left for me was which function within the board I wanted to fill. Firstly, I was thinking about becoming Treasurer of the board, as I had an affinity with numbers and making budgets. However, a board year is meant to step out of your comfort zone. Therefore, I decided to apply for the position of External Affairs (External). What does your year look like and how do you like it? The year began with a full agenda. During the day, I visited our partners to discuss our cooperation. During the evenings, I was busy with Announcements or dates with other boards and in between, conveyance and policy sessions were planned. I got to know the organizations and recruiters, which improved our collaboration during the year as well as my perspective on different sectors. The Financial Business Dinner took place at the end of September, and soon the events which I coordinated as part of my board position took place. This resulted in greater a responsibility, but also a feeling of being proud of the committees as well. The peak of ‘my’ events happened in February/March. As summer External, I was responsible for the organization of the Finance Day, Master Experience Days and Accounting Expedition. These events all took place within the period of one month, which tested my time management and list of priorities. It is, therefore, gratifying to see that students appreciate our events and use them to build their network. In the end, that is what our association stands for; connecting students with their potential employer. Because there is always something to do, time flies by. Beforehand, I was wondering how I could be busy for seven hours a day; right now, I ask myself how it could be that the day flew by so quickly. Even weeks flew by quickly, and I feel like we have just begun the board year. I think it is difficult to summarize my experiences within 1000 words or to give just one answer. ‘Good’ is not sufficient, as a board year is something you have to experience. Therefore, I am very happy with my choice. And my doubts… those have been replaced by doubts regarding the choice of a menu (it is still a learning process). What are your tasks as External Affairs? As External, you are the first contact for companies. You work together closely with the other External in order to provide companies in their needs. The conversations during the summer form the basis and these are supplemented with new partners. Via either physical appointments or appointments by phone, you determine whether there exists a match between what companies search for and what A&F offers. Sometimes, you have to say ‘no’ and there will be no match. This can change, therefore maintaining a good relation is essential. The same holds for existing partners, you want to keep those satisfied. You are building a network which could be important later on in your career. “Here, it does not really matter whether you are a quiet person in general or someone who prefers to step forward. As long as you are social and open-minded, it is alright.” It is great that my position within the board emphasizes the importance of soft skills. Keeping contact with A&F partners improves your communication skills and it allows you to learn how to present yourself and A&F well. You will learn these skills quickly enough. Here, it does not really matter whether you are a quiet person in general or someone who prefers to step forward. As long as you are social and open-minded, it is alright. Also, you do not have to be a professional in small talks. Moreover, you should not be afraid to bring or receive less positive news. These could be tough conversations, and it is your task to resolve these in the right way. Solutions will differ, yet each situation requires flexibility and rationality. Although you will be the point of contact, fortunately, you are not alone. My skills regarding crisis management have clearly improved and I am proud when looking back at how I solved certain situations. What does your average day look like? An ‘average’ day does not exist, yet there are recurring occasions such as committee or board meetings, keeping social media channels up to date or adding vacancies on Career Platform Tilburg. In addition, I spend quite some time keeping my mailbox up-to-date and making phone calls (or receiving voice mails). However, this is just a
A board year as Chairman of Asset | Accounting & Finance – Allard van Hees
For the Dutch version, click here As Chairman, Allard is responsible for the policy of Asset | Accounting & Finance and external communication to parties such as Asset and the University. He also coordinates A&F Investments and the CityTrip committee. In this article, Allard explains what his position entails and how he experiences a year as Chairman of Asset | Accounting & Finance. Why did you choose to do a board year at Asset | Accounting & Finance? When I joined Asset | Accounting & Finance in my first year I never thought I was going to do a board year. At the time, I was much more concerned with getting my BSA than thinking further about my future. As I progressed in my bachelor Business Economics and I became more active at Asset | Accounting & Finance, for me it seemed more and more fun to do a board year and to view the association from a different perspective. In addition, you also learn a lot from a board year. You learn what it is like to run a kind of company and thus gain a kind of management experience that you can hardly gain with, for example, an internship. I chose to do a board year at Asset | Accounting & Finance (A&F), because after this year I will study Accountancy and can, therefore, come into contact with various companies in this sector. At first, I had the ambitions to become a treasurer, but as the application procedure progressed, I nevertheless chose to become Chairman. “You learn what it is like to run a kind of company and thus gain a kind of management experience that you can hardly gain with, for example, an internship.” What does your year look like and how is the experience so far? The applications started in April, which resulted in me becoming the Chairman for the academic year 2019-2020. At first, I was quite reluctant to become Chairman, because Chairman sounds like something very serious and with a lot of responsibility, but after a number of conversations with other board members I was assured that I could do it. From July onwards I fully participated, first under the wings of my predecessor Stijn, who immediately took me everywhere from the beginning. The conveyance period is a fun, but above all educational time in which many impressions come at you and many things are done. In July, you will also write the policy for the upcoming academic year together with the other board members, which I have to present at the General Members Meeting. After the General Members Meeting, you can quickly join the flow of the year. Many events come your way, fun drinks and tough meetings. Before you know it, you already talk about the successors of Twan, Daniek and Steyn in the weekly board meeting. That makes you think about how fast a year actually flies and what you have experienced up to that point. As Chairman you also have the board of Asset where you take a seat. That makes the position of Chairman fun and challenging, because you are not only dealing with the position of A&F, but also with the position of other departments and Asset as a whole. You have to be able to look from different perspectives to make the right decision. Since I have an affinity with financial data, I chose the position of treasurer there. This fulfils the ambitions of treasurer, which I had when initially applying for a board year. What are your tasks as Chairman and what does your average day look like? As Chairman you are responsible for leading the weekly board meetings, policy meetings, General Members Meeting, and the meeting of the Advisory Board. In addition, you are also on the board of Asset and you are responsible for a portfolio within that board. The Chairman is responsible for writing and complying with the established policy. An average day is difficult to describe since every day is different, but almost every day there is a meeting on the agenda. Beyond that, you have to read and write a lot of updates, prepare for meetings, and help fellow board members where needed. I also attend the meeting of A&F Investments, our investment team, every other week. In this meeting, I learn a lot about the stock market and how you can value companies based on the available figures. Although A&F Investments did not immediately suit my personal interests, I did appreciate the team for the high degree of professionalism and enthusiasm of the members. I think the CityTrip meetings are one of the best meetings of the week. This is because I love to travel and this edition was the first edition of the CityTrip. Do you have any tips for your successor? Don’t forget to enjoy all the things you do in your board year. A board year is over before you know it, and you want to be able to look back on it with a lot of joy! If you would like to know more about my board year after reading this article, feel free to bring a visit to room E1.07 and ask your questions during a cup of coffee! In addition, you can get to know more about the specific division of roles within the board via this link.
A board year at Asset | Accounting & Finance – Stijn van de Laar, Chairman
Next to being a student I wanted to do something more than study, go out and do sports, I joined Asset | Accounting & Finance and started with an informal committee, namely Faces Online to familiarize myself with the association. In the second semester I joined a formal committee, the Finance Expedition as well because I enjoyed working within this association. It was an easy choice when I was called after that year with the question if I wanted to become a member of the board. After obtaining my bachelor’s degree I could start. The transition period is a fun and especially educational period. You arrive in a new setting, which of course takes some getting used to. My predecessor Krijn involved me in all affairs and meetings right from the beginning. Since you will have to learn the tricks of the trade it is important that you ask many questions. Especially by asking questions you will understand why certain decisions are made or how you can tackle a problem correctly. Furthermore, during the summer you and your board will write the policy for the upcoming year. During the General Members Assembly the policy is assessed but it is also a test for yourself. As a Chairman you must present the policy and therefore be prepared for critical questions that can be asked. “Personal development within the board is very important and you, as chairman, can play a major role in this.” Each Monday I lead the board meeting from A&F. In this meeting we discuss what happened in the past week and what the plans are for the upcoming week. This will be one of the few moments the entire board discusses matters together. Since many topics will be discussed during this meeting, keeping an overview and maintaining structure is important. As a chairman, you must be aware of all developments within the board and the association. In addition, personal development within the board is very important and you, as chairman, can play a major role in this. Holding personal conversations with all board members throughout the year is a good way to see how they develop and improve their skills. It is great to see how this progress results in better collaboration and therefore in a better operating association as well. Within the association members are almost always the most important stakeholders and these members drop by the rooms every day. Therefore, I think it is important to have a chat with them to know how they are doing. This contributes to a relaxed and informal atmosphere within the association. Moreover, you are also aware of what is going on within the association. The social aspect of your board year is certainly a big plus. In a very short time you will get to know many people and soon your agenda will be full of activities. You get a whole network of people from the association and other boards but of course you will also have to maintain the relationship with your circle of friends and family. Managing your time will be difficult sometimes. However, with good a planning you have enough time for yourself and I also try to exercise as much as possible. “By challenging myself with taking this step I was able to learn a lot and develop myself in various areas.” Finally, there are many external parties that A&F has to deal with as an association. The most important one is Asset and its six other departments. As a Chairman of A&F you are a board member of the General Board of Asset as well. This is a separate board, but is built bottom-up. This means that the departments determine the policy and this is coordinated by Asset. It is my job as a Chairman to keep an eye on this and I also represent the opinion of A&F during the weekly General Board Meeting on Tuesday morning. Furthermore, every chairman of the General Board of Asset has a portfolio. Given my affinity with the financial sector, I have taken on the Finance portfolio and am therefore the Treasurer. This means that I am responsible for the bookkeeping and financial matters regarding Asset. I also lead the Treasurer Meeting within Asset. All treasurers of the Asset departments join this meeting and the financial matters within Asset will be discussed. You will also regularly meet with people who hold high positions within the departments of Accountancy and Finance at Tilburg University. Furthermore, you will represent A&F in the Financiële Associatie Nederland (FAN), which is a collaboration between the five largest financial study associations in the Netherlands. The Chairmen of the four other associations meet to discuss problems and share best practices. As a Chairman you are the face of the association and this requires a lot of confidence. In the beginning I thought this function would be too much work and seemed out of my comfort zone. However, by challenging myself with taking this step I was able to learn a lot and develop myself in various areas. In this way I have become more critical, including on myself, am not afraid to ask many questions and have a better idea of where I want to work. A board year is more than just an addition to your CV. If you want to know more about my board year, don’t hesitate to visit room E1.07 to ask your questions while enjoying a cup of coffee!
A board year at Asset | Accounting & Finance – Shaiana Cripaul, Treasurer
My bachelor was coming to an end and I had to think about what I wanted to do for the upcoming year. I didn’t want to start my master yet but how would I fill a gap year? I was thinking about traveling or doing a board year. After I was asked for a board year at Asset | Accounting & Finance I decided that I wanted to do that. In July the transitional period started. Unfortunately, I still had to do a resit that month but luckily for me the transitional period in the summer is longer than in the winter. One of the things I quickly learned was that Twinfield would be my best friend during my board year. Twinfield is the accounting program of our study association. As treasurer I’m responsible for all money matters. This means that I book and pay all the invoices and besides that I also sent all the invoices to the companies. It is also my job to run debt collections after events in order to collect the participants fee. In addition I am the treasurer of the Alumni Association Financials and the Financial Association Netherlands (FAN). The FAN is an association that consists of five financial study associations from five different cities. My tasks are the same for both, only for the FAN I have to declare taxes. Every board member coordinates a few committees. The committee that I coordinate are the Lustrum Committee, Investment Night Committee and the Promotional Committee. This year Asset | Accounting & Finance celebrates its 4th lustrum and it is my job, together with the committee, to make this lustrum a great succes. The committee already started in February and my predecessor Iris, was the coordinator of this committee back then. In the summer I became the coordinator of this committee. At first it was quite difficult to coordinate this committee because the committee was used to cooperate without me and because a lot of stuff about the lustrum was already decided. Despite that, still a lot of things had to be decided. Especially coming up with activities and decorations is what made this committee so much fun. As mentioned before, I also coordinate the Investment Night committee. This committee organizes a symposium for everyone who has affinity with investing. Every year it is a challenge to arrange speakers and partners for this event. That makes coordinating this committee enjoyable and it gives a huge boost when a partner or speaker is fixed. Lastly, I am the coordinator of the promotional committee. This committee is responsible for keeping track of the competition between the committees, organizing the dinners at the end of the semesters and also the CSR activity. Coordinating the committees is very diversified. Every committee is different and therefore needs different guidance. “In the past few months I have learned a lot, such as how to make balance sheets and profit and loss statements, but also how to cooperate, be critical and above all I have developed myself professionally.” As treasurer you also attend the treasurers meeting of Asset every week. In this meeting all the treasurers from each Asset department take place. During these meetings we collectively decide about Asset’s money. For instance, we decide on whether to make new investments, such as the creation of a completely new website last year. As is known about a board year, there are many evening activities. Before you even notice, three nights a week are fully planned. Of course this can be exhausting sometimes, but the activities are actually always fun. Therefore, the weekends are a moment of rest in which I can fully recover. Last month we had the semi-annual general members meeting. This also meant that three board members had to make room for the new board members. At that moment, it feels weird that half of the board is switching. However, the advantage of this semi-annual switch is the new fresh energy that appears from the three new board members. While writing this article, I am just realising how fast the past couple of months have flown by. Soon, the board applications will open and then my successor will quickly be announced. Until this very day, I haven’t had a feeling of regret about my board year. In the past few months I have learned a lot, such as how to create balance sheets and profit and loss statements, but also how to cooperate, be critical and above all I have developed myself professionally. If you want to know more about my board year after this article or if you are in doubt about doing a board year, visit room E107!
A board year at Asset | Accounting & Finance – Niels van Blitterswijk, Vice-Chairman
It was November and I was enjoying my Exchange period in Dublin to the fullest when the question arose if I would like to do a board year at Asset | Accounting & Finance. Of course, this was something I had to think about. This would give me a year of study delay and it would also cost me a lot of money but probably it would also give me many memorable moments. In the conveyance period one of my first tasks as Vice-Chairman of Asset | Accounting & Finance was to attract new members and divide them between the committees. My predecessor conducted the first few meetings with the new active members, and after it was time for me to do my first introduction meeting. During these introduction meetings you try to get to know the students in a short amount of time. In addition, you also explain what the committees do, and tell them what it is like to be an active member of Asset | Accounting & Finance. Dividing the new members can be a big puzzle, so sometimes I have to convince students to join a different committee than they initially had in mind. My board year could really start after the division of students in the committees was finalized. Let’s take a closer look at what a week of the Vice-Chairman of A&F looks like. It sounds cliché, but the truth is: no week is the same as the week before as a board member. The week starts with a board meeting on Monday morning. During the meeting we give updates of what we have done last week, what is happening with A&F and how to address potential problems? For example, how are we going to reach potential active members, what the progress in the organization of an activity is or which informal activities we are going to schedule for the upcoming months. In the board meeting some small and larger tasks are distributed. These small tasks I aim to do right after the meeting. For example, to make a quick phone call to IT support or post something on Facebook for our active members. I try to do this as fast as possible so I don’t forget and try to get an answer as soon as possible. “As coordinator you are responsible for keeping the committee on the right track. The coordinator is also the intermediary to the board, to make sure they’re up to date on what the committee is working on and assist them if necessary.” On Monday, I often have a meeting with the StudyTour committee. This committee organizes a two week trip to an intercontinental location: this year the committee chose to go to Taiwan. As coordinator you are responsible for keeping the committee on the right track. The coordinator is also the intermediary to the board, to make sure they’re up to date on what the committee is working on and assist them if necessary. Every Tuesday I have a meeting with all the webmasters of Asset. As a Vice-Chairman, you are responsible for maintaining the website and having it run smoothly. The whole summer we have been very busy with developing the new website of Asset and all her departments. Unfortunately, there are still some minor problems occurring, or parts are not working as we had in mind. We try to fix these problems during these meetings and come up with ideas of how we want it to work. All the Vices of Asset are in a faculty wide body called Asset Academy. In these meetings we discuss about how to promote Asset, how we can present Asset in the best way possible during the TOP-week or how we can convince passive members to become active. You are also the representative of A&F in the BE-cluster. This cluster is formed with the three other Business Economics departments: Marketing, SBIT and S&L. We try to reach the Business Economics students as best as we possibly can and convince them to become active. I have also been a coordinator of first year Business Economics committee which organized several informal activities for first year students. As a Vice-Chairman you are the right hand of the Chairman. This means that I often have meetings about the policy and strategy of A&F. Sometimes I also have to cover for the Chairman if he is not able to attend. One of the most important reasons why I choose to do a board year was that it is a lot of fun. The whole week you are working hard for A&F together with your board and all the active members but there is always room for some fun and jokes. I think this is the most important aspect as to why the close relationship is running smoothly. The drinks and activities with the active members are the things that make a board year awesome. If the active members are enjoying the events to the fullest I enjoy them the most. I do not regret doing a board year at Asset | Accounting & Finance and I would recommend it to everyone else. Of course you build a big network but also develop several skills. For instance, in my board year I really improved reading everything with a critical eye and I improved my soft skills. The experience of doing a board year is in my opinion awesome and if you are doubting the only thing I can say is to just do it! If you want to know more about my board year after this article, visit room E1.07 and ask your questions during a cup of coffee!
A board year at Asset | Accounting & Finance – Steven Stroo, Secretary
To be honest, I had some doubts when I was asked whether I was interested in a board year last November. After all, I only just got back from my exchange, and was ready to finish my master Accountancy and start working. After carefully considering all the pro’s and cons, I decided to extend my student life with one more year and go for it. A decision that I still do not regret. From time to time I get the question: “What exactly is it that you do as a secretary all day?”, and actually it is quite hard to give a clear answer to this question. Officially, I am responsible for the incoming and outgoing communication, and to minute during meetings, but this accounts for only a really small part of my function, which consists of a wide spectrum of different tasks. The main part of my time, however, is spent on internal business of the association. I am, for instance, coordinator of the Accounting Insight committee, the Faces Online committee and the Alumni Committee. This takes up a lot of time during the week. Besides that, a lot of my tasks are not clear-cut, and I have a lot of freedom to help other board members when needed. The result of this is that I am closely involved in almost all different aspects of the association. For example, I am also Vice-treasurer and I have been to a lot of visits to our partners, together with one of our externals. ”You find yourself in new situations almost every day. When in these situations, most of the time it is important to think and act fast, but also to be critical in the same time.” This variation in tasks is one of my favorite aspects that comes with my function. One moment I am coordinating an event, the next moment a mailing needs to be sent and after that I am on my way to a partner visit. Not a single day is the same. You find yourself in new situations almost every day. When in these situations, most of the time it is important to think and act fast, but also to be critical in the same time. In the beginning of my board year, this was quite a switch sometimes, but this teaches you to be flexible really quick. I have also learned a lot from coordinating three committees. Every committee requires its own way of coordinating. One time, you really need to be on top of your committee, while the other time it is better to give them a little more latitude. Every situation asks for a different kind of approach. This was also something that took a while to get used to, but you get more comfortable with this in time. When you see committees performing well, committee members developing themselves and milestones being achieved, you cannot suppress a proud feeling. Of course, not everything goes without a hitch. A board year is hard work, and often enough you face problems. For instance, especially in the beginning of my board year, I struggled a lot with our mass-mail program. When an important mailing needs to be sent before a specific deadline, this can cause quite a bit of stress. Furthermore, I felt bad for two full days after putting the wrong date on the invitation for our GMM and sending this to over 2000 people. But in the end, these things are just all part of it and you learn from your mistakes. Finally, the good atmosphere at A&F plays a big role in my board year. An organization cannot function well when everyone is cantankerous and doesn’t feel at home. That why it really pleases me when I see that a lot of members join activities and drinks, get along with each other and also hang out with each other outside A&F. In the end, you put all the effort in your board year for the members and when they are happy, I can be happy too. Concluding, I can recommend a board year to everyone. You get to know a lot of people really quick, you have experiences that you won’t forget for the rest of your life and you develop your soft skills and the ability to think critically really fast. Combine that with the professional and good atmosphere you get to work in and you have, in my eyes, an optimal mix. To everyone still doubting about a board year I would say: go for it! If you want to know more about my board year after this article, visit room E1.07 and ask your questions during a cup of coffee!