3 reasons for an auditor to make a switch to finance consultancy

As a finance consultant, you are closer to the core. You will help make strategic decisions, get a deeper understanding of how companies and finance departments work, and have the opportunity to make a real impact and establish deeper client relationships. “As a finance consultant, you carry out projects in which you are involved for 6 months or longer. That really makes a difference in the impact you can make, compared to audit where you are only involved for a few weeks. In addition, consultancy offers a more hands-on experience in different finance roles, whereas the work in audit is mainly limited to reviewing,” Mauri explains.

A switch to finance consultancy with a background in audit offers opportunities at the same time. “Both in a role within audit and finance consultancy, you will come into contact with various clients and departments, building strong communication skills and a customer-focused attitude. In addition, you also bring valuable skills to the table, such as a thorough knowledge of business processes, the ability to adapt quickly to new situations and an extensive knowledge of Excel. These are skills that I can definitely put to good use today in my role as a finance consultant,” Mauri says.

Yet a switch to finance consultancy is much more than a logical next step. It is an opportunity to broaden your view of finance. “Whereas in audit you look at figures retroactively, finance consultancy is all about looking ahead, thinking along and advising. You get the chance to see up close how finance is structured within different organizations and how various roles work in practice. This not only gives you insight, but also the space to experience for yourself which direction suits you best. And meanwhile, you build on the experience you already have from a background in audit,” adds Esther (Care Manager).

To say that the workload within finance can sometimes be intense, is an understatement. However, as a finance consultant you do have a lot more balance compared to a role in audit. “You work in a more constant flow with less extreme peaks and troughs, which means I experience more flexibility and have more time for things I find important. The work-life balance I experience at TriFinance definitely exceeds the expectations I had when I just started as a finance consultant,” explains Mauri.

No more peak months and a healthy work-life balance, but still being challenged enough and learning with every project: that is finance consultancy.

A switch from audit to a career as a finance consultant opens a lot of doors. “In the past three years at TriFinance, I have already had a great track record with diverse projects in controlling and in different companies and sectors. From waste processing to aerospace, the possibilities are endless. This variety just makes it fascinating: each project has its own context, team and challenges,” Mauri adds.

After several years in audit, you often notice that your learning curve flattens a bit. The structures and processes become recognizable, and many assignments feel similar. “After two years in audit, I noticed that I hit a wall in terms of growth. In finance consultancy, it’s different because each client has a different story, with different tools and expectations. So you are constantly challenging yourself and gaining new insights, which keeps me growing both substantively and personally,” Mauri says.

“When you make a switch from audit to finance consultancy, you often start with projects that are close to your experience, such as GL bookkeeping. From there, you can quickly progress to roles in controlling, where you are more involved with analysis and providing insights into the numbers, as well as the story behind the numbers which allows you to make more of an impact. Over time, you will also have the opportunity to take on project roles in finance management, where you will have more responsibility. These are just some of the opportunities you have as a finance consultant after a career in audit. That build-up and variety in different roles ensures both a broad view of finance and being able to grow solidly,” Esther says.

At TriFinance, we truly put our employees first, and that translates into concrete initiatives that put their well-being, growth and job satisfaction first. “When a consultant starts on a new project, we call them after the first 4 weeks and actively ask how they are doing. In doing so, we probe for much more than just a check-in on the progress of a project or the scope of their tasks. We want to know how they are really doing: how they feel in their new role, whether they feel in place and what support they need. Through these small but very valuable moments of connection, we create an environment in which everyone feels heard, valued and supported,” Esther explains.

“I consciously chose TriFinance because of the Hub philosophy, where the growth of employees is strongly encouraged and their ambition is key. In audit I sometimes got the feeling that I was seen mainly as an employee, but at TriFinance the focus is really on you as individual, both professionally and personally. They value how you feel in your work, and I can really appreciate that,” Mauri says.

Looking to grow your career at a company that puts its people first? Find out more on our career website: grow your ambition with TriFinance.

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