Advancing in bookkeeping through consultancy: Yassine's story

"At eighteen, I had decided to go study physical education, but a knee injury forced me to change course at the last minute. That's how I started a bachelor's degree in accounting without even knowing the difference between assets and liabilities. So it was definitely not a well-considered choice, but it turned out to be a hit in the end,” Yassine says.

This unexpected choice has led to a career in bookkeeping in which Yassine is fully fulfilled. “After my studies, I worked for several years as a temp in jobs as an AP (Accounts Payable) and AR (Accounts Receivable) bookkeeper. It was an ideal opportunity to put my technical knowledge into practice and learn to adapt quickly to different working environments. This serves me well in my job as a booking consultant today”, explains Yassine.

After his first experiences as a temp and a few years in a permanent position as a general ledger bookkeeper, Yassine chose to move into project consulting at TriFinance two years ago. "I did make that choice very consciously," Yassine laughs. "I wanted more diversity in tasks and challenges. I was looking for an employer who puts the human aspect first. At the same time, I wanted a stable environment in which I could develop myself further. At TriFinance, I found exactly that."

During his previous project, Yassine worked as a Senior Bookkeeper at an international pharmaceutical company. He supported the Belgian bookkeeping team, mainly during monthly and annual closings, reconciliations, and audits.

But Yassine's impact on this project went far beyond day-to-day tasks. "I set up some automation processes to make the work more efficient, and I developed a database for faster and more accurate cost allocation. This resulted in faster processing and accurate reporting, which was greatly appreciated by the client."

This project also gave Yassine the opportunity to deepen his SAP knowledge and take his first steps towards controlling.

You are never by yourself as a consultant at TriFinance, even though you are not working together with your colleagues consultants on every project on a daily basis. Yassine: "For instance, I was able to rely upon my mentor Cecile's technical advice and expertise during my most recent project. Cecile herself had prior experience working on bookkeeping projects in the pharmaceutical industry. Over the past few years, the frequent conversations with the internal TriFinance BaseCamp team have also greatly aided me in concentrating on my long-term goals. Thus, from my extensive experience in bookkeeping, I want to move into a role as controller. Thanks to a number of targeted training sessions, including for example Power BI in an outlined Controlling Track, TriFinance helps me with this.”

Yassine is convinced that a bookkeeper plays a key role in a company's success: "Thanks to your expertise, your rigor in managing financial data, and the analyses and advice you provide, you play a crucial role in the company's decision-making process."

As a bookkeeping professional, it is essential to be able to handle a good deal of pressure: monthly closing, year-end closing, and audit periods are often accompanied by tight deadlines. "For me, that's part of the challenge: it forces me out of my comfort zone and ultimately gives me great fulfillment from my work. As a Bookkeeping Consultant, you face the additional challenge of diving intro a new company’s accounts every 6 months on average. Quickly understanding the specific characteristics of the sector and the company, becoming familiar with the systems and processes: all this allows you to expand your skillset at a faster pace."

What guidance would Yassine provide to someone who wants to pursue a career in bookkeeping? "Don't be hesitant if you're thinking about going into consulting. New opportunities arise through consulting, and TriFinance provides the ideal setting for your professional growth. Here, employee well-being is given first priority, and customized training and projects are available. TriFinance recently obtained a certification as Great Place to Work, and for good reason!”