After starting his career as an auditor, Jef de Bundel made the move to finance consulting at TriFinance in late 2021. A Project Consultant at Transition & Support Ghent/Roeselare, he is currently working as a Project Controller for a major player in the maritime construction and offshore sector. Jef has a broad field of interest ranging from financial management and controlling to more IT-related topics. What’s the common thread? His ambition.
Who is Jef?
Jef is an avid skier and a runner who recently took on the challenge of running his first half marathon. He also likes going out with friends and enjoys the festival vibe. As far as his professional life is concerned, he is very interested in the stock market and investing.
As a Project Consultant, you’re in a unique position: you get to observe things and think along with the client for several months. This allows you to learn a lot in a short time.
What is your background?
Driven by my interest in finance as well as the more process-oriented aspects of the field, I obtained a Master’s degree in Commercial Science with a specialization in IT as well as a Master’s degree in Applied Economics - Corporate Finance.
In my first job as an auditor, I very quickly came in contact with the various aspects of bookkeeping, and within a few months, I was given the task of preparing a complete SME file. However, I missed working in a more solution-oriented manner for the client. I wanted to delve further into the business processes and related financial processing.
After hearing some enthusiastic stories from acquaintances working at TriFinance, I was drawn towards financial consulting. After a year and a half of working in this area, I can definitely say that as a Project Consultant, you’re in a unique position. You get to observe things and think along with the client for several months. You work in the finance department every day and get a thorough knowledge of their system and financial and other processes. You can learn a lot within a short time.
What was your ambition before you started at TriFinance?
After my studies, I considered jobs in supply chain and IT but ultimately chose auditing to keep my options as wide open as possible. I don’t like to pin myself down to one specific aspect. Based on my experience as an auditor, I developed the ambition to really think and work in tandem with the client.
My broad interests open up a spectrum of opportunities for me and that too is part of the ‘Grow your ambition’ motto.
What is your current ambition?
My current ambition is to work on a cost control project so that I can delve further into cost accounting and production processes. I’m also following a program at the Finance & Administration Academy at TriFinance, with monthly training sessions on various finance topics. These inspire me to continue deepening my skills and looking at past experiences from a different perspective. This is how I achieve my ambition further and build my network within TriFinance.
How do you grow your ambition?
I think it’s important to take control of my professional future in order to achieve my ambitions. My broad interests open up a spectrum of opportunities for me and that too is part of the ‘Grow your ambition’ motto. Being realistic, giving myself enough time and regularly reflecting on my achievements and goals - all of this requires a certain investment of time and energy, but I see the added value of this and find it enriching.
I don’t have any strictly defined 5 or 10-year plan, but my ultimate ambition is to be able to do what I want, when I want.
What does ‘Grow your ambition’ mean to you?
For me, on the one hand, this means being curious, keen to learn and interested. On the other hand, it also means getting chances and opportunities to achieve a particular ambition. I get these opportunities at TriFinance, thanks to the many interesting projects and related growth opportunities.
What is your ultimate ambition?
Maybe someday I’ll take the step towards becoming an independent consultant or working as an Interim Manager. But who knows, maybe in a few years’ time I’ll think differently if I have a family. I find it equally important to maintain a healthy work-life balance and have a life apart from work. Even in my personal life, I’m always curious to keep discovering new things.
Write your own story and don’t compare yourself to others.
What does your growth path look like?
I don’t have a strictly defined 5 or 10-year plan, but my ultimate ambition is to be able to do what I love doing with a large degree of freedom and autonomy. I find it important to actively help shape my growth path. At TriFinance, I actually get that opportunity because, together with the internal team (BaseCamp), I can decide what my next step/project will be.
If you could give your younger self some advice in one sentence, what would it be?
Write your own story and don’t compare yourself to others.
What is your advice to new or existing colleagues who want to grow their ambition?
- Do you have a specific career path in mind? Then immerse yourself in that area during your studies. Find out more about the different players and possibilities. No career path in mind yet? In that case, keep your options as wide open as possible.
- Curiosity is key: be open to new things, because in that way interesting opportunities will come your way.
- Go the extra mile: create added value by making proactive suggestions on areas for improvement. For this, you’ll be rewarded with appreciation and extra motivation. At TriFinance, we call this ‘the one thing more’.
- Build your network: at TriFinance, there are many opportunities to build and maintain your network among colleagues.
