When Pieter Geers joined TriFinance two years ago, he brought one thing above all: a strong desire to learn and to keep moving forward. That drive has guided every step of his career change and continues to shape the way he approaches each new challenge. Today, he is taking on a senior plant controlling role within a large international dairy producer, a significant step that reflects both his own ambition and the development culture he found at TriFinance.
A career restart fueled by the will to grow
After completing his degree in Business Economics, Pieter started out as an auditor at a Big Four firm in Hasselt. He then moved into a business controller role at a construction company close to home. That was the moment he realized he needed to accelerate his learning curve across different industries and clients .
Through previous collaborations, Pieter got to know our consultants and our way of working. The openness, the focus on development, the hands‑on mentality: it clicked. Not long after, he joined TriFinance as a Medior Consultant.
First project: a different angle on Finance
Pieter’s first assignment brought him to a major food retailer in Rotselaar, where he worked as a Pricing Specialist for nine months. It wasn’t a classic finance role, but it turned out to be exactly what he needed. He learned to work with Power Query and Power BI, supported by three days of training upfront and ongoing guidance from his mentor. It broadened his skillset and showed him how diverse and dynamic consultancy can be.
A dual role that accelerated his learning curve
His next project took him to a large international dairy company with a production site in Limburg. Pieter joined as a Junior Plant Controller in a team of three, stepping in while a colleague was on maternity leave. Because that colleague combined two roles, Pieter did too: plant controlling and continuous improvement.
It was a steep learning curve, but also a very rewarding one.
In plant controlling, he contributed to:
- monthly reporting and analysis
- supporting plant management with insights
- investment procedures and budget follow‑up
In continuous improvement, he discovered a new passion:
- guiding improvement teams using lean principles
- bringing structure to meetings and initiatives
- creating newsletters to highlight improvement projects
- helping implement changes on the shop floor
He found himself in a strong, supportive department where colleagues were eager to teach and share knowledge. Combined with the guidance of a TriFinance mentor experienced in plant controlling, it became a defining project in his development.
From Finance to Supply Planning: and back again
When the assignment ended, Pieter received a call from the plant controller. A supply planning manager had heard about his structured way of working and was looking for someone who could assist the current Supply Planner and bring improvements to the supply planning process. Pieter was open to stepping outside finance again, and he took on the role of supply planner.
Planning production for a factory gave him a deeper understanding of operations, capacity, bottlenecks, and the rhythm of the plant. It strengthened his perspective as a finance professional and broadened his operational insight.
Today: stepping into a Senior Plant Controlling role
Recently, another opportunity arose within the same international group, this time in the Netherlands. They were looking for a Senior Plant Controller, someone who could take ownership, partner with management, and help steer the plant both financially and operationally.
Pieter was ready.
In this new role, he:
- takes full financial responsibility for the plant
- validates business cases for investments and strategic projects
- acts as co‑pilot to the plant manager
- supports and challenge the management team
- drives continuous improvement initiatives
- bridges finance and operations through strong business partnering
It’s a significant step up, and one that reflects the maturity, analytical strength and communication skills he has built over the past two years.
A story that reflects what TriFinance stands for
Pieter’s journey is a clear example of what our culture enables:
- Room to explore different roles and domains
- Support from mentors and colleagues who genuinely care
- Projects that challenge and stretch you
- A learning environment where curiosity is rewarded
His path hasn’t been linear, and that’s exactly what makes it so powerful. At TriFinance, we believe growth happens when people are encouraged to try, to learn, and to step into opportunities that push them forward. Pieter’s story shows what can happen when that mindset meets the right environment.
