The Controlling Academy: How young finance professionals are building their future in controlling
19 November 2024Business Controller: it is a job many young finance professionals aspire to. Yet it is often not entirely clear to them what exactly the job entails and how to build the necessary knowledge and skills for it. Enter: the Controlling Academy. A unique training program developed by TriFinance to prepare consultants for a versatile career in controlling. We spoke with two of the participants who successfully completed the L&D program about its impact on their professional growth.
- The Controlling Academy helps young finance professionals like Femke and Sara grow into well-rounded controllers and finance business partners.
- The program combines technical knowledge, soft skills, and practical, hands-on training that participants can immediately apply to their projects.
- Participants appreciate the close-knit group and the guidance from experienced TriFinance controllers, which fosters the exchange of practical experiences and the building of a strong network.
Building strong foundations in controlling
“At the beginning of the program, I aimed to evolve from my initial bookkeeping experience into a well-rounded controller and finance business partner. I was thrilled to be selected for the program”, says Finance Consultant Femke Tambeur. Participating in the Controlling Academy is a prime opportunity to build a strong foundation in various aspects of controlling.
Controlling knowledge & soft skills
The Controlling Academy combines technical controller expertise with best practices and essential soft skills for controllers. “We received an introductory training in various ERP systems, covering their specific advantages and disadvantages. Additionally, we had training sessions in Excel and Power BI. In the second year, the program delves into more substantive aspects of the controlling profession, such as cost controlling, budgeting, and management controlling & reporting”, explains Project Consultant Sara Deleu.
The training sessions were highly varied but also complementary, giving us a comprehensive view of what a controller’s role entails and equipping us with the necessary skills and knowledge to tackle those challenges.
Femke Tambeur, Finance Consultant
Sara also emphasizes that the knowledge gained was immediately applicable to her projects: “I particularly benefited from the Power BI and reporting training. My understanding of SAP S4HANA and budgeting was also valuable in my role as a Business Process Analyst at an international player in the agricultural sector, where I collaborated on redesigning processes related to ‘Record to Report’ (R2R) and cost accounting.”
The participants found the soft skill training to be a true added value as well. Femke shares enthusiastically: “We ended each year with a training on presentation skills and storytelling. It was incredibly useful to learn how to engage an audience and convey your message effectively.”
- Femke Tambeur joined TriFinance as a recent graduate in the Young Hub Program. In the first years of her career, she worked as a consultant in various bookkeeping functions. Thanks to the Controlling Academy, she could take on projects as a controller.
“The training sessions are very practice-oriented. I could immediately apply the concrete tips and best practices from the ‘Excel for Controllers’ training to my project at the client. Making such quick progress gives me a lot of energy.” - Sara Deleu chose TriFinance after a first working experience at another consulting firm.
“My first projects at TriFinance were in Accounts Payable, general bookkeeping, and as a junior project manager. I signed up for the Controlling Academy because, since my start at TriFinance, I wanted to advance into controlling, but I didn’t yet have expertise in this area. After completing the program, I have built a broad foundation in controlling, and my perspective within finance has expanded.”
Growing and learning together
The Controlling Academy is not only about knowledge and skills, but also builds strong bonds among the participants. Femke found it valuable to go through the program with a group of like-minded colleagues: “Going through the same program together creates a special dynamic. Thanks to the Controlling Academy, I strengthened my network within TriFinance, not only with the participants but also with the trainers. All controller-focused training sessions are designed and taught by our in-house TriFinance experts. Their years of practical experience provide invaluable insights for beginning controllers.”
Sara also found the dedicated group to be a great advantage: “We all shared the same interest in controlling. This made the training feel more advanced, and we could engage in deep discussions and learn from each other’s perspectives.”
“Directly applicable knowledge that impacts your daily work–that’s the strength of the Controlling Academy for me.”
Sara Deleu, Project Consultant