So tell us, who are you?
‘My name is Fieke and I live in Rotterdam together with my husband. My agenda is often packed with work, sports and fun gatherings with friends and family. I can also enjoy an evening on the sofa, watching a nice series or film. My biggest challenge lies in finding the right balance between all these things.’
'I learn something new every day, and continue to develop myself, because I collaborate with various people, help a diverse range of companies and deal with different challenges.’
Meet Fieke. An enthusiast, Senior Manager Risk & Compliance, goal-oriented team player and solver at PwC Netherlands.
How did you end up at PwC and what exactly do you do?
‘I came into contact with consultancy when doing my management traineeship at another company. I enjoyed it so much that I eventually started talking to PwC via my mentor. Before I started to work for PwC, I spent six months working in the SME segment together with my father. I have now been working for PwC for six years as risk & compliance advisor.
The risk & compliance practice is very extensive. This means I deal with issues involving every risk-related aspect. For instance, risk strategies for organisations, risk governance, risk processes and culture, etc. It is challenging to help companies to act with integrity, and organisation behaviour is an important part of this.’
What is your (academic) background?
‘I studied business administration at the Erasmus University. During my first year at PwC, I did a post doctorate in risk management at the University of Amsterdam, and I now combine these studies in my work as risk & compliance advisor’.
‘PwC offers a challenging environment, and we work with clients that are facing important social themes. It is great to use my expertise to be part of this.’
What does your working day generally look like?
‘I work on projects with clients and each working day is different. I am currently working on three different projects, with the duration ranging from one month to a whole year. I work at various locations throughout the week; this can be at the client, at PwC or at home.’
‘I have many conversations during a working day, advising organisations about various risk & compliance issues. If it is a smaller engagement, my work tends to involve performing a scan on organisations. The results of this scan are then incorporated into an advisory report. During larger engagements, I advise clients and help to implement the accompanying (change) activities. My work also includes facilitating workshops. But there are also other internal activities, such as coaching/training colleagues, compiling new client proposals, and developing new initiatives. This wide range of activities is what makes my job so enjoyable!’
What do you like about your job?
‘Learning together is an important aspect for me. I learn something new every day, and continue to develop myself, because I collaborate with various people, help a diverse range of companies and deal with different challenges.’
‘PwC offers a challenging environment, and we work with clients that are facing important social themes. It is great to use my expertise to be part of this, and to make a difference for myself, my colleagues, our clients and for society.’
Tell us something about the open culture at PwC
‘There are currently a lot of projects. This means that people's agendas are rather full. The thing I like about PwC is that, no matter how busy people are, we always find time for a chat and a cup of coffee. In addition, PwC possesses so much knowledge and expertise that we are always able to effectively help our clients. When doing so, the challenge is to find the right people. This is yet another reason to have a cup of coffee with colleagues and to become better acquainted with one another.’
What is still left on your bucket list?
‘I would really like to go to the US, traveling with a camper along Route 66.’
‘We look out for one another, and your personal well-being is important when doing so. For example, I choose to exercise twice a week in the mornings. I am given the freedom to do so, and this means a great deal to me personally.’
Which project makes you proud?
‘We addressed a Diversity and Inclusion issue together with the PwC Experience Center and a wide range of people from all disciplines (Assurance, Tax and Advisory). We contacted many different companies to jointly discover how we can offer added value in this complex issue. We started this project with an open outlook. And as the project progressed, we peeled back the various layers of the issue before working together on a solution.’
What is the work-life balance like at PwC?
‘I work on projects. This means you have periods when it is very busy, although there are also quieter periods. PwC notices when you are working hard, and your colleagues regularly check how things are going during busy periods. We look out for one another, and your personal well-being is important when doing so. For example, I choose to exercise twice a week in the mornings. I am given the freedom to do so, and this means a great deal to me personally.’
What would you like to say to your future colleagues?
'Welcome, and I look forward to learning more about you. We will make a difference by working together.’
‘The wide range of activities is what makes my job so enjoyable!’
