"As a business controller at Radboud University, my role is very diverse. On the one hand, I handle financial support for various programmes. I assist with budgeting, quarterly financial reports, and the annual accounts. I do this for both specific programmes and the entire faculty. On the other hand, I collaborate with the Director of Operations, department heads, and faculty directors within the Faculty of Social Sciences to translate the university's mission, strategy, and faculty priorities into an annual plan. Together, we formulate actions linked to the faculty’s priorities, and throughout the year, I monitor the progress of these actions and report on them.
I feel very much at home at Radboud University, a large organisation with significant impact where I can play my part. This sense of belonging is reflected in my daily work, where supporting financial processes directly contributes to informed decision-making within the faculty. By monitoring the progress of actions, I stay well-informed about what’s happening within the faculty and what researchers and lecturers are involved in.
Within the university, there are various faculties and divisions, each with its own financial department and procedures. Despite this diversity, we as finance colleagues manage to connect effectively on issues that transcend the faculty. Various working groups within the university strive for uniformity and collaboration, and the informal atmosphere in the department ensures that we easily find each other. After the pandemic, we continued to work from home to some extent, which makes it even more enjoyable to meet up in the office. The office days are not only productive but also very pleasant!
What makes working in finance at Radboud University different from the corporate sector is that you are part of a larger whole. Although I deal with both small and large aspects of the university daily, it remains magical to realise that all this contributes to improving education and research within the university. Additionally, there is plenty of room for personal growth within an organisation like Radboud University. I have previously worked as a project controller, and exploring the correlation between funding streams remains very interesting and educational.
I see my role as essential in providing accurate information for informed decision-making. As a finance professional, I genuinely contribute to enhancing research and education."