Growing companies need a strong finance department. Valtech, a group of independent companies that offer top technological solutions, enlisted the help of Finsiders. In this conversation, Mieke Ollevier, CFO of Valtech, shares her experiences about this fruitful collaboration, which not only made their financial processes more efficient, but also brought new insights and expertise.
Too large a range of tasks
The search for help began when the financial tasks for the internal team of Valtech became too big. Mieke , who has been taking care of the financial administration for a long time, remembers the moment well: "I did the bookkeeping almost alone for a long time, with some help here and there help from colleagues from our sister companies. But at some point it became all just too much ." The growing workload made it clear that extra hands were needed.
How Finsiders came into the picture
Finding the right partner was partly purposeful search, partly coincidence. “I then started searching online for a company that could propose finance consultants,” says Mieke. "Coincidentally, I just received an email with a proposal from a number of candidates from Finsiders. That seemed like something to me, so I accepted it."
What set Finsiders apart for Valtech was their way of approach and their understanding of the specific needs . Mieke looks back fondly on the first meeting: "Last year we first had contact by telephone, and then they came to visit us here in Menen. There was an immediate a personal click and I think that is very important."
The Finsiders on board
Meanwhile, three consultants from Finsiders work at Valtech: Louis, Mathias and Sébastien . Their integration into the team went smoothly. "I have three Finsiders on board who have adapted very well to the colleagues here, not all of whom have finance profiles. But everything is going well, they are also social guests ."
Valtech is definitely for newcomers not the simplest organization . "There are several companies in the group, spread across several countries," Mieke explains. This creates additional complexity, because it requires not only financial expertise, but also the ability to quickly understand the structure of the organization. “But all three of them are succeeding in that, I really have to say.”
“It also helps that there are three of them, I think,” she continues. “They know each other through Finsiders activities, have a bond with each other and can always rely on each other if they have questions.”
Technical skills and flexibility
The Finsiders proved perfectly capable of tackling the technical challenges at Valtech. Despite the complex structure and ERP system , they went for it. Mieke is particularly impressed with how quickly they learn and adapt: "All three of them picked it up very quickly. We have many manuals ready with screenshots of how to create a customer, for example. That helped.”
Valtech's corporate structure remains challenging, with all those companies. Mieke says: "That will remain the same very complicated . I have seen it start very small and then grow so big.” But the Finsiders quickly picked up on this. Mieke sees this as proof of their professionalism and the support they receive.
Support and good communication
What Mieke really appreciates is the... constant support and open communication from Finsiders . “What I find positive about Finsiders is that their consultants can always fall back on their own team,” she says. This internal support means that Finsiders always have access to expertise, which is of course a great advantage for Valtech.
In addition, there are regular evaluation moments to check how everything is going. "We occasionally receive a visit from business manager Melissa to hear how things are going and whether there are any areas for improvement." According to Mieke, this involvement contributes to the strong collaboration.
Personal growth and development
The collaboration with Finsiders not only provides technical support, but also growth opportunities for the consultants themselves . Mieke sees a lot of value in this: "It's good that they have a sounding board at Finsiders, because they are ultimately external to our company."
Finsiders also pays attention to the career paths of their consultants, and Mieke thinks that is important: "For example, you start on financial administration projects, and eventually you move on to towards controller roles . They also gauge how things are going on their project."
Customization and the right match
One of the keys to the success of the collaboration is the careful matching of consultants and Valtech's needs . Mieke emphasizes: “Finsiders really listens to the customer: what do we need? They don't just send a consultant." This focus on customization ensures that the consultants are not only technically suitable, but also fit well with Valtech's corporate culture.
Moreover, there is also listened carefully to the consultants themselves : "We also listen to what they want. The type of company they want to work in. This ensures that the match is simply a good one." This two-sided approach ensures a sustainable and productive collaboration.
