Starting a career in consulting is about more than just finding a job - it's about finding the right fit. Young consultant Jisse found his perfect fit within our team after an extensive search. He tells how he learned to understand the world of financial consulting, overcame personal obstacles, made an impact at ING and went through a lightning-fast learning process in his first year as a consultant.
A thorough decision
Jisse’s journey began with a clear focus. With a background in business administration and a master’s in Accounting and Financial Management, he knew he wanted a career in financial services. “I actually reached out to Solid Professionals on my own,” he says. “I wanted a company in Utrecht that specialized in financial services and was known as a Great Place to Work. Solid Professionals was the only one that checked all the boxes.”
From the get-go, Jisse knew this place was different. “The vibe here was nothing like the other places I interviewed, and believe me I really tried a lot,” he remembers. “With Solid Professionals I didn’t have to go through endless rounds of interviews and multiple assessments. Besides my hard skills and other work abilities, they were more focused on if I, as a person, would fit in with the culture. It felt more real, more genuine.”
Tackling international cost management at ING
Currently, Jisse is working with ING as a service manager at the business partner services department. He manages the allocation of costs from the headquarters in Amsterdam to various global locations. “My role is to ensure that these costs are distributed fairly and transparently across all branches, both in the Netherlands and abroad,” he explains.
This involves working closely with stakeholders to justify cost allocations and ensure compliance with tax regulations. “It’s not always straightforward—each location has its own budget constraints, so clear communication and stakeholder management are key to keeping everyone aligned,” Jisse adds.
Making an impact as a junior consultant
A typical day for Jisse? That's a mix of in-depth Excel work and stakeholder management. "Sometimes I'm in a meeting to substantiate calculations to a manager, and then I dive full-focus into the numbers of a new project.
It's a nice balance, where I can put the skills I gained during my studies to good use. I never expected that as a junior consultant you can already make so much impact!"
Curious about more experience stories? Read the stories of consultants Marianne and Robbert.
Steep learning curve
In addition to his work at ING, Jisse also threw himself into projects at our parent company, The Hup. "I worked on several impactful projects," he says. "Improving processes, proposing company-wide optimizations - it was a steep learning curve, but this process was incredibly valuable for me to experience as a junior."
One of the internal projects was particularly challenging. "We had to reduce the time of streamlining month-end closing process for different companies. By the end of the project, we had significantly reduced the turnaround time. Seeing the real impact of our work was super rewarding."
Overcoming obstacles
Of course, not everything went smoothly. "Managing multiple projects at the same time was really a test," Jisse admits. "Sometimes it felt like everything was happening at once, but through that I learned a lot about time management and setting priorities. Solid Professionals' consulting team and managers were always there for me when I needed support."
Jisse also faced soft skills challenges. "At one point, a department kept delivering the required data late, which caused me to miss my deadlines. I found it difficult to figure out how to handle this." His perfomance manager was able to offer him valuable tips and support for this.
Building skills and gaining knowledge
Within our consulting program, continuous learning is central-and that is exactly what Jisse appreciates so much. "They keep challenging you," he explains. "I passed my Agile certification, which prepared me for my first assignment. Then I went for a Green Belt in process improvement, because those projects really got me excited."
He found the mix of hard and soft skills training from the consutlancy program particularly useful. "It's not just about the technical side. We also had workshops on stakeholder management and communication. You really need those skills to maintain smooth relationships with clients and internal teams, especially as a starting consultant."
The importance of team and culture
The culture at Solid Professionals? A game-changer for Jisse. "The team here is great," he says. "Most of us are in the same stage of life, just a few years out of college, so there's a lot of recognition. Whether it's get-togethers, team outings or just chilling out together, there's always something to do."
Besides, it's not just about the social aspect. "There is a lot of support and open communication," he adds. "We have regular team meetings, check-ins and feedback sessions. It's a very collaborative environment, which makes a big difference in your day-to-day work."
What does the future hold?
The next steps in Jisse's career are not quite clear yet. "I want to explore more areas within consultancy, such as project management, and see where I can grow further," he says. "Solid Professionals encourages me in this and supports me in making the right choices for my career. That gives me a lot of confidence for the future."
Jisse is also considering studying again, to specialize even more. "When I have gained some more experience, I probably want to study further to deepen my expertise, but what exactly that will be, I don't know yet."
For future consultants, Jisse has an important piece of advice: "Be proactive, stay curious and don't shy away from challenges. That's where you learn the most. And grab every learning opportunity with both hands, that's how you develop professionally and as a person!"
