Where everything comes together

“Since joining Boels Rental two and a half years ago as Director of the Finance Shared Service Center (FSSC), so much has happened. We’ve grown rapidly, integrated several acquisitions, and we’re reshaping our Finance systems landscape. At the same time, we’ve made major strides within the One Finance Shared Service Center (1FSSC) program, placed more emphasis on personal development, and taken a more future-oriented approach. That combination makes my role both challenging and highly rewarding.

For me, the quality of your work experience comes down to three pillars. First, your immediate environment: your colleagues, your team, and the people you work with day to day. That needs to feel right and be professionally strong. Second, your connection with the company. Do you believe in what it does and the value it brings to society? And third, the content of your role. Do you genuinely enjoy it? Are you challenged to develop yourself further in a dynamic environment? At Boels Rental, all three pillars come together perfectly.”

A business model built on sustainability

“Before Boels, I held international roles for many years. Plenty of projects, travel, and exciting challenges. When I saw the vacancy for my current role, a broad finance leadership position with significant responsibility, I knew it was the logical next step in my career.

But it wasn’t just the role that appealed to me, it was also the company itself. Boels is a fast-growing family business with international reach, and its sustainable business model immediately stood out. Renting, rather than selling, is inherently more sustainable. Why buy a machine you’ll only use twice a year? Renting ensures equipment is used to its full potential. And on top of that, Boels is actively greening its fleet. Sustainability isn’t a side project, it’s at the very core of what we do.”

Smart growth requires sharp decisions

“Boels has been expanding at an incredible pace. In early 2020, we acquired Cramo. At that time, Boels’ revenue was around €650 million, similar to Cramo’s. Just four years later, we closed at roughly €1.9 billion. Tripling revenue in under five years shows the level of ambition and entrepreneurship that runs throughout the company.

In the FSSC, our role is to enable and support this ambition, and ideally, to add value along the way. In my time here, we’ve completed eight acquisitions, from smaller firms to major players like Riwal, with revenues of €310 million. These companies are quickly integrated into our processes and systems, with their FSSC activities absorbed into the wider organization.

Because of this scale and pace, Finance professionals at Boels can make a real impact. By designing processes and systems with growth in mind, we can absorb part of that growth without adding headcount. Automation and eliminating non-value-adding tasks free us up to focus on where we can really add value. Efficiency, however, must never come at the cost of flexibility and entrepreneurship in operations. That balance between efficiency and effectiveness is something everyone in the FSSC experiences. Despite multiple acquisitions, by the end of this year I expect our team size to be smaller than it was in 2022. That’s impact, and exactly what our One Finance journey is all about.”

One Finance: striving for simplicity

“In the FSSC, we’re building a modern finance organization that is standardized, transparent, and scalable. Our mission is simple: Together we provide simplified, value-adding Financial services. And simplified means streamlined, uniform, efficient, and automated, though not necessarily easy.

We’re implementing systems such as a uniform ERP platform, a new invoice management system, an expense platform, account reconciliation tools, and even AI in specific processes; all within a short timeframe. This is the only way we can continue to support Boels’ ambition of profitable growth.”

It all comes down to people

“In the end, it’s not just about systems, it’s about people. Our vision is clear: People at priority. Every day, the whole team works towards achieving our goals. Without the right people, ambition, vision, and strategy remain just words. That’s why we actively invest in our people, in their development, careers, and leadership skills.

We’re currently formalizing and optimizing career paths within Finance. Whether you’ve come from vocational training, applied sciences, or university, there should be a clear path forward so you know how you can grow.

That also means we’re looking for people who fit our ambition. Not perfect CV’s, but people with the right drive: flexible, eager to learn, and critical thinkers. People who see where things can be improved and aren’t afraid to say so. You don’t need to have all the answers, but you do need the courage to point out what could be better and then work together to improve it. That’s what we call driving the change. For some, that might mean redesigning an entire process from start to finish; for others, it’s about identifying issues and giving feedback. Whatever your role, as long as you want to make things better, you’ll have impact.”

Planning ahead while seizing opportunities

“From the outside, my career may look like a carefully planned journey. In reality, it hasn’t been. I believe it’s important to remain open to unexpected opportunities. If you focus too narrowly on a fixed end goal, you risk missing out on valuable experiences. Often, the opportunities that don’t seem obvious at first turn out to be the most rewarding for your personal and professional development.

Boels is a dynamic organization. There’s always something to learn, build, and improve. And if you’re eager to learn, willing to take initiative, and ready to move forward, there will always be room here for your ideas, your talent, your growth, and your impact. That’s what makes working at Boels not only challenging, but also incredibly fulfilling.”

Curious how you can shape Finance within an international organization and take the next step in your career?
Explore our current Finance opportunities here.