Sjors Loeffen (37) started as Partner of team Finance Transformation within ConQuaestor in February. Here he will work on building a team of consultants in order to expand ConQuaestor's consulting branch and really help CFOs with their organizational issues. We are happy to introduce Sjors to you.
Sjors lives with his family in Hilversum and is the father of two young sons. In addition to activities with family, family and friends, Sjors prefers to be active. "In my free time I like to do sports. Among other things, I go cycling and have a large pile of occasional sports equipment," he says. "That includes a squash racket, running shoes and golf clubs."
What was the start of your career like?
"After studying Business Engineering, I also successfully completed the Master's degree in Strategy & Innovation at Maastricht University. Right out of school, now over twelve years ago, I took my first steps into the work field. I worked as a consultant for a Big Four company. I started here as a midmarket strategist for non-listed companies. Soon I moved to the finance team. Here I acted at the interface of strategy and finance. On my first assignment in this team, I was responsible for executing the strategy phase at a company to set up a finance department for all of Europe. Over the course of my career, I have had the opportunity to work on many finance assignments at a wide variety of companies from this Big Four firm, including a waste management company, energy company, grid operator and a luxury yacht builder."
What knowledge did you gain there?
"The experience I gained as a consultant is something I will take with me to ConQuaestor. I have progressed from junior consultant to senior and have learned a lot along the way, I know from both the client, people and firm side how things work. On the client side, with almost forty different client cases at various companies, I have gained very extensive knowledge of how the financial function works. With that experience, I can help clients efficiently and concretely in my current position at ConQuaestor. In addition, I have had central roles within teams, which means that I have also been able to develop considerably on the people side. I can communicate well, know a lot about managing teams and understand how to manage colleagues. I look forward to doing the same for my team as a partner at ConQuaestor. Finally, the firm side. I combine financial knowledge with creating value for clients. By developing propositions, I determine which clients we will go to, how we will do that and how we will make a difference there. In all three of these pillars I have been able to develop over the past few years. All that knowledge I will take with me."
After more than twelve years, you are making the move to ConQuaestor, why?
"The training and opportunities I have received at the Big Four firm are super nice and I am eager To apply that knowledge and experience here. What I missed was a piece of entrepreneurship, which I found in abundance at ConQuaestor; it is an independent consultancy firm (no audit practice) with a pragmatic approach. We think and act, which means we go further than just providing advice: we prefer to put our advice into practice together with our clients! What also makes ConQuaestor unique compared to other consulting firms and the Big Four is the integral link with interim professionals. Here, you can not only help draw up plans and translate them into tactical initiatives, but you can also then staff professionals who actually execute these plans. We can deliver improvement from start to finish. That integral offering is truly unique and appeals to me greatly. In addition, here I get the chance to manage and expand the Finance Transformation team myself, which I naturally find a great challenge."
What will your work as a partner look like?
"I started as a Finance Transformation partner at ConQuaestor in February. That role means I have integral responsibility for expanding the practice and using my substantive expertise to help our clients move forward. In the coming period, I will be looking for consultants, junior, medior and senior, who together form a cohesive team and can really make a difference with our clients. I am going to expand ConQuaestor's consulting arm so that we can support even more CFOs with their financial issues. We do this, among other things, by offering a outside-in view, establishing a dot on the horizon and a vision for the finance department, managing strategic initiatives and overseeing fusion sessions and change processes. So our team really supports the breadth of the CFO's strategic and tactical agenda."
Do you have a goal in mind within ConQuaestor?
"My primary goal is to really help clients with their challenges with a great club of people and in doing so boost our management consulting practice. I believe in the pragmatic approach of our consulting work and the clear choice we make with ConQuaestor by specifically serving the financial change agenda. I think it would be cool if we find a good balance between hard work and having fun in the team; thus realizing the best for our client!"
Wondering what ConQuaestor can do for your organization? Contact Sjors Loeffen with no obligation by calling +31(0)6-516 453 56 or mail to sjors.loeffen@conquaestor.nl.
Are you a junior, medior or senior finance consultant and does team Finance Transformation at ConQuaestor sound like the ideal next step in your career? Click here to apply. Or click here for more information about this new team.
Could you use some help realizing change and goals within the organization? Team Finance Transformation is ready to make an impact on the CFO's agenda. Click here for more information about this team or here If you are curious about customer cases.