“I'm Berend Pijnenburg, Senior Consultant at EY International Tax Services. I provide tax advice to large companies in an international context. Every case is different, which makes the work challenging and fun.” How did he end up at EY? “At a wedding, I spoke to a friend who worked at EY. He talked about the family atmosphere within the team. That appealed to me, because you often work long and intensively together on projects and customers. After my application, I asked if I could meet the team and that was possible. Four years later, I still think: this was the right thing to do.”

A typical workday

He laughs as soon as he gets this question. “It starts with coffee (always). Then I check my mailbox and finish my to-do's. You have your own customer portfolio and internal projects. It may sound boring, but I love it: each issue is a different puzzle. You combine tax knowledge with business insight and sometimes dive deep into parliamentary history or case law. That makes it intellectually challenging. And never boring.”

My ambition? Stay homegrown and continue to grow. EY invests in you when you invest in EY. If you are eager to learn and go the extra mile, you get opportunities: from specializations to international experience. Ultimately, I want to grow further within Tax and deepen my expertise.

Freedom & trust

Berend certainly experiences ownership in his work. “EY gives you a lot of freedom to organize your work week yourself. Of course, there are deadlines, but you can plan your day however it suits. In addition, you get space for ancillary activities: I teach at Leiden University, for example. I never expected that, but it is fine if you communicate and plan well.

“Many people think that tax specialists are only concerned with numbers,” he says. Berend states that is not true. Rather, it's about understanding business, interpreting legislation and advising strategically. You take a look into the kitchen of large companies and combine legal, economic and financial knowledge. This makes his work varied and dynamic. He also talks about an annual event. “The International Tax Strategy Event. All teams from the Netherlands come together for workshops and strategy sessions. But honestly? The best part is the drink. That's where you really get to know your colleagues.

Technology & AI

“Tools like EY's internal AI and Copilot make work more efficient: finding sources faster, better structured emails, and more time for strategic advice. Less administration, more content.”

If you ask Berend about his highlight at EY, he thinks that's definitely his San Francisco secondment at the Dutch Desk. “The Dutch Desk is actually an extension of our Dutch office. You work in a smaller team, get more responsibility and learn to work independently. Outside of work, you get to know a new culture and step out of your comfort zone. For me, that wasn't just work experience, but also life experience.”