“My name is Thijs Kerstens, 25 years old, and I work in Assurance at EY. My role is fifty-fifty: I do both financial audits and sustainability assurance. That combination makes my work challenging and varied.” During his studies, he did an internship at EY. He liked it so much that he started full-time after his studies. When we asked Thijs why he is fulfilling this dual role within Assurance, he was very clear. “Sustainability is something I'm personally very interested in. During my studies, I saw how important it became and wanted to see that reflected in my work. Now I can combine that passion with my profession.”

What people often don't know

Many people think that audit is just accounting. But it's about understanding companies, analyzing processes and building relationships. It's much more than numbers.” “No day is the same. Sometimes I work in the office, sometimes with the customer, sometimes at home. What I like most is the variety: getting to know different companies, understanding processes and collaborating with various teams.” Thijs says that the variety in his work is really the most fun. A variety of customers, getting to know new people and seeing how organizations work. “It's super dynamic.

“I am now following my postmaster in accountancy at Tilburg University. In addition, I take opportunities to develop soft skills, such as giving feedback and collaborating. EY offers many training courses and learning events, both formal and informal.” Thijs states that EY trusts him by also offering this space for growth. “You can choose what you want to learn. EY facilitates.”

Thijs says enthusiastically that you can design your work package at EY yourself. For example, he combines audit with sustainability, supervises interns and is also the point of contact for recruitment. “That freedom makes work extra fun. And no day is the same.”

“People and culture. The atmosphere is informal and personal. You quickly build relationships with colleagues, which makes work more fun and better.”

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