How does a consultant integrate into a client’s work environment? Does the consultant find meaningful work and a clear role within the company’s day-to-day operations? How does a consultant integrate into a client’s work environment? Does the consultant find meaningful work and a clear role within the company’s day-to-day operations?
NIS consultant Rebecca Kero worked for six months as an Interim Business Controller at Bonava, filling in for a paternity leave. Rebecca quickly found her way within the construction industry thanks to the warm reception at Bonava.
Bonava Group is one of Europe's leading residential developers. In the Nordics Bonava operates in strong growth centers such as Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmoe in Sweden and Helsinki, Tampere, and Turku in Finland. The company emphasizes quality and ecological sustainability, with responsibility and sustainability forming the foundation of its business. Responsibility and sustainability were aspects that intrigued Rebecca about the company. But what was the actual day-to-day work like at Bonava?
"In a role as a consultant, it can often be challenging because information often needs to be gathered from various sources, and one must tolerate uncertainty. At Bonava, information was always available in a clear format, aiding me in my development toward construction industry finance excellence" Rebecca explains
The Business Controller's responsibilities primarily included monthly reporting, cash flow forecasts and cost evaluations. Rebecca received thorough orientation, clear guidelines, and precisely defined tasks, bringing both flexibility and structure to her workdays. In addition, Bonava’s clarity about the desired outcome made it easier to take control of the role. "In a role as a consultant, it can often be challenging because information often needs to be gathered from various sources, and one must tolerate uncertainty. At Bonava, information was always available in a clear format, aiding me in my development toward construction industry finance excellence. Furthermore, asking questions was easy and natural, which helped me quickly integrate into the role, the industry, and the working methods" Rebecca continues.
"In the construction industry revenue recognition practices and tax-related issues can be challenging, which forced me to think in new ways" Rebecca explains. "I joined Bonava at an interesting phase in the annual cycle, where I participated in budgeting and year-end financials. In the current world situation, looking far into the future in the construction industry is difficult. But I quickly learned how the company addresses these challenges."
Although Bonava is a large corporation, Rebecca felt a warm reception: "It felt like I was valued as an expert and became part of a family where everyone is involved in a collective effort. Getting acclimated to the company culture was made easy at Bonava. It was effortless to join for lunch or after-work events because the work environment felt safe and immediate. A strong organizational culture supported development and new ideas across the board. A large corporation can potentially feel threatening and bureaucratic, but in Bonava's case it felt like everyone was united in a common cause and we had each other’s backs."
The timing was also exceptionally interesting because the construction industry faced challenges due to inflation, rising interest rates and slowed consumer demand. Sometimes a company can benefit from an external perspective. An Interim Controller acting as a temporary resource is often an invaluable asset to a company: offering assistance, expertise and new ideas on short notice and precisely when needed the most.
Bonava was so pleased with Rebecca's contributions that she continued with the company into the fall of 2023. "It was delightful to return to the construction industry because there you witness how budgets transformed into responsibly constructed sustainable homes."
Thank you for the collaboration!
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