A day in the life of... a project controller

With a background in finance and accountancy, Isho started working in various companies on an interim basis. He did this for around six years before deciding to stay on at Schiphol. ‘I thought about where I most felt most at home and which sector interested me the most, and Schiphol was the obvious choice. I would fly from Schiphol as a kid; there’s a kind of holiday feeling here even when you are at work.’ The fact that aviation is such a fascinating industry is another reason why Isho chose to work for Schiphol rather than somewhere else. ‘I like the challenge that comes with working for a company with political interests. Here, we not only need to comply with international financial regulations, but also with the Aviation Act. That adds an extra challenge.’

Powers of persuasion

Isho’s work is a little different to the average project controller as he is fully focused on one particular project: the construction of the new Pier A. Here, he is the financial point of contact. ‘It’s a huge project, there’s always so much going on. When I started at Schiphol, I was put on the Pier A project full time.’ Isho’s work involves making financial reports, giving advice to project managers, helping colleagues in other departments make financial decisions and ultimately ensuring financial resilience. ‘You need to have powers of persuasion in this position.’ Being responsible for the financial health of the project sometimes means helping colleagues see that they should or should not make certain choices.

In the middle of the action

What Isho likes most about his job is the fact that numbers and figures really come to life. By visiting the project site, he sees where the money is going and he’s in the middle of all the action. ‘We work according to monthly cycles. I look at the numbers from the previous month and check that it all adds up. If more money was spent than planned, I need to be able to explain that. So I visit the project site to see the physical evidence of our expenditures and to talk to colleagues there. When all the relevant information has been gathered, my colleague and I write up a report and this is later shared with stakeholders. Then, we start looking at the month ahead.’

Social atmosphere

While Isho is certainly kept busy with all these tasks, it’s not all work and no play. ‘What struck me most about the Finance & Control department at Schiphol was the sociable atmosphere. We often get together to have a drink, and people of all ages interact with each other. It’s quite an international environment too, that makes it really interesting.’ When asked what he would say to someone considering applying for a position in the department, he smiled and said: ‘If you love a challenge, a fast-paced learning environment and conviviality, Finance & Control is a great place to be.’