The journey of the Greyt Controller | Roy van Hagen

Back to overview 5 minutes reading time 17-10-2024
A Conversation with Roy van Hagen About His Work as a Greyt Controller

He talks about his reasons for joining Greyt, his assignments, the challenges he faces, and, of course, his first role as a CFO!

“In addition to my work as a Greyt Controller, I work one day a week as a CFO for a start-up. In this role, I am fully responsible for Finance from A to Z, which I haven’t experienced before. This also means I handle HR matters since we aren’t big enough yet to have a dedicated HR department. So, there are plenty of opportunities to learn new things.”

The Right Time to Make the Switch

Roy joined Greyt on September 1, 2023. He is a certified public accountant (CPA) and worked in accountancy for seven years. Wanting to experience the business side, Roy made the switch to Greyt. After his role as a business controller, he became Manager of Financial Control.

Roy: “As an accountant, I was used to working with multiple clients, which offered a lot of dynamics and variety. As a business controller and Manager of Financial Control, I was able to broaden my skills as a finance professional. But over time, I missed the depth of the work, and I especially craved more variety in clients and industries. That’s when I started looking for a new work environment.

At Greyt, everything came together: the diversity in clients, roles, and industries, along with the knowledge sharing among CFOs and Controllers. Greyt came at the perfect time in my career.”

A Warm Welcome

Reflecting on the application process, Roy says: “Greyt’s personal approach made me feel welcome right from the start. I spoke with a Greyt Controller and several Greyt CFOs, which gave me a clear picture of the role, the responsibilities, the clients, and the growth potential Greyt offers me.

That personal and engaged atmosphere is still present. At Greyt, there’s a strong emphasis on autonomy; however, if you encounter any challenges or need support, there’s always someone willing to think along with you. The work culture is informal and approachable, which suits me well.”

“In the beginning, the CFO role was new and different from what I’m used to. But fortunately, I’ve had plenty of support from Greyt.”

Energy from Meeting Deadlines

As a Greyt Controller, you often work for multiple companies at once, sometimes for specific projects or as a temporary replacement for a vacancy, and other times for the longer term.

Roy currently has several assignments: “Since joining Greyt, I’ve completed three different assignments, one of which has now been wrapped up. Looking back, it was quite challenging handling three assignments at the same time. Luckily, I thrive on meeting deadlines and juggling multiple tasks.

I’m currently working on two assignments:

  • I’m serving as a Greyt Controller at an umbrella organization that is acquiring local childcare centers through a buy-and-build strategy to form a larger collaborative group. I work there four days a week as a sort of finance all-rounder (covering business, financial, project, and group control). We’ve now reached the point where we’re ready to take Finance to the next level, including implementing a new system. I haven’t done that before, so it’s a valuable learning experience.
  • In addition, I work one day a week as a CFO for a start-up. This is a new healthcare concept, with multiple locations being opened across the Netherlands. It’s an innovative model for STI care, where the entire process – from diagnosis to treatment and follow-up – is handled under one roof. The organization is growing rapidly, which makes Finance increasingly complex and challenging.”
Growing into the CFO Role

At Greyt, we see the Controller team as a “growth hub” for future Greyt CFOs, and Roy is now taking that step. At the same time, there’s room for controllers who prefer to specialize.

Roy is enthusiastic about his collaboration with the founder of the start-up assignment: “He’s incredibly driven and strategic but prefers not to deal with Finance. I take that off his hands. I focus on ensuring we have the right financial insights and monthly reporting so that we can make timely adjustments if needed. I also manage cash flow and handle fundraising to open new locations or invest in equipment. Additionally, I’ve taken on HR responsibilities since we aren’t yet large enough for a dedicated HR department.

This new role was, of course, an adjustment at first. But fortunately, I’ve received plenty of support from Greyt. I have a Greyt CFO as a mentor for professional advice. He has a lot of experience, and I can always consult him. When I encounter challenges, he’s my first point of contact. If necessary, he connects me with other Greyt CFOs who can offer additional assistance.

For a client, this is an added bonus: you don’t just ‘get’ one CFO, but access to the combined expertise of all the CFOs and Controllers at Greyt.”

“As a Greyt Controller, your work goes beyond Finance alone. You adapt to the needs of the client.”

The Challenges of Being a Greyt Controller

As a Greyt Controller, you often juggle multiple clients at the same time. It’s varied and dynamic, but it also comes with challenges.

Roy can relate: “I’m very client-focused, so I want to meet all my clients’ needs. But when you have multiple clients, each with different demands and deadlines, it can be tricky to balance everything. I’ve learned to set boundaries and be transparent about what is and isn’t feasible. I’m still client-focused, but now I manage expectations more effectively.

Handling multiple assignments also requires flexibility. I have fixed days for each client, but emails and phone calls come in throughout the week. It can be a lot of switching, but that’s also part of what makes it fun. What helps me is keeping a single calendar with different time blocks for internal Greyt tasks, client work, and personal appointments. That way, I don’t lose track.”

Social Awareness

What other skills does Roy think are important for a Greyt Controller, besides flexibility?

“It might sound obvious,” Roy says, “but social awareness is key. While Finance is all about numbers, in this role you also need to manage expectations from clients and stakeholders. You’ll often find yourself in meetings with people who don’t have a financial background, so you need to explain things clearly, without too much jargon.

The companies Greyt supports are often fast-growing organizations, where more is expected from your practical abilities, and it’s not just about your theoretical knowledge. You work in a broader capacity than just Finance, adapting to the needs of the client.”

About Greyt

Greyt is a network of CFOs and Controllers that provides scale-ups and SMEs with tailored financial expertise and knowledge that scales with your success. You get the knowledge and experience of not just one, but 60+ finance professionals. This can be fractional, interim or on a project basis – whatever the company requires.

At Greyt, we’re always looking for Controllers who want to add significant value to ambitious growth companies. Are you looking for a new challenge? Let’s connect! Click here for more information.