Introducing: Jeroen Huijsman

In several interviews with employees, we would like to introduce Focus Enterprise Solutions to you. This time an interview with  Jeroen Huijsman, Financial and Supply Chain Consultant.

Who are you?

Jeroen Huijsman, at the time of writing 35 years old. I live together in Utrecht with my wife Mieke. Together with Mieke I can regularly be found at a festival (fortunately it is allowed again!), I can be found on the bike and I hit a squash ball.

I studied business economics in Arnhem and after completing I started working as an independent financial employee. I have done this for a few years years for different companies and have been able to see all facets of the financial process.

About five years ago I got the opportunity to participate in an implementation project of a ‘purchase to pay’ package. I liked that so much that I discovered the world of ERP implementations. I noticed that in addition to implementing, I also really enjoyed training end users. That is why I first started at a Dynamics training center and then at Broad Horizon Solutions (now Focus Enterprise Solutions), as a Financial and Supply Chain consultant.

“My starting position for implementations is that a customer can ultimately do the design himself. That there is no gap in knowledge at the end of a project.”

What do you do?

In the field of financial design, I advise clients on their issues. Through workshops and training, the requirements for the ERP system are retrieved. Together with the customer, these are then implemented. I strongly believe in self-reliance of the customer. My starting position for implementations is that a customer can ultimately do the design himself. That there is no gap in knowledge at the end of a project.

Together with colleagues I work on solutions for the customer. In recent months, we see more and more that the Power Platform is becoming an important factor in projects. Recently, I have therefore mainly been busy with teaching my own knowledge of the platform and getting people enthusiastic about the possibilities of, for example, Power Automate and PowerApps. Dual Write (link between Sales and Finance) also plays an important role in this.

Is there anything you don’t like about your work? How do you deal with that?

Unpleasant situations rarely happen, but if they do happen, I make them immediately negotiable. Within Focus Enterprise Solutions and the projects, the lines of communication are short. Andre and Martijn [the management] can be reached quickly by email, telephone, teams for a 1 on 1 conversation. With  projects there is always a project leader who can help me with this. With a single customer, the personal contact is good enough to take the first step yourself. That is an advantage because you are often on projects for a long time.

“The communication within Focus Enterprise Solutions has an informal and open character. Proverbially, everyone’s door is open and you can go anywhere with a question.”

Which colleagues do you have the most contact with?

Often with fellow consultants on the project. In the projects I am currently working on, Dual Write (link with Sales and Finance) comes into play often. It’s a lot of fun to see a different world that way. In addition, we have a solution architect on the projects that I have to consult with regularly. That goes on a slightly different level than I am normally used to. I often speak to my colleagues via Teams, but recently also more and more physically.

I occasionally speak to the rest of my colleagues via company meetings, Teams or via e-mail. The communication within Focus Enterprise Solutions has an informal and open character. Proverbially, everyone’s door is open and you can go anywhere with a question.

Who are you at the customer’s table with?

I often sit at the table with keyusers. This can be various people, for example head of Finance, purchasing employee to creditors employee. There may occasionally be a difference in level at both decision-making power and working level. This makes it all quite challenging to find the right tone.

How do you ensure that your knowledge stays up to date?

Within Focus Enterprise Solutions, a lot of attention is paid to certification and you get the time to stay up-to-date. If you want to follow a training, it can be scheduled via the planning department. Management is also actively steering towards this.

There’s a lot going on in Dynamics world. I try to read release notes myself, by attending tech talks and by reading the Dynamics user forum. Fortunately, you get time to do this. I also invest some time to keep up in new areas. Often in a lost hour at home on the couch. I really enjoy doing that and I notice that it is also appreciated by Focus Enterprise Solutions that I do that.

“Within Focus Enterprise Solutions, a lot of attention is paid to certification and you get the space to stay up-to-date.”

Are there good career opportunities?

Yes! Personally, I would like to make the switch to Solution Architect Dynamics 365 in a few years. I soon noticed that there is a lot of room for this within the organization. I have started working on a training plan and get a lot of support from the organization. You have to take the initiative yourself, but if you know what you want, doors will open and you can get very far.

Why should anyone join Focus Enterprise Solutions?

If you know what you want to do with your career, you will receive sufficient support and space within Focus Enterprise Solutions to walk that path. If you want to get started with the latest techniques in the Dynamics platform, with an open culture, then you are also in the right place at Focus Enterprise Solutions.

Do you recognize yourself in the above text and do you also want to work at Focus Enterprise Solutions? Check our vacancies:  www.werkenbij.focus-solutions.nl

This interview is part of the series ‘Introducing’. We regularly post new interviews with colleagues:
Introducing: Andre Snijder, CEO
Introducing: Paul de Bruijn, Consultant
Introducing: Bas Strijbos, Customer Coordinator (Support Consultant)
Introducing: Angelo Plasschaert, Developer