Rogier Bakhuizen
Business Controller

Rogier has come a long way in a short time at Thermotraffic and is already in a position to make a real contribution to our future profitability and ROI.

I studied Business Economics at the Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences and joined Thermotraffic in 2019 following a graduation internship with the company. The internship focused on process optimisation and Thermotraffic asked me if I would like to stay.

In 2019, I started as a Project Assistant. I learnt a lot about the company as I was involved in several projects. In 2021, I moved into the role of Business Analyst. This mainly involved further expanding and improving reporting within the organisation. At the start of 2024, I started as a Business Controller, supporting the business with targeted analyses and reports of financial data and operational information.

The team I work in consists of nine administrative staff, a Financial Controller, two Finance Managers, the Head of Finance and myself.

A broad data role

My job involves analysing financial and operational data and making recommendations to the management. Within this process, I sit down with different teams across the company to discuss which data is the most important to track. Or we identify where we might be missing data, or where and how we can adjust processes to create a better data structure. Through diligent data tracking, we monitor the evolution of various aspects over time, enabling us to make informed decisions regarding potential changes and enhancements to our processes. This data serves multiple purposes, including assessing profitability, return on investment, and budget allocation.

Working with all layers

I sit down with management and sales staff, to look at the customer database and turnover per customer. I like that because it’s important to discuss operationally: “How do you do that and why do you do it that way?”

I also enjoy the range of activities. In Cold Storage, the work is physical, while in Freight Forwarding my colleagues work mainly with paperwork and computer systems. They are two very different dynamics and demand very different views of processes.

Friendly and flexible

The working atmosphere here is informal and there is no ‘make an appointment’ mentality. Everyone is friendly and we talk to each other a lot in the corridors. It is also possible to work at home in agreement with your manager. Sometimes it is handy to work at home if you need to focus on something rather than working in a busy office.

Thermotraffic is an excellent employer, the working conditions are good such as the salary and a non-contributory pension. Also, you are encouraged to take courses and qualifications in your field. There is growth potential and there are challenges. That is important to me.