With a career that began in accounting and developed through a variety of financial positions, Mark Mooij is now a key figure within BVCM as Financial Controller. What characterizes him? A pragmatic attitude, a keen eye for process optimization and a strong focus on people-oriented leadership.
In this interview, Mark talks candidly about his career and his vision of Finance as a connecting factor.
Let me introduce myself: who is Mark Mooij?
"I am Mark Mooij, 33 years old, and born and raised in Vinkeveen. To be honest: I can't see myself ever leaving there either," he says with a smile. "The tranquility, the village character, the water of the Vinkeveen Lakes - it just suits me. I live there with my girlfriend, our one-and-a-half-year-old daughter and our stubborn sheep dog."
Although school was not his natural habitat, Mark quickly found his way into the world of finance. "Studying and learning was never my thing. My mother used to say: you should do something with your hands." But his hands turned out to be especially good at processing numbers. After vmbo and mbo training in business administration, he started his career at a small family business in Wilnis, where he took care of the administration for local entrepreneurs. "A valuable basis," he calls it himself, "because you constantly have to switch between different types of businesses."
After several years, he made the move to a larger accounting firm, where he worked on complex chain administration for large franchise parties. Still, he missed the direction. "I no longer wanted to just advise, but to have final responsibility for the financial process myself," he said.
That ambition led him to a secondment company, where he managed to prove himself anew from an all-round role. "Within a short time my range of tasks grew: from payroll to management reports. Precisely the space to grow gave me energy." Then followed another foray into the corporate world - an experience that made it especially clear to him what did not suit him. "That confirmed for me: I belong in an organization where initiative, cooperation and people orientation are central."
From pub talk to Finance Controller
At BVCM, Mark got that opportunity. "I still knew Manoek from the pub - she tapped the beers, I drank them," he grins. "We were in touch from time to time via LinkedIn and when she shared the Financial Controller job opening at BVCM I thought: that's a fit for me! Five minutes later I got a call and two days later I was at an interview."
What attracted him to BVCM? "Not so much the industry, but it was mainly the role that appealed to me so much. During my job interview, they were honest: the finance department was in need of structure. I just liked that - that's where I could add value."
And he seized that opportunity with both hands. Manual processes have been automated, controls are now standardized and the department has a clear structure. The biggest challenge? "At the beginning it was bringing Finance to 2025 and creating structure. Now it's mainly creating financial awareness throughout the organization."
No day the same
Mark doesn't know a typical workday. "But a month does have a set rhythm. We have two settlement moments: at the beginning and halfway through the month. In the days in between we focus on the month-end closing: checking figures, putting balance sheet files in order, making sure everything is correct. And when that's done, we pick up improvement projects, to the extent possible, and are already preparing the next cycle."
Collaboration is crucial here, "I have contact with almost all departments, from People & Culture to IT. And if we see something crazy in the figures, I start the conversation with the people on the shop floor. That human aspect makes my job so much more fun - and effective."
What Mark finds really important is the translation from numbers to people. "Numbers don't talk back. That's why I like to excite the team, get people on board with changes," he says."Ultimately, I want Finance to be not the corner where numbers are made, but a department that helps others make better decisions." He does so with visible pleasure.
Culture with trust and space
According to Mark, one of the biggest assets is the culture at BVCM. "We are a flat organization. No layers, no distance. You can step in anywhere. And whether it's a flower for something personal, or the confidence to just try an idea - here you get the space."
He says the fringe benefits also make the difference. "Lunch is arranged, a masseur comes along. But more importantly: making mistakes is allowed. You learn from them. And as long as you deliver, you get the freedom to grow."
Keep developing - even without a definite plan
Exactly what the future holds, Mark does not yet know. "To be honest, I don't really have a clear picture of that yet. What I do know is that I want to keep learning and keep challenging myself. Once everything is in place, I'll see which way I can grow together with the department. In any case, for the time being I am right at home here." His advice to future colleagues is clear: "Don't focus on the job description. If you deliver, the opportunities will come naturally."
