Risk Board Year: Secretary & Treasurer

Hi guys, could you please introduce yourself?

Hi, my name is Patrick and I am the Secretary and Vice-Chairman of the Risk Board. Last Thursday I turned 24 years old. Currently, I am studying Finance and Economics. In April I will be finished with my board year and studies and that means it is time to start working. Before, I completed the BSc. Economics and Business Economics.

Hi, my name is Kas and currently I am the Treasurer of the Risk Board. I am 22 years old and live now for four and a half year in Groningen. Last summer I have finished my Bachelor Business Administration track Accountancy & Controlling and now only busy with finishing my Bachelor Philosophy of a Specific Discipline. After my Board year I will travel to South-America for three months and in September I will start my Master Accountancy.

Patrick how did you find out about the possibility of doing a board year at Risk?

During my time in the Dutch Banking Tour Committee I had a chat with the then Internal Coordinator. After talking to her I was convinced that I wanted to do a board year at Risk. My main motivation for applying was that I wanted to explore the landscape of job positions in the financial world. I found many subject interesting and the board year has helped me to discover where my passion lies via many events and talking to people with experience. Moreover, I knew that I would develop skills that are useful in the rest of my career and would gain useful connections.

Kas, had you another motivation to apply for the Risk Board?

Yes, I had another motivation as Patrick. Last college year I was looking for a committee to develop my professional skills and get in touch with companies. For this reason doing a committee at Risk was perfect for me. When I came to Risk I was not sure what I liked more, become accountant or controller or just doing a minor Finance and start after the minor a Master Finance. To make the right decision for myself, I decided to do a Board year and meet a lot of different companies to compare them with each other. After some coffees with the old Risk Board I was enthusiastic and was convinced that a Board year would help me with my choice. And now I can say that it helped me for my choice to start next September my Master Accountancy.

What do you like most about your board year so far Kas?

The most I liked about my board year was meeting a lot of new people. As member of the Risk Board all the other boards at the ‘interim’ become your friend. Joining a lot of events and parties of Risk and the other associations, I have made a lot of new friends. Besides meeting a lot of new people I am very proud about the events I organized, sometimes by myself and sometimes in cooperation with committees. Last year I organized the Controlling Dinner and the Advisory Inhouse Days, which both were very interesting with a lot of fun.

And for you Patrick? What do you like the most about your board year so far?

For me that are two things. First of all, I really like working with my board. We all share a goal and will always support each other both at the office and personally. Next to being at Zernike, we have a board evening every Monday and there are many other social activities where we go together. I can honestly say that you grow very close within a really short period. Next to that, I have been able to experience some great events. One of these events was the London Banking Tour where 25 students went to London to visit six impressive Investment Banks. Other events I really like are the events with our alumni. They have very interesting stories about what they now after being at Risk.

I agree that these things are interesting perks of being in the board. What is it that you do as a secretary?

As a secretary you are responsible for all external communication. This means that I will post articles written by the magazine committee on very financial insights. Moreover, I make sure that the website is always showing the most recent information and consider its design. Finally, something I like very much about my position is that I work with my others board member on various this which is why I am always aware of what everyone is doing and I am able to help out when necessary.

Kas, what are your main tasks as Treasurer?

Before answering this question a nice fun fact. In the beginning of my board year there are made a lot of jokes that I was born for the function as treasurer, because of my name Kas (Cash). My main task as treasurer is to keep in touch with the financial part of the association. This means that I pay all the bills, send invoices to the companies to pay their sponsor money to Risk, and I manage which expenses are able to make and which expenses are not possible in our budget. Besides my own tasks I also keep in touch with the committees’ treasurers about what their budget is and how that is going. The most I like about my function is the responsibility I have over the whole financial part of the organization, which is a big amount.

Sounds interesting, but how do you combine it with your social life?

As I may speak, I think that this answer is the same for the both of us. Combining a board year and our social life is very much possible. Of course it is a full-time board year so I knew I would be busy with being a board member this year. Before I started the board year, I had some fixed evenings to get together with friends. Most of the times I am still able to join them for dinner. Furthermore, I get a lot of positive energy to do some workouts during the week. I am still able in my board year to plan my work outs in a way that I am able to go four times a week normally. Next to that, compared to studying, your weekends are free so I also have time in the weekend to meet friends or visit family. I would say that combining my social life with the board year was not very difficult. Globally, I think that Kas can agree that there is enough time in the evenings and the weekend to continue with your social life.

In the coming months the candidate board will start and in March you will pass the baton, what is in store for you Patrick?

In April I will have my last exams and I plan to sign up for several business courses from February to May. After that it is time for me to start my professional career. During my board year I have been able to see many companies and meet many of their employees. This has really helped me to figure out where my future lies. Moreover, now the companies I am interested also already know me, which never hurts. I will definitely miss the other board members and active members of Risk which are staying in Groningen a bit longer. However, I also look forward to seeing all of them at the Risk Alumni events. I am also sure that I will see my other board member regularly when they head to Amsterdam as well.

Have you also already some plans for the future Kas?

I hope that I have finished my study in February, so I will have after my board year no study anymore. Than I have planned some nice vacations with my family, friends and also a nice trip with my board. After all the vacations I have planned to travel to Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia in total three months. After all the nice trips I will start my Master Accountancy and not sure yet if this will be in Groningen or Amsterdam. I have a very nice time by Risk and especially with my board, so I hope and am convinced that we will meet each other regularly in the future!