Colleague Vincent: “On the cusp of two worlds”
Article from: Vlamingen in de Wereld, No. 123, summer 2024
On the cusp of two worlds
Vincent is neither sea dog nor landlubber, but he works for a global company that shapes water and land. Just to say that people who work at Jan De Nul have a different mettle. Apart from a short break, Vincent has been working for the business with Flemish roots since 2012. He covers the whole continent and has lived in Colombia, Costa Rica, Argentina and currently Panama. Because of the central and strategic location, Jan De Nul set up their regional headquarters here. Vincent is Area Controller and started his job here in 2020.
“Together with the Financial Controller, I manage a team of expats and local financial managers in the area. We research the start-up of new projects, the financial and administrative risks, and how they can be controlled. Because of the strong presence of Jan De Nul in the Americas, a strong team grew organically here. We are monitoring the figures strictly, whereby attuning the local needs and the expectations of the head office are central.”
Always a new challenge
These marvellous projects Vincent is talking about are, among others, the construction of a new harbour in Guyana, the expansion of the Katoen Natie port terminal in Uruguay and the permanent maintenance of the access channel to the port of Guayaquil in Ecuador. And Jan De Nul also installed the first offshore windfarm of the United States.
“Both North and South America are important for Jan De Nul. I love the company’s project based approach, always with new challenges. Every niche and every project has its own challenges with new ad-hoc solutions. The financial aspect is a cog supporting a greater whole, but it is crucial in the success of a project. The corporate culture is also permeated by the concept that a project will only succeed through cooperation between the different departments. Of course, it is very satisfying to be able to follow a project from the first calculations to the last payment.”
"In my opinion, working abroad for a Belgian employer combines the best of both cultures. There is still the connection with your roots, and you find sustenance in local challenges. Living and working at the cusp of two cultures is a major added value for me."
Vincent Van Beirendonck
Connectedness
“I live in Panama with my wife. We met nine years ago in Colombia. We did live in Belgium for a few years. When she graduated as an engineer, we spread our wings again. For working partners, Panama is a god-send, because it is one of the more multicultural countries in the region. It didn’t take long for her to find a job with a European multinational. In my opinion, working abroad for a Belgian employer combines the best of both cultures. There is still the connection with your roots, and you find sustenance in local challenges. Living and working at the cusp of two cultures is a major added value for me. Jan De Nul provides a solid framework and sometimes it is taken for granted. But unlike the American culture, where you receive a flat amount to sort out everything on your own, we actually get a whole package, including housing, health insurance, family support, …”
On-the-job learning
With degrees in economy, law and business management, Vincent brought with him a bag-full of knowledge. “But it only starts in earnest on location. Jan De Nul invests a lot in ‘on-the-job learning’: you learn from the people around you. I had my first experience in the enchanting Columbian Santa Maria. I landed in a highly experienced environment, which enabled me to develop quickly. But don’t get me wrong, you still work twelve-hour days abroad, including public holidays.
If you work abroad on a married basis, you have one month off after five months work. On a bachelor basis, it’s two months for one. But for your hard work, you get paid really well. I am also convinced that you learn a lot more and lot faster than in a Belgian environment.”
International bug
“My longing for an international career grew during my last years at uni. With a financial degree, opportunities abroad are maybe not as widespread as with an engineer’s diploma, but you can still find them. I did catch the bug. Days are long, the responsibility is considerable, but there is no time for routine. For me, it’s a job that fits me perfectly. From the start, I received excellent coaching from experienced colleagues and immediately immersed myself in the real work. Thanks to my job, I really became a different person. It’s only through travel to less touristy places that you learn to know the world better. I can see myself living abroad permanently in the future, preferably in a Spanish-speaking country like Colombia or Spain. I really don’t look for a settled life yet”, concludes Vincent.
‘Vlamingen in de Wereld’ is a foundation dedicated to supporting Flemish people working and living abroad. Each quarter, the organisation publishes a magazine that features stories of Flemish people who spend most of their time abroad.