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From Namibia to Germany: Sandra's love for the country and its people continues to this day!

"We are VIER!" Today: Sandra Riess, VIER Head of Finance

As VIER Head of Finance, Sandra Riess pulls all the strings. In this interview, she explains what her work involves.

Hello Sandra, how long have you been part of VIER?
I've been there for just over 5 years now. Back then it was still 4Com - and it was a bit smaller than it is today. 😉

You are a VIER Financial Accountant - what does your day-to-day work look like?
Generally, everything in finance runs like clockwork, with regular weekly and monthly deadlines for financial and balance sheet accounting. Then there are ad hoc issues relating to leasing, insurance and the like, which have to be accommodated on a day-to-day basis. And then there's internal accounting and controlling - so it's very varied and mostly exciting.

What do you particularly like about your job?
It's the environment - if it's right, it's always fun. Thanks to my great colleagues, my day-to-day work is usually fun and constructive. I love languages and communication, and numbers speak a very special language. Making numbers speak so that well-founded decisions can be made is incredibly fun for me. But it's not just the numbers. I also enjoy the challenge of making the topics palatable to those of my colleagues who are less familiar with numbers or not interested in them. I also have a lot of contact with people outside the company. No company can manage without good partners, no one is an island. Especially not the finance department!

What skills or experience from other jobs help you in your work?
Due to my personal background, which spans many continents, cultures and climates, I am very adaptable and open to new things. Countless moves have taught me to approach things in a structured, well thought-out and forward-looking way. My innate thirst for knowledge drives me to keep learning and studying new things. My great role model is my great-grandmother, who drove through Namibia on a bullock cart as a 3-year-old and was a fan of Formula 1 and Michael Schumacher at the end of her life. Life doesn't stand still, and neither does development. You snooze, you lose!

You originally come from Namibia/South Africa and only wanted to stay in Germany for 6 months - what changed your mind?
As with almost everyone with such a story, love was originally to blame. After it was over, I asked myself why I wanted to move on every time I felt the urge to wander. After all, Germany is wonderfully central, which is good for traveling all over the world. And I really enjoy living here, I love the country and the people. So why move on?

Author: Susanne Feldt