Welcome to JBR: in conversation with our new Trainees

Welcome Rutger, Wout and Lucas! You have just started at JBR. What is your first impression?

Rutger: 'The first time I visited JBR was during an in-house day. The open atmosphere and the challenging case really impressed me. I immediately felt that JBR is a place where I can grow both personally and professionally. The focus on collaboration immediately gave me a sense of belonging.'

Lucas: "With me, it was the same. The conversations I had with colleagues immediately felt open and personal. The combination of in-depth knowledge and an informal organizational structure really appealed to me, and I knew immediately that this would be a good choice.'

Wout: "For me, the introduction was gradual. I started as an intern at JBR Belgium and then moved on to a permanent position. The atmosphere immediately felt good; everyone is ready to help each other and there is a lot of attention to personal growth. That convinced me to stay here.'

Why did you choose Corporate Finance?

Rutger: "I studied Economics and Business Economics and then did a master's degree in Corporate Finance at the University of Groningen. What attracts me to corporate finance is the versatility: you can combine analytical thinking with strategic collaboration. Working together on complex challenges makes this work really valuable.'

Lucas: 'My interest lies mainly in numbers and analysis, which I discovered while studying Financial Economics at Erasmus University, which I completed Summa Cum Laude. Corporate finance gives me the opportunity to turn that passion into something concrete with which I can help companies.'

Wout: 'I studied commercial sciences at Ghent University, with a focus on Finance and Risk. Through my internship and work as a working student at JBR, I discovered my interest in business valuations. Every valuation has its own dynamics, and that makes it exciting.'

What do you hope to learn as a Trainee?

Rutger: "I'm looking forward to learning a lot from experienced colleagues. This traineeship offers the opportunity to go deeper into complex cases and to continuously develop myself. In addition, I want to further sharpen my analytical skills.'

Lucas: 'My goal is not only to build technical skills, deal with customers and convey complex analyses clearly. JBR provides a unique learning opportunity for that.'

Wout: "I hope to further expand my knowledge of business valuations. Moreover, I want to develop myself into a valuable sparring partner for clients. The traineeship is ideal to gain experience in different projects and to discover what really suits you.'

What do you think makes JBR special compared to other consulting firms?

Rutger: "At JBR, you immediately notice the personal culture. It is a close-knit group, and the flat structure means that everyone contributes equally. There is a lot of room for personal initiative, and that makes the work extra interesting.'

Lucas: "Absolutely. That flat organizational structure means you have easy contact with colleagues at every level. In addition, JBR's in-depth sector expertise appeals to me. It ensures that we can provide clients with truly customized services.'

Wout: 'The personal involvement with clients here is special. JBR guides clients through important decisions, from acquisitions to valuations, and that offers the chance to make a real impact. The focus on quality and attention to detail make the work very valuable.'

Are there any projects you guys got excited about?

Rutger: Until now, I've mostly worked on identifying financial challenges for clients. Those analyses, where you consider multiple factors, I find very fascinating.

Lucas: For me, the focus now is on valuation issues. Those require a lot of attention to detail and accuracy, and it's satisfying to make those analyses as clear as possible for the client.

Wout: My work in due diligence projects has fascinated me the most so far. The process of working with clients and arriving at an appropriate valuation is intensive but very instructive.

Contact us personally for more information about working at JBR