Madeleine Lovelady

Hoe heb je besloten accountant te worden? Was er een doorslaggevend moment?
"I was always drawn to mathematics in my early education, and sought out a degree in accountancy while living in the United States, my home country. I enjoyed the ‘problem solving’ and ‘balance’ aspect of accounting, treating each case like an interesting math problem to solve. Eventually, I wound up in the Netherlands, later pursuing my Bachelors and Masters.
For me, the ‘ah-ha’ moment to go into this profession came during my bachelor’s program. As part of my accounting course, we had a guest speaker on external audit and the rise of innovative tools (this was some ten years ago). I was very intrigued both by the dynamics of external audit, but also how the innovative tools used were shaping how audits are being conducted, the data exploration required when utilizing those tools, and the continuous changes/developments in the tools which can be used. This moment sparked a deeper curiosity in me into the profession of auditing."

Hoe is het voor jou om de beroepseed af te leggen?
"Taking the oath felt both like the conclusion of a well‑earned chapter and the beginning of a new phase of growth and responsibility. It marked not just a personal milestone (reflecting on my years of hard work and study), but also the oath reinforced for me our importance in society as accountants and the responsibility I carry. Completing this journey in a different country, and doing so in a foreign language, made the achievement even more meaningful."

Waar werk je en wat is je functie daar?
"I am a senior associate at KPMG Maastricht, working in the audit department."

Wat maakt het bijzonder om daar te werken?
"I always saw myself working in a diverse environment, ranging from changes in the team members I work with, the location I work from, and the clients I collaborate with. This diversity within my day and year makes it special to work both in audit and at KPMG. What I also find special is the specific office I work for in Maastricht; it is a small office and colleagues there can often feel like friends or family, yet we still have the advantages of working for a big four firm."

Heb je een specialisatie of zijn er thema's waarin je je bijzonder interesseert?
"As earlier mentioned, what initially attracted me to the profession were the possibilities of innovation and the continuous changes occurring in the industry. One of my interests and internal roles at my firm is serving as a ‘digital auditor’ in which I have had the opportunity to assist engagement teams in applying innovative techniques in the audit but also developing my own tools. These tasks give me a sense of ‘thrill’ in my day as I am able assist others, explore data insights, and share those insights with the client for further exploration."

Wat is je leeftijd?
"I'm 32 years old."

Wat zie je jezelf over tien jaar doen?
"Right now, I enjoy the place I work from, the people I work with, and the work I do. I can’t foresee what different opportunities may cross my path in the future, but what I can say is that audit and accounting will still be in my life!"