Beerensteyn Partners on the power of sustainable contracting
Beerensteyn Partners is not just a collection of interim CFOs or secondment experts. It is a close-knit club of like-minded professionals who work together to get the best out of each other and their clients. At Beerensteyn Partners, it is not only about financial expertise, but also about long-term relationships, mutual trust and long-term cooperation. We speak to David Veerbeek, founder of Beerensteyn Partners, about the power of sustainable and conscious contracting.
"Our working method is unique: every interim CFO working with us has a shadow partner. This is someone who is always thinking alongside the CFO, solicited and unsolicited. This ensures that we keep each other on our toes and that companies always benefit from the combined knowledge of two experienced CFOs. Companies appreciate our model with our own associates because we do not bring random CVs, something that is nevertheless common in interim CFOs. Companies know that with us they get a solid, well-established team that can move quickly and make an immediate impact when needed," David said.
"Many traditional contracts are difficult to read and negatively worded. They never read like a novel."
The basis for long-term cooperation
"For us, contracts are not an end in themselves, but a means to promote cooperation and achieve common goals. Many traditional contracts are difficult to read and negatively worded. Often, contracts are unnecessarily complicated and legally burdensome, when they should be a positive start of a new collaboration. They never read like a novel. And that is a shame, because contracts are often signed at the beginning of a new partnership, a good deal or required funding.
At Beerensteyn, we therefore choose to stay away from lengthy and incomprehensible clauses in our contracts, including our own partnership contract. Instead, we make clear agreements on:
- How we want to work together, and on the necessary transparency and mutual trust.
- The space we give each other in advance to part ways in a good manner. Because nothing lasts forever.
- The safeguards we build in to make clear what is and is not acceptable."
Sustainable vision of customers and stakeholders
"For us as interim CFOs, quality is paramount. Sustainability means more than just following the latest trends. It is in our DNA to build long-term relationships with our associates as well as our clients and stakeholders. We do this on the basis of trust, transparency and equality.
Clients hire us because of our immediacy and the quality we deliver, but above all it is our way of working that ensures long-term relationships between our associates, clients and stakeholders. We aim to achieve not only short-term results, but to create sustainable long-term value together with our clients. This means we do not look solely at the numbers, but also at the broader context in which a company operates."
"Make sure it feels right, write down clearly what you agree on and go for it!"
Sustainability in the role of interim CFO
"Sustainability is a hot topic and not without reason. It is not just about numbers, but mainly about making strategic choices. This goes beyond just financial reporting. Today, as CFOs, we must also consider the increasing reporting obligations in which non-financial data, such as environmental impact and supply chain information, are becoming increasingly important as well.
This requires us to take a much broader view with the challenge of keeping it simple. Quite a job, but that is precisely what makes our work so interesting."
Advice for sustainable contracting
"Our golden rule when it comes to sustainable contracting is simple: make sure it feels right, write down clearly what you agree and go for it! That is the basis of a healthy and sustainable collaboration that stands the test of time."