The path to the Manager role

Heike, what tasks does your role at torq.partners involve?

My responsibilities as a manager in the accounting department are very diverse. For example, I provide support on all matters related to starting a business. This includes, among other things, ensuring compliance with legal deadlines, setting up an effective accounting system, and selecting the right tax advisor. I also analyze existing finance and accounting setups and determine how I can provide support in terms of processes or tools. In doing so, I always keep in mind the company’s future direction. The goal is to structure the accounting system in such a way that it serves as a reliable foundation for meaningful reporting. This enables the company to make well-informed business decisions.

The tasks that I take on as part of these projects vary depending on the initial situation. For example, this can include working with tax advisors, coordinating annual financial statements or supporting compliance issues. It also includes setting up internal finance teams, including conducting interviews. The introduction of new systems can also be part of my work.

Are there any aspects of your position that particularly challenge you?

Yes, but that's exactly what makes my work so exciting. I originally come from an accounting background, which is not necessarily an area associated with a lot of communication. It's different at torq.partners, where my job involves a lot of communication. Talking a lot and, above all, mediating between different parties can be challenging. This is particularly noticeable on days with a lot of back-to-back meetings. The exchange is very important, but afterwards you often have the feeling that the topics discussed should ideally be implemented immediately afterwards in order to achieve visible results. However, there is usually not enough time for this on such days.

What was your professional career like before torq.partners?

I originally come from a completely different field: I studied musicology and then worked in the event industry. There I was not only involved in program planning, but also in accounting, as there was a need in this area. That's how I slowly moved into accounting. I then worked for a fashion trade fair for a long time, initially as a freelancer and later in a permanent position. Over the years, I went through every aspect of accounting there. The company not only organized trade fairs, but also ran its own stores. This gave me a wide range of responsibilities.

To further deepen my knowledge, I then decided to pursue additional training to become a financial accountant. I enjoyed making the career switch to the finance sector, but I wanted to back it up with the right training. I then worked for a large corporation, where I gained a great deal of experience by preparing numerous monthly and annual financial statements. After that, I worked at a company where I took over the entire payroll accounting function and shared responsibility for other financial matters. I also spent some time in tax consulting. It quickly became clear to me that I was well-suited to a consulting role, though not necessarily in the field of taxes. I found it unfortunate that in a tax firm, you’re often brought into the process late in the game and can’t make much of a difference by then. That’s because many clients don’t deal with the topic of taxes until it’s unavoidable. It’s often perceived more as a necessary evil. Yet people underestimate the added value that good bookkeeping can provide. While working at the tax firm, I collaborated with one of the founders of torq.partners and found the experience very enjoyable. That’s why it was clear to me: if I were to make a change, it would be to torq.partners. What particularly convinced me was that the clients here actively reach out to you. They genuinely want support and are open to change. This allows you to get involved in processes earlier on and make a much bigger difference.

How long have you been part of torq.partners and how has the company developed since then?

I’ve been part of the team since March 2023. A lot has happened since then. There are always new challenges that require us, as a company, to continue evolving. As a result, many processes have been adapted and new technical solutions introduced since I joined. This dynamic comes with a steep learning curve for us employees. In addition, torq.partners has experienced strong growth across all areas. Our HR consulting division, torq.people, in particular, has evolved significantly since I joined. Furthermore, we’ve now expanded into a new consulting practice that covers all aspects of revenue operations.

How has your own role changed since then and how has torq.partners supported you in your development?

I started out as a consultant at torq.partners, but over time I moved into a managerial role. In this position, I lead projects and am responsible for the team. From a technical standpoint, I already brought a lot of experience to the manager role from my previous jobs, but I’ve been able to expand my knowledge even further through internal training programs. Unlike in solo accounting, where you have to teach yourself everything from scratch, torq.partners has provided me with a solid foundation to build on and continue my professional development. I find the regular partner demos, where new tools are introduced, particularly helpful, as well as our weekly knowledge academies, which ensure that we always stay up to date professionally. In addition, we have an internal channel where all colleagues can ask questions. No matter how specialized a topic is, there’s usually someone who can help. I’ve also learned a lot through regular discussions and joint brainstorming sessions with my colleagues. To help me settle into my new role, I’ve also participated in various leadership coaching sessions offered by torq.partners.

What skills or knowledge have you been able to develop the most since you started at torq.partners?

In any case, I’ve learned a lot about taking on responsibility. Beyond that, I’ve also been able to grow personally through a number of situations. For example, in April I participated as a speaker in one of our webinars. Since I feel most comfortable in the back office, this was a major mental hurdle for me, but I was able to overcome it successfully. The constant professional development at torq.partners ensures a steep learning curve—and that’s exactly what I appreciate so much.

If you had the opportunity to work in a different position or department at torq.partners for a day, what would it be and why?

I’ve already had some exposure to the work of certain departments. For example, I recently conducted job interviews for a few clients. This is a task that plays an important role in our HR consulting firm, torq.people. I have great respect for this field, in part because I believe it requires a high level of communication skills. That’s why I found it all the more interesting to hear that torq.people also employs colleagues who describe themselves as reserved. Still, I would see myself more in the Revenue Operations department—especially since I’m interested in technical topics.

Where do you usually work from?

At first, I was in the office more often, but now I mostly work from home because I’m more efficient there. To that end, I’ve set up a well-equipped workspace with a height-adjustable desk. When my workload isn’t so heavy, I still enjoy going into the office. Even though I’m less focused when I’m there, I look forward to the face-to-face interaction with my colleagues.

How does communication within the team work from home?

Initially, I was involved in many projects where I had little contact with my colleagues. Fortunately, this has changed now that I have taken on projects together with other people and have become the team lead. We use various meetings to communicate, which take place at regular intervals. You can also write to colleagues easily via our internal communication platform if you need support at short notice, for example.

Which of our team events do you remember best and why?

I really enjoyed several events. One highlight was our first company offsite two years ago. That’s where I met some coworkers in person for the first time—people I’d only spoken to online before. I thought that was really nice. Overall, we had a lot of fun, and the weather was great, too. Last year, I was part of a team made up entirely of colleagues from Berlin and the surrounding area. That meant we could easily get together after work on short notice, which I really enjoyed. As a group, we did all sorts of different things, including a boat ride and a guided tour of Berlin-Wedding.

In your opinion, what is the value of torq.partners?

I think that the value of respect is what sets torq.partners apart. For me, this means that the opinions, realities and diversity of others are respected. Many other values can also be derived from this value, which characterize the cooperation within the company.

How do you realize that this value is lived in the company?

For me, respect is particularly evident in daily interaction. It is not simply taken for granted that you can do things. Instead, people ask whether it fits in terms of time and content. If something is not feasible, we try to find an alternative solution. In general, we look out for each other and respect the individual boundaries of others - you can clearly feel this attentiveness.