How Accenture and Microsoft Defined My Start in Tech

My journey into the IT industry began in 2010 at Accenture, working on Microsoft as a strategic client. From the very first day, I sensed that this was not just another role, but the beginning of a long-term career path.

At the time, I joined as a junior with only a basic understanding of Excel. I did not yet know how to create graphs, use functions such as VLOOKUP, or work with data in a structured way. Artificial Intelligence was not part of our daily work, and many processes were still highly manual. Although organisations were moving towards paperless environments, the reality between 2010 and 2012 was that much of the work still relied on spreadsheets, emails, and manual follow-ups. Even at Accenture working for Microsoft.

Thrownin at the Deep End

On my very first day, I was handed an Excel sheet and given a simple instruction:

"This is your list. Can you call them to collect payment?"

I remember looking at the numbers and thinking: Is this really over one million euros? And I am expected to call these companies?

Of course, I said yes.

That day marked my introduction to accounts receivable and collections, although at the time, I did not fully understand the difference between debtors and creditors. Even terminology varied across countries. In the Netherlands we spoke about debiteuren en crediteuren, while in Belgium I learned the term leveranciersboekhouding. It was a steep learning curve, but one that accelerated my development significantly.

Managing Responsibility Early

Very quickly, I found myself responsible for a portfolio of approximately €50 million annually, covering clients across Ireland and the Netherlands, and occasionally supporting the DACH region.

My responsibilities included:

• Managing invoice collections and payment follow-ups

• Proactively preventing overdue situations

• Handling customer disputes and payment discrepancies

• Producing weekly forecasts for both Accenture and Microsoft

• Working within SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley) compliance frameworks

• Maintaining and analysing aging reports

• Generating and sending monthly statements

• Collaborating with internal teams on payment allocations

• Supporting reporting and financial insights for management

• Operating within SAP systems

• This role gave me a strong foundation in financial operations, stakeholder communication, and process discipline.

Learning Through Volume and Complexity

Later, I transitioned into services and eventually into the Xbox division, where the complexity of the work increased significantly.,

Here I dealt with:

• High volumes of disputes, sometimes exceeding 1,500 open cases

• Issues related to damaged, lost, or incorrect shipments

• Manual processes involving physical documentation and approvals

• Customer communication across multiple channels

• Intensive reporting cycles to both Accenture and Microsoft

This environment forced me to develop resilience, attention to detail, and structured problem-solving skills.

TheTurning Point

While the role provided a strong financial and operational foundation, I realised after two years that I wanted more. I had developed core skills in finance, collections, and customer interaction, but I was increasingly drawn to a more dynamic, commercial environment.

That realisation led me to take the next step.

I applied for my first role in sales at IBM.

Reflection

Looking back, this period was not just about learning systems or processes. It was about:

• Building confidence in unfamiliar environments

• Taking ownership before feeling fully ready

• Learning by doing, rather than waiting to be fully prepared

• Understanding how large organisations operate behind the scenes

It laid the foundation for everything that followed in my career.

Coaching Reflection

• When was the last time you said yes to something you did not fully understand yet?

• Are you building skills for your current role, or for your next step?

• Where in your career are you still “working manually” while the world is moving forward?