FINANCE IN ANY LANGUAGE At Boeing’s Regional Finance Center in Amsterdam, it’s not unusual to hear conversations taking place in multiple languages. The 25-member team, which provides payment and accounting services in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, is well equipped to handle the many currencies and legal requirements involved in Boeing’s business operations. Together, they represent about 20 different nationalities. While all speak English, many are multilingual. “There are times when I start a conversation in French, continue in Dutch and finish in English. That’s fairly common in our team,” said Dorothee Groeneweg, a senior manager in Boeing Shared Services International Finance, who leads the Amsterdam team. The international labor pool of Amsterdam makes it much easier to build an internationally diverse group, she said. The finance center is responsible for most non-production transactions, including office-related payments, invoices from U.S. employees on assignment and payroll for local hires. They handle transactions in 17 different currencies and make about 2,500 payments each month. In operation since 2007, the Amsterdam center’s team continues to learn. It regularly brings in new tools and processes to manage complex tasks, Groeneweg said. It is one of five regional finance and payment centers operated globally by Shared Services International Finance. Others are in Hong Kong, India, Russia and the United States. As Boeing expands its international business activity, the ability to overcome language and cultural barriers—and work in multiple financial and regulatory systems—is becoming increasingly important, Groeneweg noted. “It’s a very challenging environment, but it’s also a lot of fun and full of opportunities,” she said. “There’s never a dull moment.” n Frontiers July 2014 21
Frontiers July 2014 Issue
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