The Path to a Management Role

Heike, what responsibilities does your role at torq.partners entail?

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 identify ways to provide support in terms of processes and 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 I take on as part of these projects vary depending on the specific situation. For example, this may involve collaborating with tax advisors, coordinating annual financial statements, or providing support on compliance issues. It also includes setting up internal finance teams, including conducting job interviews. Additionally, implementing new systems may be part of my work.

Are there any aspects of your job that are particularly challenging for you?

Yes, but that’s exactly what makes my work so exciting. I originally came from accounting—a field you don’t necessarily associate with a lot of communication. At torq.partners, it’s different; here, my job involves a lot of communication. All that talking—and especially mediating between different parties—can be challenging. You really feel it on days with a lot of back-to-back meetings. Communication is very important, but afterward you often feel that the topics discussed should ideally be implemented right away in order to achieve tangible results. However, on days like that, there’s usually not enough time for that.

What was your career path like before joining torq.partners?

I originally came from a completely different field: I studied musicology and then worked in the events industry. There, I not only handled program planning but also did the bookkeeping, since there was a need for it in that area. That’s how I gradually got into accounting. After that, I worked for a fashion trade show for a long time, first as a freelancer and later in a permanent position. Over the years, I worked my way through every aspect of accounting there. The company not only organized trade shows but also operated its own stores. As a result, my responsibilities were quite diverse.

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 build a solid foundation through appropriate 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 advisory work, 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 tax issues until it’s unavoidable. It’s often perceived 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 impressed me was that 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 evolved 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 established 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 professional 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 role or department at torq.partners for a day, which one would you choose 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’d 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 in-person interaction with my colleagues.

How does communication work within the team when everyone is working from home?

At first, I was involved in many projects where I had very little contact with my colleagues. Fortunately, that has changed now that I’ve started working on projects with others and have become a team lead. We use various meetings that take place at regular intervals to communicate. In addition, our internal communication platform makes it easy to reach out to colleagues if, for example, you need help on short notice.

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 defining value of torq.partners?

I believe that the value of respect is what truly sets torq.partners apart. To me, this means respecting the opinions, life experiences, and diversity of others. Many other values that shape how we work together within the company can also be derived from this one.

How can you tell that this value is put into practice at the company?

For me, respect is most evident in our day-to-day interactions. It’s not simply assumed all the time that someone can take on a task. Instead, people ask whether it fits in terms of timing and content. If something isn’t feasible, they try to find an alternative solution. In general, we look out for one another and respect each other’s individual boundaries—you can really feel that thoughtfulness.