‘I want to be part of the Green Organics journey’
Willeke Koning, assistant controller at Green Organics:
‘Green Organics is a great company, and Jan Groen (the entrepreneur behind Green Organics) is an inspiring man. At an entrepreneurs’ association party, he told me about his dream of being the European market leader in organic potatoes, vegetables and fruit by 2030. When I heard it I thought to myself, I want to be part of that journey.
I’ve been working at Green Organics for almost a year now and I can say that I’m happy that I made the change. My background is in accountancy, which usually means a heavy workload and a strict hierarchy. Green Organics has twenty staff so it’s also a large organisation, but it nonetheless has a horizontal structure. It’s based on co-operation, rather than hierarchy. In addition, at Green Organics I’m able to contribute the knowledge and experience I gained with the various clients of the accounting firm. It’s great to be able to deliver added value like that.
I encountered Green Organics through finance manager Ellen Walta. We worked together in accountancy and she thought of me when an assistant controller was needed here.
I’m responsible for the administration of Green Organics. Along with two administrative staff, I do all the tasks that that involves. I like the fact that I now work with just one company. I can take part in all sorts of projects and contribute ideas about the future of Green Organics.
The management places a lot of trust in me. That trust means that I give it everything I’ve got.
There’s a good atmosphere, very friendly. We also have a good balance here between work and personal life.
Together with the whole team, we’re responsible for produce throughout the entire organic chain. We deliver the seed, our cultivation supervisors think along on sowing and harvesting issues, we organise a location in the factory if the crop needs to be processed or frozen, and naturally we issue a good invoice. When we do contract cultivation during the season, we create a purchase invoice. That means that the grower doesn’t need to issue an invoice, and can simply be a grower.
And all staff are so involved in the entire process; our cultivation supervisors are always contactable, so they can provide the best possible service to everyone in the chain. And we’re there for the growers 24/7.’