Builders in Pictures - Linda Leenders

Builders in Pictures - Linda Leenders

How long have you been working for Build Finance?

As one of the founders, I've been involved with Build Finance since the beginning. There were a few reasons why we wanted to start a new company. First, as a former consultant, I'd worked in the kitchens of many companies, but you never cook for yourself. Second, success in consultancy often depends on the people. We were ready for the next step: launching a product and a proposition with its own value. Three years ago, we saw a gap in the market and decided to take the plunge
 

What do you like about your job?

It all started with a PowerPoint business plan, and now we're building a serious company from scratch. Entrepreneurship is multifaceted, which makes it interesting. My work as a CCRO is also varied. I write policy, perform risk analyses, create process descriptions, improve processes, and liaise with external parties. This includes working with our investors Brand New Day and MeDirect to demonstrate we're in control, with parties that conduct audits, and with the IT company that builds our web app. No two days are the same, and I enjoy that 
 

Which properties are useful here?

Flexibility. You have to be able to quickly switch between different topics and levels. Prioritizing is also important, because there are only so many hours in a week. You also have to keep a close eye on the bigger picture, but at times you need to be very detailed. And planning and structuring, of course. That's my greatest strength. I always have a to-do list, and that's how everything gets done. When I was pregnant, I even put the baby shower list in Excel. I think that says something about who I am
 

What are you working on at the moment?

We're currently in the middle of an audit for our ISAE 3402 statement. This requires us to submit a large number of documents to our accountant. At Build Finance, we've spread our audit activities throughout the year. For example, my colleague Bart Silven and I are currently auditing the mortgage deeds, which are largely automated. We're also reviewing a policy framework and finalizing the annual accounts. We're also handling a lot of credit checks: discussing and approving loan applications in our credit committee. I'm primarily focusing on client acceptance, while Jeroen Spoor is reviewing credit acceptance. And there are hundreds of other things that demand my attention
 

What gives you energy or makes you proud?

I'm incredibly proud of the ISAE 3402 certification, which we received after an audit without any findings. This is a real milestone for me, as it was quite a feat for our entire team to achieve. This certification proves that we are demonstrably in control of our processes. Think of issuing new loans, paying out construction fund declarations, and reporting on the loans to our investors, as well as general topics like risk management and cybersecurity. Furthermore, I'm proud that so far, not a single client has a payment arrears. I was also pleased when MeDirect joined us as our second funder. We're currently working on a third funder. I hope to see the number of applications double by the end of the year. Is that feasible? Absolutely! According to my action list, it should be possible