‘Running Excel exports and sending round management reports? There are so many more ways a business controller can add value to their organisation. The EMFC showed me just how much the finance profession really involves,’ says Benjamin Paap, business controller at waste processing company AEB in Amsterdam. AEB processes 1.4 million tonnes of waste every year and uses it to heat 40,000 homes, supply electricity to 365,000 households and recycle 350,000 tonnes of usable raw materials.

Benjamin first studied Accountancy & Control at the University of Amsterdam (UvA) and went on to work as a business controller at HEMA and Swapfiets. In February 2025, he completed the Executive Master of Finance & Control (EMFC) at the UvA’s Amsterdam Business School. He started his current job at AEB in March of the same year.

Benjamin confirms that it’s no coincidence he switched to a new job immediately after graduating. ‘The EMFC gave me new insights and skills that I was eager to put into practice, which was no longer possible in my previous role at Swapfiets. The programme also introduced me to areas I wanted to explore further, so I went looking for an organisation with a finance team where I could add real value and pursue my ambitions. This culminated in my new job at AEB.’

From Master to Executive Master

Benjamin had worked as a business controller for around 4 years when he enrolled in the EMFC. ‘The Master of Accountancy & Control gave me an excellent and useful basis for my career, but the training was academic. In my day-to-day work I increasingly felt that more was needed to excel at business control.’

‘I had colleagues with an RA qualification and saw the depth of their technical expertise. They were much quicker to grasp complex processes than the others and spoke the same language, as it were. This got me thinking about doing an RC programme. I wanted to become better at my profession and learn new things. Such as: what does it take to contribute effectively at MT level and become a strategic business partner? The EMFC programme at the UvA was the perfect match for my ambitions.’

Opportunities to learn and grow

Now that he has graduated, how would Benjamin characterise the programme? ‘You’re given every opportunity to learn and grow. You get a lot out of the course literature, but from classroom discussions as well. In my job at Swapfiets, I was the only business controller, so it was amazing to be able to sit down with 20 fellow students every week who were all grappling with similar issues – to hear how they were dealing with difficult situations and be able to talk about our respective experiences.’

Benjamin says the EMFC has been valuable in advancing both his professional development and his career. ‘I learned lots of soft skills. In the leadership track, for example. Things like: how do you give effective advice? How do you get people on board? How do you build team spirit? I could apply what I was learning in those modules directly in my own workplace. Within months, for instance, a difficult working relationship I had with a colleague was vastly improved.’

He calls the RC title a bonus. ‘I don’t run around telling everyone I’m an RC, but having this recognised title is definitely useful when applying for jobs. It gives you a distinct edge over candidates who don’t.’

Practical approach to theory

The UvA EMFC is known for its solid integration of theory and practice. Every module is built around real-world cases and current issues, and all are taught by lecturers from the professional finance world. The Curatorial Panel that oversees programme quality and advises on its design also consists of leaders from the field.

As Benjamin explains, ‘The programme takes a practical approach to teaching theory. Lecturers are obviously drawing their expertise not merely from books, but from longtime work experience. Lectures are also genuinely interactive, and lecturers encourage class discussion. It was really enlightening for me to hear how other students are applying IFRS standards, for instance. And I immediately started checking and applying insights from modules like Accounting Information Systems (AIS) in my job.’

Excelling in your field

The EMFC at the UvA is a 2-year part-time programme that trains ambitious finance professionals in all the knowledge and skills needed to succeed as a strategic business partner. Benjamin, like many of his fellow students, pursued the EMFC alongside a demanding full-time job. 

‘I had to get used to going back to school,’ Benjamin recalls. ‘You have lectures every Friday and need your weekends to do the assignments and study for exams. The way you’re called on to think and work are also different at university. Writing an academic paper is nothing like drafting a management report.’

Benjamin emphasises that even though pursuing a degree while holding down a job is tough, it’s also rewarding. ‘Success doesn’t just happen on its own. The EMFC involves serious graft and hard work. You have to make real choices about how you invest your evenings and weekends and agree with your partner how much time you’ll be setting aside to study. That said, it’s also just great and loads of fun to be in class with other students and I enjoyed coming away with new professional insights each week.’ 

‘The EMFC is hard work, but the programme gives you so much in return,’ Benjamin concludes. ‘It enriches your knowledge and skills and equips you to excel in your field. If you’re ready to take the next step in your career, then my advice is: go for it!’