Phebe studied Applied Economic Sciences at Ghent University, specialising in corporate finance, marketing, or accounting – but not taxation! She discovered her passion for the field through her master's thesis on family business tax regimes. After graduation, she briefly worked at a smaller firm but discovered that this wasn't exactly what she wanted.
What she looked for was a perfect middle ground: a firm large enough to offer comprehensive training and daily support from experienced colleagues, yet personal enough to make her feel valued.
"BDO falls between both worlds. It's a fairly big company, but I never feel like I’m just a number," Phebe explains. "My managers know my interests, understand my learning goals, and take time to explain complex tax concepts. There is a genuine interest in my development."
This approachable atmosphere at BDO has been crucial to Phebe's development. Despite the traditional hierarchy, the distance between roles feels minimal.
"There's a very low threshold for asking questions, I can simply walk over to a colleague’s desk," Phebe emphasises. "The team has a good mix of experience levels, with many juniors that are about my age and who are in the same learning phase as I am."
What particularly stands out to Phebe is how well everyone gets along, regardless of seniority. "What surprised me is that even the more experienced professionals are very approachable and young at heart. There is always time to have a chat the office. It creates a relaxed environment where you don't feel intimidated to speak up."
This collegial atmosphere extends beyond formal work hours too. "I really appreciate how events like our team-building activities and after-work drinks help us connect on a personal level," Phebe notes. "These social moments make it easy to build relationships beyond your immediate team. We laugh together and get to know each other better, which creates a genuinely enjoyable work environment."
When asked about the essential skills for a good tax specialist, Phebe doesn't hesitate: "Being eager to learn is very important. Tax law changes constantly, so you must be open to continuous learning."
At BDO, this commitment to learning takes concrete form through multiple channels. Phebe started with a structured technical training program that provided a solid foundation for her work. This knowledge is continuously updated through regular "Fiscale Actua" sessions where the team discusses recent tax law changes and their practical implications.
As Phebe puts it: "In general tax, you're like a family doctor - you need to know a bit about everything. When something complex comes up, you refer to specialists, but you maintain that general overview."
This broad-based approach shapes her daily work, where she handles compliance tasks while gradually building the expertise needed for more complex advisory work.
"What I appreciate most is how BDO tailors assignments to my growth level. When I felt ready for a more challenging project, I could simply ask for it. Now I'm working on a larger client group that pushes me to expand my skills, but I still have the support I need when questions arise."
