Twenty years ago, Michael Meeles began his career at iPS. What started as a first job with simple administrative tasks has evolved into an impressive journey where he played a key role in shaping the company’s financial operations.

From Copies to Controlling

“When I started, everything was still manual,” Michael recalls. “Invoices were sent by post, and I had to make two copies of every invoice and timesheet for proper filing. It was a lot of work, but it taught me the basics.”

Soon, he became a full member of the accounting team, managing invoicing and payments. After completing two studies, he transitioned into the role of Financial Controller, focusing on management reporting and audits.

Balancing Work and Study

In 2017, Michael decided to deepen his expertise by enrolling in the HBO Financial Management program, which he completed in 2022. “Combining full-time work with studying wasn’t easy, but it gave me energy because I could apply what I learned immediately.”

Milestones and Major Changes

Over the years, Michael witnessed significant changes at iPS. “Switching from a system to another in 2010 was a game-changer. And the iPS Reset project in 2021 brought huge improvements, like the iPS Portal and self-billing for freelancers.”

New Challenges and Opportunities

After 2.5 years as Manager Finance, Michael returned to his true passion in 2025 as Lead of the new Controlling & Reporting team. “We created this team to support iPS’s growth. Our first year was a success: faster reporting and integrating our Baltic entities into our internal system.”

Proud Moments and Personal Highlights

His proudest achievement? “Completing my studies while working full-time.” Another special moment: his wife Sylvia joined iPS in 2021 as Senior Mid Office in the Maritime department. “We discussed it thoroughly, but it works well. Sylvia is happy and has grown a lot in her role.”

Life Outside iPS

Outside of work, Michael is an assistant coach for a girls’ football team at VV Nieuwerkerk, where his 11-year-old daughter plays. “Fun fact: iPS has sponsored the team for three years! They play at a high level and have won several championships.”

Beyond football, Michael enjoys festivals, music, sports like boxing and cycling, and spending time with family and friends.