Getting to know: Stephanie Vaz
Senior Finance & Accounting Manager

Introduce yourself

I’m Stephanie, and I’m originally from Haiti. I came to Massachusetts for college and have been here for almost 15 years.

Before Insource, I was an auditor for a non-profit organization (NPO) for about nine years. I loved it, and I loved the travel. I eventually moved more into accounting, working for a French company in Boston for a couple of years, which had a lot of European clients. We were responsible for helping them set them up a branch from the ground-up. I think Insource is a good mix of both of those jobs; I get to work with NPOs, and help multiple clients build things from the ground up and grow.

How did you find Insource?

My husband was at university in Massachusetts, and he came back from a career fair with contacts at Insource. It sounded like an interesting company, so I looked at them and their vacancies.

What attracted you to Insource?

Working with NPOs was a big thing for me. I had a background in that, and I still enjoyed it. Then, once I’d met the team during the first interview, their explanation of how I’d be working for multiple clients and the variety of the role was very attractive.

What was the interview process like?

I went through two rounds. I met the President and Vice-President first, which is unusual. I got the high-level view of the business first, and then in the second round, I got to talk to someone about my day-to-day.

What were your main goals going in?

Weirdly enough, I didn’t have any specific goals, but I’m making more as I go along. For example, I’ve worked in these sectors before, but there are plenty of aspects and types of analysis I had not done before. Also, we have some clients that are in different industries than what I’m used to, Charter Schools for example.

What’s been your biggest challenge so far?

My biggest challenge is timekeeping when you are dealing with multiple clients. That’s the joy and challenge of working here in one. You’ll be in the middle of building a relationship with a client when suddenly an urgent request for help comes in. In that situation, you have to stay as focused as possible to keep all plates spinning.

What’s your day-to-day like?

I have some clients I see regularly, and I spend some time working remotely. It means I’m always busy, and I must be flexible. It’s the nature of dealing with multiple clients. I can plan as much as you want, but I’ll always need to be able to switch things around.

What opportunities are available to you?

If you wish to progress, you generally know what roles you can grow into, and as soon as one opens up, you’re free to go for it. There’s also growth outside of just your job title, as you will often be given clients that will challenge and reward you.

What is the support like?

My peers are great. Generally, I can always reach out to people on my level and ask for advice. The people working under me are very helpful, often they’ve been here a while and they know the clients very well. They can help you spot patterns and help with the day-to-day. The executive team is understandably very busy, but always happy to provide feedback whenever they can.

What do you like most about working at Insource?

The clients. Seeing the causes they work for, and seeing them reach their goals is always amazing. We can take a load off for these amazing companies and let them do their thing. I feel like I’m a part of something positive in the world.

What work are you most proud of?

Sometimes, through no fault of their own, clients will find themselves in tight situations, and we can come in and make a real difference. We help them learn different software, that kind of thing. There have been a lot of clients that I’ve been very proud to work with.

What do you do for fun?

I’m always listening to music and dancing in my cubicle. It doesn’t have to be a particular genre; it just keeps me up and alive. I also started running around 5 years ago. I hated it at first, but I’ve done a few charity runs and I’m easing into it. Hopefully, some clients will read this and invite me along if they’ve got something going on! It’s a great way to connect with people.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?

Be flexible, not only in your scheduling but in your thinking about how you do things. You have to be flexible enough to manage your own workload while coping with new and urgent work that comes your way. Also, I think clients trust you so much more if you’re able to see their way of thinking.

Was Insource the right fit for you?

Yes, I needed something that was close to me, but that also gave me the variety I craved. I love playing detective when a client says “We need you to clean this up asap!”. I think “Oh, ok, where do I start?” It’s a puzzle, and it’s fun. It’s exactly what I needed.

Could Insource be right for you?

Interested in what Insource has to offer? Take a look at our Careers page today to see our latest vacancies, and be sure to follow us on social media for all the latest Insource Insights.

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For anything else, email us at insource@insourceservices.com or call us on (781) 235-1490.