Filip

What do you do as a Financial Business Partner at ING? And how would you explain this job to your grandmother?

As a Financial Business Partner at ING, I work with numbers and analyses to support management in taking important decisions. When I’m assigned to a specific product area of the bank, like mortgages or current accounts, my role is to help interpret how that product is performing financially.

I look at questions such as: How much are we earning from the product? Where are things going well? Where are there challenges? And what can we improve? My aim is to provide early insights so that the right decisions are taken – not only for today’s business, but also with the future in mind. For example, I calculate different scenarios, like what happens if the economic environment changes?

Simply put, I help turn numbers and economic developments into the right conclusions so that the bank continues to succeed in the future.

What makes your job intersting and what drives you?

It’s mainly the close collaboration with the business itself and the variety of tasks. For instance, we don’t just look back at numbers from the past – we also look ahead.

Of course, we analyse how a product has performed financially in the past few months, for example from January to June. But we also focus on the future: Which factors could influence the product going forward? How might it develop strategically? This forward-looking view keeps my work exciting.

What I also find rewarding is how closely we work with the product teams. We’re not just analytical service providers – we’re right in the middle of things. We challenge assumptions, work through business cases and evaluate the financial impact. I love being involved from the very beginning, shaping ideas and really making a difference. That’s what gives me the feeling of contributing something meaningful – and it’s this variety that makes the job so rewarding.

You spent time in the Philippines and gained insights into other cultures. What did you learn about multicultural collaboration?

Yes. I spent a month in the Philippines to strengthen cooperation with the team there. I immediately realised how important it was to be sensitive to cultural differences. It’s not enough to be open-minded and direct, as we might be in Europe. In practice, it means stepping back, questioning your own expectations and really listening carefully.

It’s important to keep an open mind, be kind when communicating and have patience. Trust doesn’t happen instantly – it takes time and genuine interest. I learned that it’s not enough to assume, “I’m from Germany; it’ll be fine.” When I listened honestly, treated others as equals and showed respect, doors opened gradually and collaboration became much more rewarding. It was a great experience and showed me how valuable cultural sensitivity is when working in teams.

Are there people who inspire you, or an experience at ING that really stood out for you?

It’s not one single person who has inspired me – rather the many committed and helpful colleagues and managers who actively invest in their teams.

What impresses me most is the culture of mutual support and trust that characterises ING. Whether in daily exchanges, complex projects or challenging times – it’s these encounters and the shared drive to improve our business that motivate and inspire me. It’s the open-minded way we share knowledge and our willingness to help others grow that make ING a place where both personal and professional development really can happen.

What surprised you about joining ING?

Honestly, I used to think of banks as stiff and formal workplaces. But ING is totally different. It’s a welcoming, modern and dynamic place to work.

It’s very international and we collaborate with colleagues from many different countries. Despite these differences, the atmosphere is very collegial – people don’t work against each other, they really work together.

The strong growth mindset here also impressed me. It’s not about preserving the status quo or resting on your laurels – it’s about constant development. I quickly understood that everyone wants to move forward and grow together. For me, that’s totally different to the traditional image of a bank. ING stands for a different kind of corporate culture – one that isn’t “typically bank”, and that’s exactly what I like about it.

What’s your personal tip for anyone interested in ING as an employer?

Just take a look at the ING Germany careers website. You’ll not only find lots of insights into our teams, but also exciting job opportunities. At ING, people with very different backgrounds and lifestyles work together – that ensures both our diversity and our success. There are many opportunities to connect and get involved, such as our Young ING community. There are countless ways to grow and make yourself visible. I’m convinced ING truly stands for what it promises.

If you had to describe ING in three words, which would they be?

Dynamic, international, modern.

ING is always on the move. It keeps developing and has a clear will to grow. At the same time, there’s incredible diversity here, with employees from different countries and cultures, and speaking different languages. I think it’s really unique how the corporate culture is modern, open-minded and team-oriented – it’s totally different from what I expected a bank to be.