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Ecolab

  • 1,000 - 50,000 employees

Jayde Tourneur

What's your job about?

Ecolab is an equal opportunity employer and a successful chemical business guided by the mission to create a cleaner, safer and healthier environment. My responsibility is ensuring consistent inward cash flow into the company by managing the accounts of many Ecolab customers to ensure payments are met. The highlight of my experience at Ecolab so far was my project in updating the contract registry for the finance team. This was a task that simplified the contract management process and provided the finance managers better mechanisms to keep track of their progress. It also allowed me to integrate both the finance and legal skills I am developing at university.

What's your background?

I grew up in Western Sydney in a family less concerned with the importance of higher education. However despite this, I had always been incredibly motivated about pursuing higher education and at the age of nine I had already decided I wanted to study Law and Commerce. Whilst this dream came true and my grades remained consistent in university, I lacked any practical experience to be competitive upon graduation and also needed help to decide whether the corporate environment suited my interests. I was drawn to Ecolab due to the ethical stance they held and became a finance intern over summer. This experience was useful in developing my practical skills but more importantly I found that my business communication skills improved in leaps and bounds. Attending a university with tens of thousands of students had made me retract into my shell and starting at Ecolab, where everyone was super welcoming and supportive, really helped me feel more confident to speak out and get involved. Through this internship and networking with people in the business, I was offered a position in Accounts Receivable.

Could someone with a different background do your job?

Yes absolutely. It does not require any particular educational path but rather the ability to assert yourself and be confident when speaking to customers. It also requires a lot of organisation and the determination to reach team goals.

What's the coolest thing about your job?

What I love most about my job is the ability to work with a range of diverse individuals and have the opportunity to attend an array of meetings and social events that allows everyone to remain integrated regardless of what position they hold in the company. Whilst chasing clients for payment can become tiring, when we achieve our results and receive large payments it is satisfying to see that the ability to build rapport with clients, as well as assert yourself, pays off.

What are the limitations of your job?

The biggest limitation of the job is that it requires you to be on the phone a lot. You need to prepare yourself for conversations with many different customers that may not be very happy to have your call.

3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student…

  • Get involved! Try and get involved in as many social activities and groups as your university has to offer! It is a great way to meet new like-minded people as well as gain fresh perspectives from people different from yourself.
  • Whilst it is important to gain experience, don’t feel pressured into rushing into things if it doesn’t feel like the right time. Wait until you feel ready to tackle the workforce and understand your limits.
  • Do not allow work and university to consume you. Make sure you also maintain a social life with friends and family, as they are going to be the ones who are there for you when the going gets tough!