ForewordSchool Training1Another Education After AllPart IAdministrative Assistant 1981 - 19822The Failed Application3Among the Ladies4The First Few Months: Was IT a Good Choice After All?5Exploring Opportunities for Further Education6You May Only Look at ItPart IIProgrammer 1982 - 19867Taking the Ladies to the Office8What Mischief Is that Thing up to In this Place?9Learned a Lot; Forbidden to Act10The Thermal Lance11In the Programming Trenches12Helping Hands13Socially Awkward Adventures14I Can’t Handle It Anymore15The Final Months of IMB16Where Am I Going? Part IIIApplication Manager 1986 - 200117Member of a Larger Group18Meeting the Demand of Our Office Users19Teaching Without Expertise20IT Training21Workflow Automation22Fast-Food Restaurant23Over to Unix24The Cables Are Burning Out25A Snowball Effect26The Challenge of a Change27A Work of Art28The Payroll Team Allies29Is Everything Truly Erased?30May I Have Your Signature, Please?31The Unpredictable Dynamics of Conversations32When It Became Too Much for a Moment33Perils with Publishers34Nice Joke, Guys35Getting on the Same Page36A New Company Car for Huub37How Nico Challenged Me38How Nico Supported Me39What Are You Walking On?40Hello, May I Pass, Please?41Fake Payroll Administrator42Betrayed by Lunch43Arguing Every Two Weeks44You Should Not Use My Words Against Me45Managers Who Give You ConfidencePart IVTechnical Administrator Coordinator 2001 - 200646Challenges within the IT Department47Personal Development Plan48Mrs. Lemon49Encouraged for External Events50How I Had to Say My Final Goodbye to Nico51Shall I Give You a Little Demo?52Almost Overwhelmed by a Project53Can You Turn Down the Sound?54Acquisition of a Payroll DepartmentPart VBusiness Relationship Manager 2007 - 200855Honesty Lasts the Longest?56It Wasn’t Always a Bed of RosesPart VIService Delivery Manager 2009 - 202057A Day in the Life of Jo Auditor58Let’s Go Back to Normal Behavior59The Trip to London60What Are You Looking For?61Team Building62The Meeting I Wasn’t Really Supposed to Be At63Where Is the Fire?64What Is It All About?65Going to India for the First Time66The Sense and Nonsense of Appraisals67Trust68Constructive Chatter69The Green and Blue Balls70You Were My Trusted FriendPart VIIApplication Portfolio Manager 2020 - present71Teacher Peter72Financial Reporting73Why Did I Fall for This?74It Gives Your Work More Depth, Doesn’t It?75The Emperor’s New ClothesConclusionThank youPeter van Es shares his IT career at accounting firm EY in 75 anecdotes, grouped into 7 life phases. Humorous and serious moments will surely resonate with readers.What do you do when you want to pursue a technical education but face obstacles? Certainly not become a boring, dusty accountant, right? In my case, that's exactly what happened. I found economics and administration interesting. While I thought I could do accounting well and applied for the position of assistant accountant, my life took a second turn. Uniquely, this led me into the realm of technology. The narrative of an IT professional originally aspiring to be an accountant unravels this story.This book outlines office life at an accounting firm over the past forty years. It portrays the challenging and amusing moments etched in my experiences. What lingers most vividly are the interactions with colleagues, clients, and suppliers. Though there were trying times, I was fortunate to have supportive colleagues and trusting managers. This book recounts this remarkably beautiful period."Peter has shown in a completely unique way what it means to enjoy your work." (Herman Ligtenberg)"Anyone who thinks that office life is dull and routine leads to monotony will find here the proof of the opposite. Colleagues become like family!"