Banking on trust

About the case

Replacing the legacy enterprise resource planning (ERP) system of a major financial institution is never easy, but the rewards of a successful migration can be substantial. For ASN Bank, a smooth transition would bring all the benefits of a modernized finance function, including reduced manual effort, higher-quality data, and deeper insights. In its quest to make Finance a stronger partner to the business, the bank enlisted the support of KPMG’s Finance Transformation team.

From the outset of the project, the two organizations quickly established a strong cultural fit, built on care for their people. In collaboration with our technical partners, we are implementing a more intuitive, agile, and efficient ERP solution, a program calibrated in line with ASN’s wider goal of becoming simpler, faster, and smarter.

Leading this ongoing transformation is Danique Miedema, Finance Transformation Manager at KPMG. As well as years of expertise and experience with financial services clients, Danique brings a strong awareness of the emotions and sensitivities at play in cases like this. With the project now nearing go-live, she reflects on the importance of teamwork, trust, and KPMG’s “mensenwerk” mindset.

“For me, it’s not just about process logistics or timeline planning; I really try to focus on the people involved.”

In conversation with Danique

This project has a more complicated history than others. How did you end up taking on the role of Program Manager?

It was a case of “second time lucky.” ASN first approached us in 2023, but after a few months, the client needed to press pause. When they were ready to restart, I jumped at the chance to be involved, and we were able to kick off in earnest! It was a good fit for me both professionally, as I have a finance background and primarily focus on financial services clients, and personally, as I’d already worked on a previous project with some of ASN’s team.

How did you regain momentum after the hiatus?

We held several inspiration sessions that helped to lay the groundwork and boost engagement. By the end of 2024, we’d been given the green light for a comprehensive finance transformation, from helping ASN find the right vendor to mobilizing the new system. With the new infrastructure planned to go live on January 1, 2026, there was no time to waste. I’m happy to say that momentum is strong as the deadline approaches!

How did you keep the project on track?

My goal is always to create one united team. With ASN, we started with workshops to get to know each other and understand how different people like to work and how we respond to stress. Then, during the project, I check in with people regularly and provide support when needed; after all, “het blijft mensenwerk.” Human interaction, listening, and empathy matter – and never more so than during times of stress. On the day I visited the bank to start the project, ASN announced a reorganization. Naturally, people were distracted, and there was a lot of uncertainty. My role is to be sensitive to situations like this, which can have huge emotional impacts as well as practical consequences. To gain the client’s trust early on, we and our technical partners established close connections, in person, with a core team of people who all brought expertise and actively contributed insights. That’s how we, as KPMG, not only demonstrate our commitment but also add real value.

Is working at KPMG what you expected it to be?

In many ways, yes: I joined because I wanted high-quality, challenging projects and good development opportunities, both of which are plentiful! I’m very curious by nature. I always want to learn more, ask questions, and explore different perspectives. From that point of view, KPMG is a brilliant place to work. You’re constantly exposed to new parts of the organization and complex questions from clients, so it’s impossible to get bored! At our firm, continuous learning means exactly that: whether I’m leading my own career growth or simply getting inspiration from the colleagues and partners I work with.