Bridging Technology, Process & People for Lasting Impact
Practical innovation and genuine collaboration—where change is sustainable because people own it.
About Me
"Creating value is in my DNA — and today, technology innovation like GenAI is one of the most powerful ways I help organizations achieve it."
I'm Gerald Croes, an independent consultant with 25+ years of experience in Finance, Control, Reporting, and process improvement. I help organizations simplify complex work, improve performance, and build smarter workflows — always with people at the center.
My signature approach combines deep expertise with hands-on AI adoption and Agile methodology, so teams don't just get new tools — they actually change how work gets done. Not AI for AI's sake, but practical improvements that reduce manual effort, speed up insights, and create more space for good decision-making.
What Makes Me Different
Originally from Aruba and based in the Netherlands since 1998, I bring cultural intelligence alongside technical expertise. I speak Dutch, English, Spanish, and Papiamento fluently, with working proficiency in French. I've developed a natural ability to bridge cultures, build trust across boundaries, and facilitate collaboration in diverse teams. This multicultural perspective makes change smoother and more sustainable.
How I Work
I don't just advise — I roll up my sleeves and work side-by-side with teams. I support organizations with:
Beyond Work
Together with my wife and our three children, I'm a passionate traveler—having explored 50+ countries across 4 continents, including a seven-month sabbatical around the world. I believe the best solutions emerge when diverse perspectives come together. Based in the Netherlands while maintaining strong professional ties to Aruba, I bring fresh insights while understanding local nuances.
How I Can Work With You
I partner with organizations in three distinct ways. Each service combines hands-on execution with strategic thinking, always keeping people at the center of transformation.
Overview
Step into critical leadership roles for finance transformation, reporting migration, and process optimization. I combine hands-on execution with strategic thinking to resolve structural issues, align stakeholders, and deliver results in Agile/Scrum environments.
Currently supporting Rabobank's migration of external reporting to their new reporting system while ensuring timely delivery of monthly FinRep reports. My focus is on resolving structural issues, supporting process design, and ensuring stakeholder alignment.
Who It's For
- Banks undergoing reporting system migrations
- Finance teams needing interim leadership during transformation
- Organizations requiring Agile/Scrum implementation in finance functions
- Companies facing critical reporting or compliance deadlines
What You Get
- Hands-on leadership and execution (not just advisory)
- Process design and improvement in Agile environments
- Stakeholder alignment across Finance, IT, and Business
- Problem-solving for structural issues and bottlenecks
- Monthly/quarterly reporting delivery while driving change
- Project management in Agile/Scrum frameworks
- Knowledge transfer to build internal capability
How It Works
I work through my proven Discover → Pilot → Embed → Scale methodology, adapted to your specific interim needs. Typical engagements run 6–12 months, though shorter or longer arrangements are possible based on your transformation timeline.
Recent Work
Strengthened performance management within ABN Amro Detecting Financial Crime (DFC), connecting Finance with Operations and driving cost transparency across the organization (September 2024 – June 2025)
Typical Engagement
Duration: 6–12 months
Location: Netherlands (hybrid work model)
Availability: Currently engaged, available for new assignments
Overview
Move beyond AI experimentation into practical, secure adoption. As an Independent Partner at AI-FD, I help insurance brokers and mortgage advisory firms implement ChatGPT-based workflows and custom GPTs that improve productivity and strengthen quality in client communication, reporting, and dossier handling—while keeping a strong focus on compliance, privacy, and data sensitivity.
Who It's For
- Insurance brokers seeking to improve productivity and client service quality
- Mortgage advisory firms wanting to automate repetitive tasks while maintaining compliance
- Financial service providers ready to move from AI experimentation to practical adoption
How It Works
We start with an intake session where we co-design a workshop tailored to your specific challenges. During the one-day on-site workshop, I work hands-on with your team to build and configure custom GPTs together—client communication assistants, dossier checklists, policy comparison tools, and meeting-to-actions assistants.
You leave with working solutions, practical templates, clear usage guardrails, and the knowledge to use them immediately. After the workshop, I provide remote support to ensure adoption, answer questions, and refine solutions based on real-world usage.
What Makes This Different
- Co-designed workshops tailored to your practice
- Hands-on implementation—you leave with working solutions, not just theory
- Strong focus on compliance, privacy, and data security (critical for financial services)
- Remote follow-up support to ensure successful adoption
- Human-in-the-loop approach—AI augments, doesn't replace
Typical Engagement
Format: Half-day or full-day on-site workshop
Location: Netherlands + remote support
Delivery: Intake → Workshop → Follow-up support
Overview
As Independent Partner at SciSpecs, I help organisations turn strategic ambitions into practical and sustainable change. I focus on AI transformation, operating model improvement, enterprise architecture, process optimisation and Agile delivery.
I work with leadership teams to identify where AI and technology can create meaningful value and to align these opportunities with business processes, governance, organisational capabilities and people. This creates the conditions required to move beyond experimentation towards responsible and effective implementation.
My role combines strategic advisory, interim management and hands-on transformation support. I bring executives, managers and operational teams together to clarify complex challenges, improve collaboration and translate strategic direction into workable solutions and lasting organisational capabilities.
Who It's For
- Organisations exploring where AI and technology can create meaningful value
- Leadership teams modernising their operating model and enterprise architecture
- Financial institutions strengthening compliance, reporting and efficiency
- Government agencies and regulated organisations improving governance
- Teams implementing Agile ways of working
What You Get
- Strategic advisory on AI and technology transformation
- Operating model improvement and enterprise architecture guidance
- Process optimisation and operational efficiency programmes
- Agile delivery and ways-of-working transformation
- Compliance and regulatory reporting strengthening (AML, KYC)
- Multilingual facilitation (English, Dutch, Spanish, Papiamento)
- Knowledge transfer and capability building
How It Works
I partner with your leadership team to understand strategic priorities and operational challenges. Together, we design a transformation roadmap that balances quick wins with sustainable change. I work hands-on with teams through the Discover → Pilot → Embed → Scale methodology, ensuring solutions fit your context and regulatory environment.
What Makes This Different
Strategic advisory, interim management and hands-on transformation support in one, combining AI and Agile capabilities with deep finance and regulated-sector experience, a multicultural perspective, and a focus on building internal capability rather than creating dependency.
Typical Engagement
Duration: Project-based (3–12 months) or retainer
Location: Aruba (with remote support from Netherlands)
Delivery: Strategic advisory, hands-on implementation, team coaching
Not Sure Which Service You Need?
Let's have a conversation. I'm happy to explore your challenges and recommend the best way we can work together.
Schedule a CallMy Approach
I work in a structured and collaborative way, following a clear flow to ensure lasting impact. Click on each step to learn more.
I work alongside your team to understand how work really gets done—through hands-on workshops and collaborative sessions. We identify pain points together, build consensus among stakeholders, and co-create a prioritized backlog of practical use cases. The outcome: a clear roadmap with shared understanding of business value and genuine buy-in from day one.
I work side-by-side with your team to build and test solutions in short 2-4 week cycles—whether it's a custom GPT, workflow redesign, or automated report. We track concrete metrics and celebrate progress along the way. The outcome: tangible proof that works, with measurable impact that justifies moving forward.
I work shoulder-to-shoulder with teams to integrate new solutions into daily routines—co-creating templates, solving problems, and providing hands-on coaching. We establish regular check-ins to review what's working and adjust based on real experience. The outcome: teams that own the solution and keep making it better, with clear evidence of value delivered.
I work directly with new teams to adapt solutions to their context—providing hands-on support and maintaining open communication across the organization. We track cumulative impact and celebrate wins together. The outcome: organization-wide results achieved through collaborative expansion and positive momentum, with measurable ROI.
Experience & Credentials
A career built on continuous growth, strategic impact, and hands-on delivery.
Current Roles
Senior Reporting Specialist
Rabobank · Self-employed
Assisting in the migration of external reporting to new systems while contributing to timely delivery of monthly FinRep reports. Focus on resolving structural issues, supporting process design, and ensuring stakeholder alignment in an Agile/Scrum environment.
AI Implementation Partner
AI-FD · Self-employed
Supporting insurance brokers and mortgage advisory firms in moving beyond AI experimentation into practical, secure adoption. Implementing ChatGPT-based workflows and custom GPTs with strong focus on compliance, privacy, and data sensitivity.
Agile Delivery & Finance Expert
SciSpecs · Self-employed
Helping organisations turn strategic ambitions into practical and sustainable change, focusing on AI transformation, operating model improvement, enterprise architecture, process optimisation and Agile delivery. Combining strategic advisory, interim management and hands-on transformation support.
Education
Master of Science (MSc), Accountancy & Control
University of Amsterdam
2013 - 2014
Bachelor of Economics, Business Economics
Inholland University of Applied Sciences
2005 - 2009
Certifications
- ICAgile Certified Professional - Agile Coaching
- ICAgile Certified Professional - Agile Team Facilitation
- Professional Scrum Product Owner II (PSPO II)
- Professional Scrum Master™ II (PSM II)
- Professional Agile Leadership I (PAL I)
Languages
What People Say
Trusted by colleagues and clients across the financial services industry.
"Gerald and I worked together as Scrum Master and Product Owner for 2 years. We implemented the Agile way of working from scratch, combining change and run to a high standard. The passion and drive of Gerald pushed me and the team to speed-up the Agile implementation and become more efficient, productive and transparent."
Bram Saatkamp
Product Owner at Rabobank
"Ik heb Gerald leren kennen als een uiterst toegewijde en professionele consultant. Zijn gedrevenheid om resultaten te behalen gaat altijd hand in hand met een scherp oog voor wat écht nodig is. Binnen ons team heeft Gerald een cruciale rol gespeeld in het aanbrengen van structuur."
I've come to know Gerald as an extremely dedicated and professional consultant. His drive to achieve results always goes hand in hand with a keen eye for what's truly needed.
Jeanette van Woerkom
Senior Reporting Specialist at ABN AMRO
"During this period of significant change, Gerald demonstrated that with his combination of financial knowledge, knowledge of systems and open communication, he is able to add value to the organization within a short time frame. I have experienced my interaction with Gerald as pleasant and constructive."
Sanjin Nabuurs RC
Former Manager at Royal Bank of Scotland
Let's Connect
Whether it's for a pilot, a workshop, or a roadmap to make it real — I'm here to help you explore how process improvement and GenAI can accelerate transformation in your domain.
Connect with me on LinkedIn
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Send me a message
Location
Amsterdam, Netherlands & Aruba
Ready to Transform Your Organization?
Let's discuss how we can work together to simplify complexity, drive efficiency, and create lasting value through innovation and people-centered change.