Dheeraj Vij
Please tell us a few words about yourself and your career path.
I am Dheeraj Vij, Head Business Shared Service (BSC), India. I completed my Chartered Accountancy at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and then did my Masters in Business Administration at the Bradford School of Management, United Kingdom.
I started my career journey at PricewaterhouseCoppers, where I was an audit assistant. Right before joining RHI Magnesita, I was heading the PwC Centre of Excellence, Finance Delivery for British Council Global Shared Services.
I’ve worked for the organizations that are leaders in their industries. Over the last two decades, I’ve helped them drive business transformation by designing processes that solve business issues and assist in developing excellent working conditions.
I believe in taking consistent small steps that lead to a gigantic leap; these steps should be taken by a diverse team, driven by the same goal. In my book, a good leader should follow a 3V principle: vision, versatility, value. Profession in Finance is not only about numbers.
On a personal front, I stay in New Delhi with my wife, and I am blessed with two boys, with whom I enjoy playing and watching cricket.
Why exactly did you apply for RHI Magnesita?
What caught my attention about RHI Magnesita is its “growth story”. RHI Magnesita’s India business has been growing steadily. It acts as a leader in the refractory industry and aims for best-in class service delivery, which is value-adding, reliable, cost-competitive, and compliant. The leadership team understands the need for development of a robust service management framework.
I felt that my two decades of experience of working with Shared Services (SSC) & Centre of Excellence aligned with the vision of RHI Magnesita. I would like to again thank the leadership team for trusting in me. It’s a pleasure and privilege to be part of the transformation journey in India and to create a strategic asset, a BSC, which serves our stakeholders and colleagues.
What is your current role and how does your day look like?
I am leading the India BSC operations. We deliver value-based quality services that are efficient and effective; we push for speed, accuracy, and transparency. As a business partner, I often engage with stakeholders to provide insights that help boost performance.
In addiiton to focusing on customer centricity, we are also commited to imporving experience of our employees and providing various learning opportunitities. We try to establish a “growth mindset”, backed by inclusiveness and company values.
I joined the company 6 months ago. Every day has been exiting and brought interesting new projects. There are also a few challenges, but they are embedded in any new shared service set up.
How did you get interested in this field?
I come from a family of finance professionals. From a young age, I have been inspired by the work ethics of my father, who works in Finance as well. I grew up hearing stories of how finance plays a pivotal role in driving the organizational strategy in a sustainable way. In addition, my role allows me to stay real, juggle with multiple priorities, and make a decision – this resonates with my personality.
What’s the most unexpected skill you’ve gained at RHI Magnesita?
Something I discovered about myself in the last few months is my ability to deal with rapid changes. During my second week, I found out that the project had to be put on hold. However, being agile and keeping preservarence, we managed to find a solution. Last week, the project reached its decisive stage.
Any advice to people who consider applying?
If you have an apetite for navigating through ambiguity, eager to learn new things, and you are a a self starter – this place will enable you to flourish, both as an individual and as a professional.