Roberto De Maira, Digital Finance Transformation & O2C Lead, accenture

In order to help current students and recent graduates to find their way in the working world, many of our alumni shared their career story. Here the story of Roberto De Maira, Director, Strategy & Consulting – Digital Finance Transformation & Order-to-Cash Lead in accenture in Warsaw (PL). USI Degree: Bachelor in Economics, 2010.

How did you start your career?

I started my career in shared services and finance operations. My first roles were at Accenture in Warsaw as a Credit & Collections Specialist and then as a General Ledger Accountant, working very close to the “engine room” of Finance – balance sheet reconciliations, intercompany, VAT, and day-today Order-to-Cash activities. After that, I moved to the client side as Credit & Stock Manager for Pandora in Italy, where I led a local credit & stock team and collaborated with a shared service center in Warsaw. This combination of operational experience, both in a shared service center and on the business side, gave me a very pragmatic understanding of how processes, systems, and people really work in practice.

Why did you choose a career at accenture?

I chose accenture because it allows me to combine three things I care about: strategy, technology, and real business impact. I can work with leading global companies, help them redesign their Finance and Order-toCash operating models, and actually see those ideas implemented in systems like SAP S/4HANA. Accenture also offers an international, multicultural environment with continuous learning. Over the years I have been able to work across different industries and geographies, lead large transformation programs, and build and grow a specialized Order-to-Cash team—something that would be much harder to do in a smaller organization.

What is your current role/duties?

I am a Director in accenture’s Strategy & Consulting practice, focusing on Digital Finance Transformation and Order-to-Cash.
My role has three main dimensions:

• Client delivery: I lead large Finance and Order-to-Cash transformation programs (often SAP S/4HANA–based) for global clients. This includes defining target operating models, designing processes, shaping requirements, and supporting implementation and change management.
• Capability building: I develop and lead our European Order-to-Cash team within the Finance practice, coaching consultants and analysts, and defining our methods, assets, and best practices.
• Business development: I support and lead go-to-market activities, RFPs, and client workshops, helping clients understand where they can create value and how to build a roadmap to get there.

In your opinion, what are the qualities necessary for a successful career at accenture?

A few qualities make a real difference at accenture:

• Curiosity and willingness to learn: Technology and business models evolve quickly. You need to enjoy learning new tools, industries, and ways of working.
• Client mindset: Being genuinely interested in the client’s problems and success—not just in delivering a task—is essential.
• Ownership and reliability: Taking responsibility, delivering on time, and being someone others can trust in critical moments.
• Teamwork and communication: We work in multidisciplinary, international teams. The ability to collaborate, listen, and communicate clearly is crucial.
• Resilience and adaptability: Large transformations are complex and sometimes messy. Being able to stay positive and adapt when priorities change is key.

What positive aspects and qualities meant most to you during the study programme you attended?

For me, the most valuable aspects of my USI experience were:

• Small classes and close contact with professors: This created a very interactive environment where you are not just a number, and you can really ask questions and discuss.
• International and multilingual context: Studying in Lugano meant being exposed to different cultures and languages (Italian, English, etc.), which is very useful in a global career.
• Strong quantitative foundation combined with a managerial view: The programme in Economics and Finance & Accounting gave me both technical skills (e.g., accounting, finance, statistics) and an understanding of business decisions.
• Practical orientation: Case studies, group work and projects helped me to connect theory with real-life situations.

What competences and skills acquired in your USI Study Program have been useful/are useful to your professional career?

Several skills from USI have been directly useful in my career:

• Solid understanding of Finance & Accounting: Being able to read financial statements, understand cash flows, and speak the language of CFOs is fundamental in my work.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills: Structuring complex problems, working with data, and building clear, logical arguments are at the core of consulting.
• Working in multicultural teams: Many projects at USI were done in international groups, which is very similar to how we work in consulting.
• Communication and presentation skills: Preparing presentations and explaining complex topics in a clear way is something I use every day with clients and teams.
• Time management and discipline: Balancing exams, projects, and sometimes part-time work prepared me well for the pace of consulting projects.

What is your advice to USI students entering the job market?

My main suggestions would be:

• Start close to the action: Look for roles where you are close to core processes (operations, finance, supply chain). This gives you a strong foundation that will be valuable later, whether you stay in industry or move into consulting.
• Don’t over-optimize your first job title: Focus on the learning curve, the quality of the team, and the exposure you get, more than on the title in your first role.
• Be open to mobility: Being willing to move country or city, especially early on, can open many opportunities.
• Invest in soft skills: Technical skills are important, but communication, teamwork, and resilience are what make you stand out.
• Use the USI network: Stay in touch with classmates, join alumni events, and don’t hesitate to reach out to alumni on LinkedIn for advice or informal conversations.