Patrick Koen: Precision and Foresight in Revenue Assurance

What does the game of squash and revenue assurance have in common? Both are fast paced, requiring precision and good foresight. In addition, both are Patrick Koen’s passions. Patrick describes himself as competitive and analytical with a ‘go for it’ personality that serves him both on and off the squash court. “I like to take on problems or tackle projects and make them work. I am the type of person who likes to see the big picture and meet challenges head-on,” Patrick told staff writer Kathy B, during GRAPA training in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Patrick presently works for KPN and lives in Haarlem, Netherlands with his long time girlfriend.

After receiving his master’s degree in business administration, Patrick began working at Deloitte as an IT auditor. “During that time many of my clients were in the media and telecom industry. I did IT audits for annual statements at some of the larger telecoms.” While working at Telfort he got to know the revenue assurance manager. That was his first introduction to revenue assurance. Later in his career he did internal audits for KPN and spent a few years in corporate Internal Audit. “I started to focus on the revenue cycle for KPN’s mobile business. Then KPN bought Telfort and because the revenue assurance manager remembered me, we started talking. That is how I became part of the revenue assurance department at KPN,” says Patrick.

Patrick has worked in the revenue assurance department for about a year now. “I work more with revenue assurance on the operational side. We work in two teams; business, DSL, internet and postpaid and prepaid mobile. I work with the mobile team,” explains Patrick. “It has been interesting seeing how the revenue assurance department has come together.”

When he is not working, Patrick spends a lot of time on the squash court. “Winning is the second most most important thing,” says Patrick, “the challenge is the first.”

Although it is difficult to imagine Patrick sitting still long enough, he also enjoys reading. His favourites are American writers like John Irving who wrote A Prayer for Owen Meany and The World According to Garp, post-modern writer Don DeLillo, and Thomas Wolfe.

The GRAPA Blog features profiles of attendees of GRAPA training and GRAPA members.