With the 77th Federal Gymnastics Festival taking place from 12 to 22 June, we asked our deputy director of the Lausanne Audit Department, Alexandre Volet, who is also the financial director of this national event, to give us his views on the management of these two roles.

Find out more about him in these questions:

How did you come to be the Financial Director of the Federal Gymnastics Festival?

Gymnastics has always played a central role in my life, ever since I was a child. Over the years, I have gradually strengthened my commitment to the gymnastics community, at local, cantonal and federal level. My career path naturally led me to become involved in the GymVaud Cantonal Committee, where I had the opportunity to take part in a working group tasked with determining the best city or region to host the Federal Gymnastics Festival in the canton of Vaud. This fascinating experience then led me to join the bid committee.

When the position of Financial Director became available, it seemed only natural that I should apply. My long-standing commitment and my desire to contribute to the return of this event to Vaud - 74 years after it was last held here - were powerful driving forces. I am deeply honoured to be able to make this collective dream come true and to play a key role in the organisation of such an emblematic event for our canton.

What does this role mean to you, both personally and professionally?

This role of Financial Director of the Federal Gymnastics Festival is rich in meaning for me, both professionally and personally. Professionally, after many years spent reviewing other people's accounts, finding myself on the other side of the fence is a stimulating challenge. Producing the accounts and managing the payroll are responsibilities that offer me a new and rewarding perspective. What's more, the sheer scale of the event gives me the opportunity to come to grips with complex technical issues, particularly VAT, which further enhances my expertise.

On a personal level, it's a role that allows me to forge invaluable links with people who are as passionate as they are skilled in their respective fields. It's an opportunity to experience an extraordinary human adventure, made up of enriching encounters and a collective commitment to a common goal. Involving myself in this mission is much more than a simple professional challenge; it's total immersion in a community that shares my values and my passion for gymnastics.

What are your main responsibilities at this event?

As part of the Federal Gymnastics Festival, my responsibilities as Finance Director are varied. First of all, on a day-to-day basis, I'm in charge of day-to-day financial operations, such as paying invoices, preparing salaries and keeping the accounts. In addition to this, there are a number of other tasks.

In the run-up to the event, one of my main tasks was to draw up a budget of 29 million euros, update it regularly and ensure that it was implemented at all levels of the organisation. Cash management and planning, as well as setting up relevant financial indicators, have also taken up a lot of my time. During the event, I'm responsible for overseeing the entire cash collection system. At the same time, I have to be ready to deal with any unforeseen circumstances that may arise, quickly assessing their impact on our budget. Once the event is over, it's time to finalise the accounts.

In addition to my financial duties, I also act as a point of contact for all insurance and legal matters.
Fortunately, I'm not alone in this adventure. I can count on a fantastic team of four people who have generously given their time and skills to this ambitious project. Thanks to this support, we're in a position to meet the challenges with efficiency and enthusiasm.

How do you reconcile your commitment to the Federal Gymnastics Festival with your work at Berney Associés?

I'm convinced that when you're really passionate about a project, you can always find the resources and the time to give it your all. To reconcile my commitment to the Federal Gymnastics Festival with my work at Berney Associés, I rely on good organisation, rigorous planning and effective prioritisation of tasks. Naturally, this requires a few concessions and sacrifices, but the experience is well worth it. Helping to organise an event of this scale is a unique opportunity. It's a challenge I've chosen to take up with enthusiasm and determination.

Have you had to adapt the way you work to meet the demands of these two roles?

No, I haven't really had to adapt my way of working to meet the demands of these two roles. For many years now, I've been used to juggling a job at 100 %, an active family life and various extra-professional voluntary activities. This experience has enabled me to develop the ability to manage my time and priorities effectively, which is crucial in reconciling these different responsibilities.

How is Berney Associés supporting you in this venture?

As soon as I became involved in 2022, Groupe Berney Associés showed its support by agreeing to take me on part-time, which enabled me to carry out these two activities simultaneously. When my commitment to Lausanne 2025 needed to be stepped up, they were proactive in finding solutions, ensuring a win-win situation for all parties involved. I doubt that many other trustees would have been prepared to reduce my working hours and then free me up completely for several months, especially at the height of the busy season.

Since 2022, Berney Associés has offered me great flexibility in managing my schedule, which has been crucial for me. This flexibility has been one of the keys to my success in reconciling these commitments. I'm very grateful for all the support I've received and I'd like to warmly thank all the people in-house who have been involved in enabling me to have this extraordinary experience.

Why do you think it's important for a company to value its employees' commitment to external projects?

In my opinion, it's really important these days for a company to value its employees' commitment to external projects. It shows that it recognises and appreciates the skills and initiative of its employees, which boosts their motivation and commitment.

Getting involved in external projects is an incredible opportunity to develop new skills, broaden my network and enrich my career path. In my case, this experience is a four-year professional interlude, full of lessons and encounters. This role has enabled me to develop additional skills that will ultimately benefit my clients by bringing them real added value.

Secondly, encouraging involvement in external projects also helps to reinforce the company's image as a socially responsible player invested in its community. This creates a positive working environment, where employees feel supported and valued in all their aspirations.

However, I also think that having the support of your company to get involved in external projects is an opportunity, and it's important to recognise this and be grateful for it.

Do you have any anecdotes or memorable moments to share from this experience?

Over the past three years, our journey has been punctuated by many anecdotes and key moments. We started out as a small start-up and have grown to become an organisation of over 200 people. Among the milestones, I remember the joy of winning the bid, creating the organising association, hiring our first employee and moving into our first offices. Each of these stages was a step towards our goal and contributed to our growth. Today, as we prepare to integrate some 4,500 volunteers, I can see just how far we've come. Our meetings with the Organising Committee, of which 90 % of the members are volunteers, have been particularly inspiring and bear witness to the collective commitment of our volunteers.

However, I believe that the most memorable moments are still to come, between 12 and 22 June. Seeing all these years of work come to fruition will certainly be filled with intensity and emotion. It's an exciting prospect to see all our hard work come to life at this long-awaited event.