Leader Talks: The evolution of Liberec business services with Knorr-Bremse

For those seeking a change of pace from the high-pressure environments of larger international cities, Knorr-Bremse is tapping into the potential of Liberec to offer expat employees a unique quality of life. The German producer of systems for rail and road vehicles took a forward-thinking approach back in 2017, leveraging opportunities provided by Czechia to establish its business services center in Liberec.

Today, that center employs around 400 people, each role representing a unique opportunity to stand out professionally without sacrificing access to urban amenities. Liberec’s Global Business Services focus is Finance, Accounting, Controlling, HR, and Procurement.

We talked to Markus Stöckle, Head of Global Business Services, and Steven Reade, Head of Accounting, to learn more about the expansion of the Knorr-Bremse service center, their vision for the future, and upcoming openings for global business services roles.

This article was edited for clarity and length.

Markus Stöckle: The most important priorities for the next three to five years are introducing standardized rules, procedures, and process standards. This includes adopting international standards like BPMN 2.0 for consistent process mapping, ensuring everyone is aligned. We will provide methodological training such as Lean Six Sigma throughout the organization, and we need to focus on managing expenses to remain competitive. By introducing all of this, we will increase quality and efficiency and make the work of our people easier and better organized.

Markus Stöckle: We are a 120-year-old company, a global leader in quality and technology, particularly in the development and production of braking systems. The quality of what we do is critical as people’s lives depend on our systems working flawlessly, and it’s in the heart of our business, together with innovation. We aim to attract younger talent, but it’s important to note that we don’t have a startup mentality. Just like our divisions producing high-end quality products, we need to deliver our share of excellence. 

Steven Reade: We're now expanding from accounts payable into accounts receivable, including cash application and credit control. What we really need is more people with experience in accounting within business services, those with an understanding of accounting as a service. Our accounts payable team covers 14 countries and 32 legal entities, so we deal with 14 different languages. While language skills aren't crucial for accounts payable, they are important in accounts receivable when dealing with customers. Ideally, we'd love to find German-speaking accountants who can also speak a third European language. 

We’re looking for those who embrace change and are driven by automation and improvement, people who aren’t afraid to move away from transactional work and progress into areas like AI and automation. As we evolve from a business service center to an advanced Global business service center, we focus not just on increasing headcount but increasing the value we add to the business.

Markus Stöckle: We're excited to create more opportunities for the local community, offering a wide range of roles in areas like finance, IT, and even our cybersecurity center. We also take pride in providing opportunities for students from local universities. It's rare to find a multi-national company like Knorr-Bremse in Liberec, where you can interact with people who use multiple languages every day. Plus, our benefits are comparable to those offered in larger cities like Prague or Brno, making us a unique and attractive place to work right here in Liberec.

Here, we offer a long-term personal development journey and not just quick certifications for people who work with us. For example, Lean Six Sigma training, and achieving Black Belt expertise can take two to four years, but it opens doors both within Knorr Bremse and externally and with this knowledge, employees can easily transition to roles like quality management in production. 

Steven Reade: Interestingly, I attended a leadership principles workshop recently, so this is a great time to ask this question! Ethics is at the core of everything I do, especially given my accounting and professional background. It’s crucial that things are done the right way, with integrity, without cutting corners or cheating the system. Leading by example is also fundamental for me. I never ask anyone to do something I wouldn’t do myself. If something requires getting your hands dirty, then that’s exactly what we need to do to find improvements.

Markus Stöckle: My favorite part is the high level of independence. Once the board decides on a direction, we execute it without constantly needing approval. This blend of global strategy with local entrepreneurship is part of Knorr Bremse's DNA. We value open communication, addressing problems directly, and working together to find solutions.

Steven Reade: The big difference we want to make is to shift the focus towards a business service mindset rather than just being seen as an outsourced organization handling transactional tasks. The mindset should be that we are a service provider, not just a cost center. The culture we need to foster is one of professionalism, where we consistently deliver high-quality, professional services.

As Markus said, our environment is very independent, and if someone has the vision and drive to improve processes, there’s plenty of room to do that here. We offer people the freedom to design efficient, effective processes using standard methodologies, with limitless opportunities for personal growth and improvement. We would love it if those people join us here in Liberec.