Discover People at Soitec

Having joined Soitec as a logistics operator, Fabrice is now a financial controller. His 20-year career within the company, spanning from the warehouse to finance, reflects a constant drive to reinvent himself and take on new challenges.

What is your current role at Soitec?
I’ve been a financial controller in the Finance department for five years. My primary focus is investments (Capex). It’s a rewarding role because I’m given a real degree of autonomy in this scope. My job involves analyzing and tracking the company’s "behind-the-scenes" financial aspects, things you wouldn't necessarily imagine when working on the front line.

How did your journey at Soitec begin?
I joined the company back in 2006. I originally studied accounting, but I randomly pivoted straight into logistics right after. Before Soitec, I was working in the pharmaceutical industry. When I saw a job opening in microelectronics, I was curious to explore the sector. I spent my first nine years in the warehouse, holding virtually every position there.

What pushed you to make a career change?
I’m someone who gets bored fairly quickly if I don't evolve. Right from my job interview in 2006, I mentioned my desire to progress after a few years, and Soitec kept its promise. In 2014, I benefited from an "evolution charter", a mobility program that allowed me to go back to school for a year to become a transport technician. After five years in transport, I felt I had covered everything again. That’s when I saw an internal mobility posting for a role in finance. I wanted to reconnect with my initial background in accounting, even though I had never actually practiced it.

Did you face any challenges during these transitions?
The transition to transport was smooth because I was already familiar with the processes. On the other hand, moving to finance was a completely different challenge. The first year was a steep learning curve: it takes time to master financial mechanisms and month-end closes. I had to learn a massive amount on the job with the help of my colleagues. In 2024, I reached a new milestone by earning my diploma to become a manager. Going from a logistics operator to a managerial status is a true source of pride for me. This path was built step by step over 18 years.

What motivates you in your job today?
The versatility. You get to discover the company from a completely different perspective. When I was in the warehouse, I couldn't have imagined the complexity of what happens on the management side. Today, I love this technical and strategic aspect. Having field experience is also a major asset for understanding what the numbers actually represent.

Looking back, how do you view your career path?
I see it very positively. The reason I’ve stayed at Soitec for so long is precisely because I’ve never been bored. I’ve been able to change careers three times without changing employers. I was also fortunate to be supported by HR teams and managers who believed in my potential to retrain, even when I didn't have all the required diplomas yet.

What advice would you give to a colleague who is hesitant to make the leap?
Go for it! I recently told a former warehouse colleague: don't overthink it. We are fortunate to be in a company that supports employee career progression. Of course, it requires effort, personal sacrifices, and time, especially when you have young children, as was my case. But it's well worth it. Seize opportunities, look into open positions, and get advice from those who have already done it.