Rebecca Freeman
At DALIM SOFTWARE, the people behind the product are just as interesting as the technology itself. In our Meet the Team series, we sit down with the folks who keep things running, building, and growing across our international offices.
This month, we're talking to Céline Utard, CFO and Head of Human Resources at DALIM SOFTWARE GmbH. With 27 years at the company under her belt, Céline has seen DALIM evolve from a small software team (bare feet on desks included) into the global business it is today. She's also, it turns out, working toward a Master's degree, raising a teenager, and fitting in Zumba somewhere in between.
1. Can you tell us a little about your role at DALIM and what your day-to-day looks like?
I am Chief Financial Officer at DALIM SOFTWARE GmbH, and also in charge of Human Resources. My day-to-day work involves checking in with the admin and finance team to make sure everything is on track, respecting deadlines, answering outstanding questions, and when there's a little time left, working on improving our processes.
2. What drew you to a career in finance, and what's brought you to where you are today?
I studied Administration Economique et Social, which was very multidisciplinary - covering legal, economics, marketing, accounting, and more. Once I had my Master's, I decided to look for a job without restricting myself to one department, and the first one I found was in accounting. After nearly two years in that first position, I looked for another opportunity and was hired as an accountant assistant by DALIM SOFTWARE GmbH. In the 27 years since, I have learned and improved every single day, and never once got bored.
3. What do you enjoy most about working at DALIM specifically - is there anything that surprised you about the company when you joined?
What surprised me when I joined still makes me smile today. I was 25 years old, it was my second job, and it was my first experience of the software development world - developers in particular. Bare feet on the desk, ventilation holes cut into shirt sleeves, saying hello while still staring at the screen... it was a completely new world for me, though I have to admit it has changed a lot over the years.
What I enjoy most about DALIM is the company culture - the family spirit and the way we work collectively. The fact that we all move in the same direction, with kindness and solidarity, is what matters most to me. The team and its positive attitude.
4. DALIM has a really international team - how does that come through in your work, and do you enjoy that side of things?
When I started at DALIM, I was nervous about commuting to Germany every day and whether my German would be good enough. I also went back to adult education to improve my English.
Today, I switch between languages in seconds depending on who I'm speaking or writing to. And of course, working internationally isn't just about language - it's about culture and human connection. To interact well with an American shareholder or an English or Brazilian colleague, you need to have a sense of what's happening in the world.
Understanding English jokes is still a challenge for me, but I love it. I can't imagine my professional life without that intercultural dimension.
5. What does a "good day" at work look like for you?
A day where I've learned something, and where I've been able to teach something to someone else. A day where I've made a dent in my to-do list and feel satisfied with the results.
6. Outside of work, what keeps you busy? Any hobbies or passions you'd like to share?
As a single mother, my teenager keeps me pretty busy. My one real hobby is Zumba, and seeing my friends is also very important to me. On top of that, I've been back at university since January this year, working toward a Master's in Human Resources and Corporate Social Responsibility, which I'm hoping to complete by mid-2027. So between those three things, there isn't much time left for anything else.
7. Is there a skill, talent, or fact about yourself that might surprise your colleagues?
Probably not for anyone who knows me - although maybe for a new colleague. They already know about my motorbike licence (and that getting back on a bike is still on my to-do list), they know about Zumba, they know I like singing, and they know I express my emotions by crying. I'm fairly well known to my team.
8. Finally - if you could give one piece of advice to someone starting out in their career, what would it be?
Follow your feelings. If something doesn't feel right, try somewhere else. The right place at the right moment - if it's not here, it's somewhere else. No stress. You'll find it.
Céline's story is a good reminder that a career rarely follows a straight line - and that the best workplaces are the ones where you never stop learning. From an accountant assistant to CFO and HR lead in 27 years, she's grown with DALIM in every sense.
We'll leave you with her advice for anyone just starting out: follow your feelings, and trust that the right place will come at the right moment.