German - English linguist with expertise since

1998

About Me

Verena Zipperer

My work in Corporate Finance spans more than 20 years. I have acquired expertise in matters both financial and legal, I was also a sought-after participant in the more complex deals for my employers. I have worked as a credit and rating auditor and honed multi-cultural communication skills in many a board-room.

I can say I was successful in all of my endeavours, but I wanted to challenge myself even more. I wanted to combine my knowledge in the finance field with my passion for languages, to provide my clients with truly dependable linguistic services into German.

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Multicultural qualifications

Translation-specific degree and supporting Continuous Professional Development.

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Active Background in Finance

Supported by excellent, topical education in both English and German languages.

My qualifications

01/2023 (ongoing)

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Qualifying as Certified Internal Auditor

Institute of Internal Auditors

Master of Arts in Translation (English / German)

The Open University (Milton Keynes, UK)

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02/2021 – 03/2023

Skilled work

11/2013 – 06/2020

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Master of Business Administration

The Open University (Milton Keynes, UK)

Bachelor of Banking Business Administration

Frankfurt School of Finance & Management

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2000 – 2002

Foundations in Finance

My process

1. Client query

My work starts with a client query about a possible project, which marks the beginning of our relationship for new clients and a potential start of a new project for returning clients.

Sometimes this will double as the final stage of a potential project if I have to turn down the offer or the client decides we’re not a good fit.

2. Pre-project analysis

Below are some questions I ask myself when analysing the query. Some of these questions I will then pass on to the potential client.

  • Who is my client and which company are they representing?
  • What is the format and the word count of the document?
  • What are the source and target languages?
  • Does the subject meet my specialisations? Are any reference materials such as translation glossaries provided?
  • Who is the target audience and what is the aim of the translated document?
  • How much time does my client give me to complete the work? Does it match my schedule?
  • What is my client’s budget?

Preparation

This is the initial stage of the project starting even before the client query can be accepted and becomes a valid contract between us.

3. Project Specifications

Before I can commit myself fully, I might need additional information about the finer details of the project. This step is different from pre-project analysis as it’s much more technical and has more to do with the reference material for the project, client’s preferred CAT tools and related matters.

 

4. Project decision and quote

After I have analysed the project scope and all the questions have been answered for both the client and myself, I prepare quote, which is then sent to the client.

This quote typically includes the delivery date, the total cost of the project and all the conditions to the client. If they accept the estimate, the client will have to sign it, and it becomes a contract.

1. Pre-translation analysis

I will now read the text in its entirety to get a thorough understanding of the general meaning. Then, I analyse it in depth, for example by underlining the words and expressions I am not yet sure how to render in the target language.

Some of the questions I like to ask myself at this stage include:

  • What is the style and register of the text?
  • What is the writer’s purpose?
  • What technical vocabulary is used?
  • What are the key elements, such as proper names, places, dates, numbers, and so on?
2. Terminology research

This is where I solve all of the issues I’d found in the previous step. Sometimes, I will ask the client to try to clarify any doubts of understanding or errors contained in the source text. Before that, however, I often do a little more research on the subject, study reference documents given to me by the client, and do all I can to respect the client’s time.

Translation

Everything that goes into having a text translated.

3. Terminology update

I often create my own glossary for the project, and will happily update the client’s glossaries if needed.

4. Translation

After finishing all the preparation work, this is where I perform my task of translation or transcreation. I am armed with prior knowledge and have already decided on the translation strategy and resulting methods.

1. Formatting

This is where I check the translated text for visual consistency. I also make sure it follows the format specified by the client in the initial stages of the project. In particular, I make sure that the following points are consistent:

  • fonts and emphasis,
  • bullets and numbers,
  • spacing,
  • margins,
  • graphics,
  • colours,
  • tables.
    2. Proofreading

    Checking the target text for:

    • punctuation,
    • spelling,
    • grammar and syntax,
    • conjugation,
    • numbers and mathematical symbols,
    • units of measure and conversions.

    Consolidation

    What happens after the text has been translated, before it is ready for the client.

    3. Editing

    This is where I compare source and target text to check for issues regarding:

    • completeness,
    • accuracy,
    • style,
    • register,
    • consistency,
    • readability.
      4. Verification and delivery

      It’s now time for quality control processes carried out by my tools. After this, the text is sent to the client so they can verify on their side, too. Everything within the deadline, of course.

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