I’ve developed a skill to work more efficiently and smoothly.

Read what a semi-senior accountant shares about her first year at Becky. She explaines what helped her to learn work more quickly. Learn what skills she considers to be invaluable in the accounting field.

July 25, 2024

Post by Wilma Ivanisevic

Sofija has been with Becky for about a year, working with VIND Advies, which offers high-quality financial advice and manages tasks like tax returns and financial statements. They support business growth by collaborating on innovative ideas. We asked her a few questions and her answers summarized what she had experienced as one of the Becky employees.

Since I joined Becky in June 2023, my experience as an accountant has had some new aspects. I work with colleagues and clients in the Netherlands, which enables me to learn new things and skills, how to use new software, and get to know Dutch culture and people better. I currently work as a semi-senior accountant.

As a semi-senior accountant, what specific responsibilities do you have?

My daily tasks mostly consist of booking purchase invoices, uploading files with the revenue data, and booking bank statements. Of course, there are other activities like checking, booking, and contacting clients for additional information, depending on the specific needs of the respective client. Also, I prepare and submit VAT declarations on a monthly and quarterly basis as well as do the necessary checks and corrections that precede annual account preparation.

Your current role seems like a stepping stone or a transitional position. Can you talk more about your career development in Becky?

While working for Becky, my role evolved in several ways. I have been assigned new tasks and responsibilities, but now I also have greater independence in work. I learned how to make checks for the preparation of the annual financial statements and how to make the analysis needed for financing assessment, and I’m in the process of learning how to prepare financial statements myself. My next career goal is to become a senior accountant.

How has your pool of clients proved to help gain needed expertise?

Typically, I work with clients involved in selling and installing kitchens and bathrooms, that is shops and showrooms. Since the company I’m working for already has great expertise in this field and has many clients from the same business, some new clients we acquired over time also belong to this line of work. I think it was a great thing for me to have a lot of similar clients at the beginning of my work in Becky. It helped me learn to work more quickly and with the least possible amount of stress. As I grew from the experience in Dutch accounting, I got some new clients as well and the idea of my manager is that I also work with clients with different types of core business to get a broader picture and experience.

Since your clients are in the Netherlands, what helps you to communicate clearly with them? Communication with my clients is generally conducted through email correspondence. When I miss some documents or need additional clarification and further information, I email the client and get answers quickly. If there is some more complex topic that needs to be discussed, usually it’s done in a meeting with the client manager in the Netherlands and he informs me on novelties, changes, or any other agreements with the client.

Given your experience with Becky, what skills are invaluable in this line of work?

Since we use software that allows us to have more clients than I used to have in my previous working experience in accounting, I believe that the key skill is time management at work. Also, the amount of work I have to do for my clients is smaller but since I have more clients than before, I must make a good plan of how and when the work will be done. This enables me to meet deadlines and reduce pressure and stress for both sides. Knowledge of English is essential for my position since all the communication is done in English. Of course, being precise, meticulous, and analytical are invaluable qualities for an accountant.

And to conclude with a technical matter: What accounting software tools have you found especially helpful?

The software I utilize is extremely intuitive and enables me to accomplish tasks more efficiently. I book purchase invoices in Trifact, bank statements, and all the other things in KING. Sometimes for booking I also use Exact. Visionplanner is good for overall analysis and overview, and composing financial statements too. I’m in the process of learning how to make financial statements with the Infine Office Manager.

Dear Sofija, thank you for sharing valuable things you have learned. We look forward to your further career development at Becky.