Birgitta and Katariina Master the Complex and Intriguing World of International Accounting

In this career story, we take you behind the scenes to explore the workdays of two experienced Accounting Advisors at Staria, Birgitta Malinen and Katariina Koskela. Let’s hear what they have to say!

The daily life of an Accounting Advisor is dynamic and engaging

Birgitta, Senior Accounting Advisor, and Katariina, Accounting Advisor, normally kick off their workday by checking emails and Teams messages. "We prioritize these first thing in the morning, and based on these, decide what needs to be tackled on that day. Each day can be very different depending on the customer projects or if a colleague needs assistance with something," explains Birgitta.

Month-end closings bring a particularly intense period with tight schedules. "The closing period usually lasts two weeks, and the actual closing is completed in four, at most five days. After that, we move on to balance sheet reconciliations and other items on our to-do list," Birgitta describes. Once the closing period is over, there's more time to focus on project-based work and development initiatives. "For instance, we recently implemented a fixed assets module for one of our customers. This has automated their accounting processes, significantly reducing our manual tasks," Birgitta continues.

Global customers bring unique and rewarding challenges

The Accounting Advisors in Staria’s Global Services team typically work with one or a few larger customers, allowing for an in-depth focus and understanding of the customers' specific needs. Katariina is currently responsible for the general ledger of three globally operating customers. "My customers have subsidiaries in six different countries: Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, and Malaysia," she explains. "The international aspect brings interesting complexity and positive challenges to my work."

Birgitta has also been involved in customer projects across several countries. "I've been part of customer projects in 11 different countries," she laughs. This experience has brought Birgitta numerous interesting challenges and learning opportunities. "The first year with a customer is usually busy, as we are laying the groundwork for our collaboration and ensuring a smooth start," she explains. Birgitta emphasized the joy of working with international customers. "It's really enjoyable to collaborate with them, and different cultures enrich the work. The same applies to our own team, which is very multicultural and full of diverse expertise."

"If I had to describe my job in a few words, they would be dynamic, action-packed, and great teamwork with colleagues," Birgitta shares. She also mentions that the job involves a lot of investigation and problem-solving. "Answers are rarely available instantly, so proactivity and prioritization skills are key," Birgitta notes.

The role of an Accounting Advisor involves a consultative approach

For the majority of Staria's international customers, NetSuite ERP is the go-to system for accounting. Additionally, customers often use various complementary software, such as travel expense systems. "NetSuite is a versatile system that can be customized to meet the customer's needs, making it highly adaptable," explains Katariina.

Katariina emphasizes the consultative aspect of the Accounting Advisor role, where the goal is to genuinely understand the customer's business and identify their needs. "Before joining Staria, I managed a larger portfolio of smaller domestic companies. Since joining Staria, I've had the opportunity to handle larger customers, some of which are corporate groups. This has opened a new and interesting world of learning for me."

"We have separate accounts payable and receivable specialists in our teams who handle bank statements and purchase invoices, allowing me to focus on the bigger picture and ensure that the customer's accounting is managed correctly," Katariina explains. She particularly values the close cooperation with customers: "We foster a strong and close relationship with our customers. It feels like we are doing this together and genuinely supporting our customers’ growth. Our customers also appreciate our insights. When trust is strong, it's easy to suggest, for example, that they adopt new reporting solutions to support decision-making."

Katariina also highlights the importance of internal team collaboration at Staria. "We have team meetings where we go through tasks and share responsibilities," Katariina says. "After month-end closings, we also review upcoming tasks together to ensure everyone is informed and up to date. This teamwork helps maintain organization and ensures that all team members are aware of upcoming tasks," she continues.

Staria's international partner network and AI support

The Global Services team works closely with Staria's international partner network, which consists of local experts in over 50 countries. Birgitta mentions that she regularly communicates with the partners for different countries. "We might discuss things like VAT codes and other accounting-related matters," she says. "This collaboration is essential to effectively and accurately meet our customers' needs."

Katariina adds, "Our international partners are crucial for us as they handle the local regulatory interactions. We can always consult them when country-specific questions arise. For example, I don't need to know the specifics of how local reporting is done in Malaysia, because we have knowledgeable partners to assist us."

"Utilizing AI is also part of everyday work at Staria. We use Staria's own secure AI assistant, called StariaMind, which is a great help in the customer work and information retrieval. You could even say that StariaMind has become our new colleague," Birgitta laughs.

Growth and learning at Staria

"At Staria, you have the opportunity to learn and grow if you desire. I have an excellent supervisor who supports and listens to my aspirations. I've had the opportunity to participate in projects with new customers," says Katariina. "Additionally, I act as the Process Owner for the travel expense system at Staria. This responsibility adds an intriguing aspect to my role, and the entire network of Process Owners across Staria is incredibly valuable. It helps identify the right experts to consult for assistance with specific processes."

Birgitta enjoys sharing her expertise and helping colleagues. "Over the years, I've had the chance to coach several colleagues. Initially, they worked in accounts payable and have since grown into the role of Accounting Advisor. It's fantastic to see their professional growth and to be able to support their development stories!"

What would you tell accounting professionals considering a career at Staria?

"At Staria, you can grow into any kind of finance professional! I would say, just go for it! Mistakes can happen, and they can be corrected. It's worth asking for help if something feels overwhelming. There are always people here who can help and speed up information retrieval," Birgitta says.

Katariina also highlights another perspective. "As a growing and international company, Staria offers numerous opportunities. There are both upward career paths and specialist paths available, so you don't have to climb the career ladder; you can also deepen your knowledge as a specialist. You can immerse yourself in your area of expertise and continue to develop. There's plenty to learn here! One day you might dive into the intricacies of Swiss accounting legislation, and the next day you might be figuring out Swedish processes. I also greatly appreciate my own start at Staria, where I began with a light and easy workload, initially managing just one customer. This allowed me time to familiarize myself, and gradually, my customer base expanded. With that being said, we invite you to join our crew at Staria!"

As our team grows, we are constantly searching for new experts to join our multinational team. If you are interested in new work opportunities and believe you would fit in with our team, please fill the application.