Mathias Valtsov is a recent graduate of a Finnish vocational school who came to Grow Finance for his accounting internship. For five months, he worked under the guidance of Grow Finance team leader Veiko Nüüdi on many daily accounting tasks and gained practical experience of what the profession actually requires. Now that the internship is over, we heard Mathias' thoughts on both the internship organization and the working environment at Grow Finance.
What were your expectations when you came to the internship and were they met?
Before starting, I was hoping to gain a much better understanding of the accounting profession than the coursework could provide. The theory provides a foundation, but I wanted to know what the job actually requires on a day-to-day basis and whether I could see myself working in this field in the long term.
By the end of four months, I had both questions answered. The experience at Grow gave me practical skills and confidence in my abilities, and confirmed that this was the direction I wanted to pursue in my career. It would have been hard to hope for a better start.
How did Veiko inspire and motivate you during your internship?
As I came into a professional environment with no prior experience in the field, there were inevitably moments when I felt insecure. Whenever I had a question about how to handle a document or doubted whether I was solving an assignment correctly, Veiko was always available and helpful. He didn't just give me the answer straight away, but worked through the problem with me, which made learning much more effective.
What I appreciated most was his belief in me, even when I doubted my own abilities. This kind of support was very important when starting a new role and gave me the confidence to move forward.
What important knowledge and skills did you acquire?
The most important outcome was that I gained real-world experience as an accountant. I now understand the role in a way that studying alone could never have conveyed.
In practical terms, I gained experience working with different areas of accounting and using Merit Aktiva and Directo. Both software are widely used in Estonia and I had no previous experience with them. The tasks covered a wide range of core accounting tasks: processing incoming invoices and documents, recording bank statements in the accounting, preparing VAT returns, managing purchase and sales ledgers, and preparing month-end reports.
Each task provided a clearer picture of how accounting in a company actually works.
How would you describe your supervisor's leadership style and what strengths did you notice?
Veiko leads people in an inclusive manner and encourages everyone to share their thoughts and ideas. He was open to input from the beginning, and whenever I had an observation or a different perspective, there was always room for discussion. These conversations were fruitful and often led to better results than either of us initially thought.
I especially appreciated that he treated me as a capable collaborator. This kind of trust has a real impact on how motivated a person is to work and how much they are willing to contribute to achieving results.
Feedback on the work environment at Grow Finance
How would you characterize the work culture at Grow Finance?
From the very first days, the atmosphere at Grow Finance felt open and friendly. People were genuinely interested in each other, not just as colleagues, but as people. Birthdays were celebrated and the team spent time together outside of work. On difficult days, this sense of togetherness made working much easier. It was clear that this culture had not just emerged by itself, but was consciously maintained by the team.
What values or keywords would you associate with Grow Finance?
Friendliness, determination, and self-development. Working with Veiko shaped my experience most directly, but the same qualities were visible throughout the team.
The emphasis on continuous development was particularly noticeable. The team held short weekly training sessions where knowledge was shared and everyone had the opportunity to grow together. This is typical of a company that takes the development of its people seriously, and it made the whole experience more meaningful for me.
What do you think are the biggest strengths of the Grow Finance work environment?
The culture is what sets Grow Finance apart. There is a clear sense of purpose among the people there, combined with a genuine warmth. This makes the workplace both comfortable and motivating. I always felt respected and included, regardless of my level of experience. When a workplace treats people this way, it inevitably reflects in the quality of the work they do.
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