Ing. Gabriela Karásková - Senior Accountant on Maternity Leave

I completely failed in my interview with E-Consulting Czech. I was surprised myself. I thought I knew accounting well, while working for my previous employer I was able to account anything. However, I did not succeed here. Despite this fact, Mr Pristach gave me a chance.  I was offered to start at the lowest job position - an Accounting Assistant with the lowest salary. It all depended on me what would happen. I took the risk and started my new job. I knew there would be a great pressure on me regarding my professional development. I knew I would have to learn a lot to stay or to go up. He gave me a chance and fortunately, it was good for both sides. 

My beginning was hard. Mainly because of the fact that I really did not know much. And the head of my department (she is not working here anymore) did not make my work easier. She let me do what I could without any big help. She made me find and arrange everything and organize the things. She did not ease my job because she was not present in the office very much; she did not answer phones much and sent me text messages such as: "The client called me, call him and arrange what he needs." I withstood and thanks to that learnt a lot. I had to. Finally, we got on well.  I found out I could succeed and respect her and that she could rely on me and my work. On the contrary, I was sad when she was leaving. Towards the end we respected each other. Paradoxically, I am grateful to her for what I managed here. 

I joined E-Consulting Czech in August 2007. It took me a long time to absorb all the knowledge. And there was a lot. I became a Junior Accountant after about a year and a half.  But then it started to be very fast.  After the following half a year I already became a Senior Accountant and I held that position when leaving for my maternity leave.

I was a bit afraid. From my friends and media I heard horrifying stories of women whose job positions were cancelled or were replaced by more effective ones since  thier employers feared they would stay at home anyway. But my Managing Director , Mr.Pristach, says – a child is not an illness. I was very moved by the general approach of the firm and by my colleagues.

Nowadays I have a one-year son and my part-time is 8 hours a week. I come to the office twice a week - for 4 hours. Since my son is still very little, it is enough for me.

The need for my coming back to work was created simultaneously on both sides. I started to think about it a little, at the same time there was such a situation in the company that I could be helpful there again. It was hard decision making. I was afraid of losing time with my son, whether he could manage it and I would do any harm to him this way, whether it is right to start working so soon.

He can manage. My mum takes care of him. She nearly forced me to accept the job offer. E-Consulting Czech even provides me with finance for paying half of my son´s care. I myself was very surprised by that kind of an offer. It took my breath away and there was nothing to be done but to start. My son is taken care of by his grandmother, who does not want money for that, but I think it is right if she gets paid for that. 

Within my part-time I arrange my working hours according to my clients´ needs. The way I organize it, the way it is. I am fully responsible for 5 clients. If I do not catch up e.g. during the period of closure of accounts, I could moreover ask my colleagues for help not to exceed my part-time hours at the expense of my son. So far I do not want to work more; I do not want to deprive my son of my presence. On the other hand, my work needs to be done; exceptionally I take it even home, then. I use terminal server connection to be connected to work and to my clients.

I do not get bored in this job. Something is still going on. My work is varied - in the office, in my clients´ places, in different types of companies, and with various types of people. I work with foreign clients and I use my English. I work with taxes, laws and search optimal solutions for my clients.

What is really convenient for me is the fact that E-Consulting Czech provides the service of the so called accounting supervision. It is a special way of accounting processing when a client enters his documents into an accounting SW himself (e.g. an assistant) and we supply professional supervision. We check all, process all tax returns, account more difficult items and we are responsible for everything. Accounting is kept at a client´s place, he/she has a permanent overview of his assets and liabilities and others, all his documents are at his/her disposal and he/she saves his/her costs. We often have nearly a personal relationship with the clients we have been cooperating with in a long term. I like that kind of work, I have a chance to get to know the culture of more companies, various types of businesses which bring different accounting specifics. I like it very much.

We come to see a client once or twice a month, we are even in charge of an accounting software, its adjustments to client´s needs, we upgrade and solve the problems in cooperation with an IT department. I had to learn it all. To hook my laptop to my client´s network, set a printer and what to do if anything doesn´t work.

In my Senior´s position I will have to learn a lot again. It is not only specialized knowledge and accounting. A Senior is responsible for a team of people, training and organizing work. I haven´t got into a managerial position much so far. So far I do not know to what extent it is my cup of tea but I have enough time. As long as my son is small, I am very satisfied this way and I am very glad that it even suits my company which enabled me to work part-time. 

In E-Consulting Czech I am the first part-time worker on maternity leave. A pioneer. And I am glad it works. Thanks.