What makes working in Vinted Finance so exciting? Meet Natalija, Accounting Team Lead at Vinted. We talked to Natalija about her path to Vinted and her career journey&nbsp;–&nbsp;from starting out in Vinted’s Community Support team, to becoming the Accounting Team Lead.

What’s your name and job at Vinted?&nbsp;I’m Natalija Mockienė, Accounting Team Lead. My teammates and I oversee the invoice processing function as part of the Accounts Payable team.When and how did you join? Why? (Be honest!)I joined Vinted 3 years ago. The story was nothing out of the ordinary. I was searching for new career opportunities and found a position that looked like something I would like to do. I did however find Vinted’s hiring process quite unusual – I’d never experienced a try-out day before. Looking back, it really helped me with my decision and gave me a feel for what the day-to-day work would look like. I got to know a few of my future team members, and felt I could bring value to the team.How is Vinted’s mission important to you?I relate to it, because it’s simply about doing good. It’s beneficial for the environment, necessary to increase an object's life cycle, and friendly for your bank balance. Of course, I’d be lying if I said that the minute I started working at Vinted, I stopped buying anything new. But joining the company kick-started my passion for exploring the second-hand market.Tell us about your typical workday. Do you have a morning ritual?There’s nothing typical about our workdays. On ‘normal’ days, the first part is filled with Slack notifications and meetings. After that, I focus on project- and process-based tasks. Each month, every accountant faces the end of the financial month closure period. It’s a busy time, with all hands on deck, and regular routines tend to go out the window, as everything must get done.I don’t have any morning rituals. But I try to keep up with a few rules. I set my status to ‘away’ for the first and last 15 minutes of each day so I can plan and review the day, and I always switch off at lunchtime. I feel like ‘switching off’ for a short period during a stressful day does way more for my mental health than any morning ritual I’ve tried to follow.

What makes you excited to wake up and go to work each morning?Usually it’s&nbsp;a topic I can’t stop thinking about before going to bed. There’s always something cooking — metaphorically or literally. I either want to start work on solving a problem, finish a three-month-long project, or there's something tasty planned for lunch at Vinted Noise — that’s the name of our office canteen here in Vilnius.Your career path at Vinted is distinct as you’ve changed departments within the company. What was your first position here?I started in Community Support as a Queue Manager (this position is now called Resource Planning Analyst). Part of this was planning and organising employees and their allocation to make sure Vinted members received replies and resolutions to their enquiries in good time. This was a new position, so there was a lot of space to create things from scratch. My closest colleagues are still working at Vinted and had their opportunities to grow within the Community Support department. We still meet for an occasional coffee to talk about the good old days.Why did you decide to make a career jump? What was the main motivation to switch to finance?I have a Bachelor's degree in Accounting. Over the years, I’ve explored several different careers, but I always wanted to eventually go back to accounting. I wasn’t actively searching for a new opportunity, but I often browsed open job positions at Vinted to recommend to my friends. One day, I stumbled upon something for myself - an ideal position as an Accounting Associate in a newly created Accounting team. I thought to myself: “Why not?” and went for it.What was easy and what was hard about the switch? Tell us about the process.The decision to apply was easy –&nbsp;as I was still happy in my current position, I had nothing to lose and everything to gain. I found the Hiring Manager and requested a pre-interview. The rest of the process was quite smooth because I already knew what the hiring process at Vinted was like.The hardest part was deciding to take the job. I was scared to step outside my comfort zone. It was a major change to go from working in one field on Friday to another one on Monday.&nbsp;But it was great to be able to just dive into new responsibilities without having to learn everything about a company, as you usually do with a new job. It’s much harder to change both your career path and your employer at the same time. I’d already been working for Vinted for a year, which made it easier to adapt to and focus on the daily tasks. This came in handy multiple times.&nbsp;What are the main lessons that you learned during this transition?Good things happen when you leave your comfort zone. Change is never easy, but if you believe that change is needed and will bring value to your future, then go for it.&nbsp;How do you use your learning budget? Has it helped you in your career-changing journey?It’s helped me on many levels. I’ve had the opportunity to learn about more minor, niche topics, as well as developing my knowledge on broader subjects when the inspiration hits. I have way more accounting books in my library compared to a few years ago. They were very useful when I was refreshing my knowledge for a new position. The learning budget has also helped me to see what’s circling in the finance and leadership fields in other companies and countries.You’ve also grown in the Finance domain, and recently took the role of Team Lead. What was your motivation? Did your lead or team help out in any way?Quite similar to joining the Finance domain, the opportunity presented itself. All I needed was the courage to change. Both my lead and my team were the key elements of why I decided to tackle this role. When the position was announced, I received several messages encouraging me to apply. When your team supports you, it really gives you a huge boost of motivation.I became a team lead for a few of my teammates, so we already knew each other and how we operate. As I grew in this team from Associate to Accountant, I already knew how processes work and where improvement was needed. In a way it’s also kind of comforting that even after these changes I still work with the same direct manager, who I keep learning new skills from and can call my mentor. So, all things considered, the decision to apply was easy. Stepping out of my comfort zone and learning new things was the challenging part.&nbsp;What’s exciting about working in the Finance domain at Vinted? Give us more details on what exactly you and your team do.The work is constantly evolving, which is both the best and the most challenging part of the job. With the company steadily growing, there’s always a new project to join. My team and I are responsible for processing external vendor invoices. Our central focus is assuring that all invoices are processed accurately and timely. We take care of all Vinted subsidiaries' invoices, oversee communication with external vendors and internal departments, and assist with the implementation of new tools in our software.&nbsp;It might sound reparative from the outside, yet once Vinted Go launched, we needed to collaborate closely with other teams to align the best way of accounting new types of expenses. With more complex budgeting requirements, we needed to implement new procedures and controls. As employee numbers keep rising, we also needed to re-evaluate our KPIs and pinpoint specific ways of improving the bill processing flow. Of course, it can be stressful when no two weeks are the same, but with that comes plenty of opportunities to learn, contribute, co-create and grow both professionally and personally.

Can you share any recent accomplishments of your team or the Finance domain that you’re proud of?I can’t pick out just one thing, but I’m very proud of how our team is continuously improving. To start with, we’ve made general adjustments to the team’s structure, better distributed responsibilities, and created a backup plan. We’re continually adding more automatic solutions to the invoice booking process and refining payment scheduling terms. Finally, we’re analysing and re-evaluating our KPIs, and distinguishing the most value-adding metrics. A lot of this looked different just a year ago, and I can’t wait to see how we grow in the future. &nbsp;By the way, do you use the Vinted app? If so, what’s your way of using it?Of course! I’m a frequent buyer and a rare seller. Our monthly Vinted shopping budget was a great incentive to start using it regularly. It has now become my go-to app when searching for all the items I need – from clothes to small appliances, you name it – I’ve bought it all.&nbsp;One fun fact about you.I was told that I take photos like an accountant. During my photography studies, my teacher noticed that my pictures are very balanced and said I should try exploring different angles more. And no, he didn’t know that I was an accountant. Yet, once in a while, when I get stuck trying to solve an issue in a balanced way, I try to look at it from a different angle as well.Pick one piece of media to recommend.&nbsp;Why do you think it deserves someone’s attention and what role does it play in your life?A podcast called&nbsp;The Ground Up Show&nbsp;by Matt D'Avella. It’s really inspiring. Each episode features different guests and covers different topics - from mental wellbeing, to creative storytelling, habit building and entrepreneurship.

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Natalija Mockienė: Good Things Happen When You Leave Your Comfort Zone

Kinda’s career path has taken her from banks and telecommunications to becoming an M&amp;A Operations Manager here at Vinted. She shares her thoughts on sustainably-minded businesses, and maintaining an open and curious mind.

What’s your name and job at Vinted?I’m Kinda Dalla, and I work as an M&amp;A Operations Manager.&nbsp;When and how did you join? Why? (Be honest!)I joined Vinted in January 2021. As a sustainability and circular economy enthusiast, I had been following Vinted for a few years, and I grew more interested in joining the team as the company continued to steadily grow and expand.&nbsp;I first heard about Vinted when I came to Lithuania as a student back in 2013, when it was still called&nbsp;Mano Drabužiai. I found it truly impressive how the team created and grew such an awesome product and scaled it globally – I thought that it must be a smart and cool team, and&nbsp;that it would be great to join it!&nbsp;&nbsp;Why is Vinted’s mission important to you?&nbsp;Throughout my years studying and working in the entertainment industry, I got to learn more about sustainability in design fields. It struck me how&nbsp;the design of everyday objects – including fashion items – can lack&nbsp;thought and consideration for the environment. Things don’t last, and a lot of waste is generated in the process.For example, I got to see the environmental footprint of&nbsp;the children’s toys industry. But I also heard about the new, interesting sustainable approaches that are used for smarter designs, and to improve awareness around consumption. Take-back systems, exchange and sharing platforms, for example.&nbsp;How I think about what I need in everyday life, be it fashion items or other objects, has changed and evolved to a much more mindful level. I’m happy to be at a company which encourages people to rethink their consumption habits.&nbsp;Tell us about your typical workday. Do you have a morning ritual?I don’t have a typical daily ritual. But I like to plan my next week on Fridays, so I can block hours for focused work, which I prefer doing before lunchtime. My mornings often start with some jazz, a quiet cup of coffee, then I get on to my work. Sometimes I start my morning with a short meditation as well, but not every day.&nbsp;What makes you excited to wake up and go to work each morning?Work is an important part of my life. I always feel energised and motivated by the dynamic, complex and interesting challenges that I get to work on all the time. Besides, I enjoy cross-functional work with Vinted’s teams. I’m naturally interested in many things in life and business, and I enjoy seeing things from different perspectives.&nbsp;&nbsp;What do you find meaningful about your job?&nbsp;I’ve always believed that the most amazing ability humans have is our ability to think and create. My job offers a space for both structure and creativity to find the best solutions and ways to go about things, along with many opportunities for collaboration and relationship-building, which, being a people person, I greatly value. It keeps me going, it’s never dull and it’s very rewarding to be a part of the M&amp;A team that’s helping Vinted grow and scale further.&nbsp;&nbsp;How is Vinted different from the last places you’ve worked at?It’s different in a refreshing way. I started my career in banks and telco – they were innovative and highly structured companies, but they lacked agility and felt too formal for me. When I moved to Lithuania, I worked in small and mid-sized companies that had a friendly vibe but were challenging. There, everyone would be doing everything, and you couldn’t always focus on doing what you’re best at.What I love about working at Vinted is that our culture allows for freedom and autonomy, but at the same time, we have clarity and structure about how the business is run. The teams are collaborative and supportive, and I appreciate that a lot.&nbsp;What are the key things you’ve learned so far during your time at Vinted?I've learned the importance of always having a concrete rationale for any decision. Also the power of maintaining your focus, and not spreading yourself too thin.&nbsp;What was the biggest challenge you overcame during this time? Was it a tough lesson to learn?I'm a newcomer to tech, and I've had to learn a lot about platform business models, our industry and competition. Naturally, it was challenging to be onboarded remotely in January and not have an opportunity to meet my colleagues at the start. But at the same time, I learned to manage my time and energy under tough conditions, and to find ways to create and develop a connection with my team.&nbsp;&nbsp;How do you seek improvement for yourself?I think the key things are self-reflection, asking for feedback, and simply admitting to myself that there is something that I don’t know. This helps me maintain a humble attitude to learning, and a curious mindset that accepts change. I find it very important just to take time to be honest with yourself about what can be improved in your approach to work, communication, project results or skill set, instead of constantly running off to do the next thing.&nbsp;&nbsp;By the way, do you use the Vinted app? If so, how do you use it?Yes, I do, mainly as a buyer. I love buying vintage bags and accessories, but I try to be mindful around not buying things I don’t need, and selling or giving away what no longer brings me joy. I’ve moved between so many flats and traveled a lot, and I’ve learned that the amount of clothes and fashion items you actually need is so small – and it’s a principle I continue to live by.&nbsp;&nbsp;Aiming high daily is not easy – how do you relax?I love long walks and hikes in nature. Like many people, I got to spend much more time in&nbsp;nature because of lockdowns. I also like running and reading – mainly poetry, philosophy and classic literature. It takes my mind off the business topics of the day, and brings me into a beautiful world of thought and emotion.&nbsp;&nbsp;Pick a piece of media to recommend. Why do you think it deserves someone’s attention?Two truly influential books that everyone should read: Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning, and Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations.<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2106476/">The Hunt</a> is an extremely powerful movie, reminding us of the paradoxes and complexities of the human condition. Also, Mads Mikkelsen is a brilliant actor.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/series/the-long-read">"The Audio Long Read"</a> podcast from The Guardian&nbsp;touches on many global and interesting topics, from fair trade to social mobility, culture, politics and business.

Vinted blog

Natalija Mockienė: Good Things Happen When You Leave Your Comfort Zone

Kinda Dalla: Thinking and Creating Are a Human’s Most Amazing Abilities