Following our well-received inaugural ‘coffee with’ article, with Rosa Pelaez-Vinuela, we’re continuing the Q&A series by learning all-things Viona Retkowska. Long-serving team member, Viona, has been with Jayva for seven years and our clients absolutely adore her.
In her position as Head of Legal Accounting, Viona supports law firms migrating to new case management and legal accounts software with the SRA Accounts Rules compliance side of things, drawing upon her vast industry experience formerly as a cashier and latterly as a software trainer.
It’s not only our clients who are fans of Viona though – we are too. Her sparkling personality, positive energy and smiling demeanour make Viona a highly valued member of our team, not just from a professional perspective, but from a personal point of view as well.
Without further ado, make your favourite cuppa and get to know Viona better…
What’s your business/professional motto?
In business, just as life in general, you’ve got to love what you do. This passion keeps you going, motivates you to turn on your computer in the morning and put in a productive day’s work.
In the early stages of my career, I started as a general office worker, progressed to legal cashier, studied for the ILFM qualification, and now operate in a training capacity. At the outset, working for large practices, I was pigeon-holed into doing a set role day in, day out. There simply wasn’t the opportunity to learn how other departments in the business were run. I processed money in and money out, and answered queries – that’s it. Anything deemed to be outside of my remit was well and truly off limits. Professional development was limited. As was job satisfaction.
When I got the chance of moving to Jayva, I jumped at it. Since 2016, I’ve gotten to know the full business because we collaborate together – we don’t work in silos. I’ve become au fait with the financial side of the company especially, although obviously I was already accustomed to double-entry bookkeeping. Now, I understand the entire accountancy process as Jayva’s permitted access to information I was never allowed to see before by other employers.
At Jayva, it literally feels as if every day is a school day. I’m always learning and I’m always progressing – and that’s why I love what I do.
How do you make contacts which are useful for business?
While I’m not active on social media and don’t attend networking events, I build up contacts organically. Jayva is LEAP’s certified consultancy partner which means I gain connections every time LEAP signs up new law firms in our jurisdictions, these being the UK, Ireland, America and New Zealand.
Which individual has inspired you the most in your business life and in what way?
My biggest source of inspiration has to be our ‘Queen Bee’ – Global Chief Executive Officer, Nicola Moore-Miller. I’ve worked alongside Nicola in earlier roles for previous employers, so we go back a long way. At this time, Nicola was the accountant and I was the cashier. Even though she was the main accounts person, no matter how busy she was, she made time for me. Her mentoring support has been a great source of growth on a professional level and the friendship we’ve forged has been a valued presence on a personal level.
There’s no disputing Nicola is a hugely successful businesswoman, but she still takes time out for staff when they call upon her and never shows any signs of stress in doing so. While some organisations will advise departing employees to stay away from small companies, I completely disagree with this ethos. In SMEs, you’re much more than a number – you’re an appreciated and respected individual. That’s how I feel working for Jayva. I totally believe in Nicola and I’ve had faith in her right from the beginning of her Jayva venture. I don’t think Nicola realises just how well-loved she is. It’s truly an honour to work for her.
What’s your proudest achievement in business?
While obtaining qualifications are an achievement to be proud of, it’s the way my career has unexpectedly progressed and the knowledge I’ve gathered along the way I’m proudest of. When I first joined the workplace, I didn’t visualise being here when I am now, doing a multitude of things. Applying my knowledge and using my capabilities to help others gives me a strong sense of pride – both in my day-to-day work and ongoing evolution.
What makes Jayva different?
Jayva stands out for being an employer who sees its employees as people to nurture and care for. As intimated earlier, large organisations see employees as a number only. At Jayva, you’re loved and you’re valued. That feeling is worth its weight in gold.
What’s Jayva’s greatest asset?
Jayva’s people are its best asset, as is Jayva’s leader Nicola. Nicola’s previously worked with the majority of staff. She’s carefully recruited individuals who have the same hard-work ethic and similar kind-hearted personalities. We’re a Jayva family, cut from the same cloth, with a formidable chief sitting at the helm, presiding over us and guiding us continually.
How does Jayva benefit from the unique skillset you bring to the business?
There’s my accounting expertise but there’s also my people skills. The combination of these qualities brings repeat business to Jayva. Clients regularly ask for my training services. Some of my clients have been taught by me since 2018. When the need for refresher or new staff training arises, these clients immediately turn to me. I’m effectively a business development resource – just by doing my job well.
Give one tip for a successful business.
For any law firm eager to thrive, I recommend using Jayva’s services. Of course, as a Jayva employee, you could say it’s in my best interests to make this claim. In truth, these words of wisdom are driven by seeing how Jayva makes a transformational and long-lasting impact on the companies it serves. We’re more than simply software trainers – we offer consultancy advice too, such as health check services. For example, practices need to know how to handle money compliantly via technology, but if they also learn smarter money management protocols, profitability and financial results will rocket.
My second tip is look after your staff so they’re loyal, remain with your business and safeguard your in-house knowledge. Some businesses are notorious for having a revolving door for employees. Recruiting and training new staff takes time and sometimes fails. In saying this, don’t carry dead weight either. If employees aren’t performing satisfactorily, it’s important to let them go.
Do you dress up or down for business?
I’m permanently Zooming with clients to deliver training. It’s only extremely rarely that I’m visiting client sites or working from our Manchester head office. Zoom is more efficient for everyone involved – Jayva services more clients, these clients receive cost-effective support and the environment benefits from our lower carbon footprint.
I did recently run some training sessions in Ireland. When you consider that it’s one day’s travelling and one day’s training for one client alone, it’s easy to see why Zoom’s the preferred delivery method as four clients could have been trained in the same timeframe.
Although my training is online, however, I’m still dressed in either office wear or my Jayva hoodie to maintain a professional image and strengthen Jayva’s branding.
If you hadn’t gone down your chosen career path, what would you be doing instead?
My ambition has always been to just go with the flow. When I first set out, I didn’t anticipate where I’d end up. I’ve seemingly fallen down the path but I’ve made good choices along the way. From general office to accounts to training, my stepping stones have been occasionally surprising but prudently selected. Whenever I’ve realised that I enjoy doing any particular tasks and duties, I’ve deliberately moved and grown further in those areas. Now, there’s nothing else I’d rather be doing.
At what time of day are you most creative or inspired?
My creative side isn’t at its best in the evening. Where thinking about solutions to problems are concerned, I tend to discover how to fix them as soon as I wake up. The timing is basically when my mind is clear – when it’s empty at the time of making a coffee or other trivial chore. That’s when I’m inspired.
What item(s) do you always have with you?
One of my passions and beliefs is the power of crystal healing. So, I always have my crystals with me. They come in useful, as they have protection and other properties which can be applied to resolve any difficult or stressful situation you’re facing.
When do you take your coffee break – morning, afternoon, evening? And where do you take it?
I rarely take a coffee break because my training diary is chock-a-block and I don’t have time to stop. I drink my coffee on the go. I have a pint of water and cup of black coffee on the go all the time. It’s my fuel.
Espresso, americano, latte, cappuccino, macchiato, flat white, frappe – what’s your coffee of choice?
I’m obsessed with coffee. Although I tend to drink black coffee for the most part, the type of coffee actually varies depending on the circumstances. I’m a creature of habit so if I’m travelling, it’s syrupy latte flavoured with caramel or vanilla. The reason being it makes me feel fuller so I’m not hungry while I’m out and about on my journey. If I’m working from home, I drink milky coffee early morning then black coffee afterwards. If I sound as if I’m a caffeine addict, I’m really not. Only two of my coffees are of the full-caffeine variety and the rest are decaffeinated.
How do you relax outside of work?
I’m a busy working mum of two children aged 17 and 10. Because of this, I don’t have hobbies due to a lack of time. I make an effort to meet up with friends socially and I watch football. I used to do horse riding and keep meaning to get back into it. It’s a future goal, when time permits.
What’s the most inspirational book you’ve ever read?
Staying on the limited-time theme, I don’t do as much reading as I’d like to. Lately, I’ve been trying to read more. As I’m a spiritualist person, the last book I read was about reincarnation. Another genre which I’m keen on is witchcraft. I’m reading a book called ‘Accidental magic’ on this self-same topic. This book’s part of a series about a woman coming into her magical powers.
What’s your favourite film?
I’m a proper series binge watcher. ‘From’ was a fantastic series. I pretty much like anything about the supernatural. My favourite films would have to be ‘City of Angels’ and ‘Twilight’ – romantic fantasy and vampire movies – as I keep coming back to these.
