Author: Marie Liz Novikov Grima
“It’s Fine, I’m Managing”
At Ennesse, we thrive in a dynamic and fast-paced environment. As the company continues to grow, we’re excited about the opportunities ahead (yay, Team!). However, with this growth comes an increased workload, and sometimes, managing it all can feel like a balancing act. The phrase “I’m managing” has become a common response when asked how we’re doing—but what does it really mean? Is it a sign that we’re in control, or is it a way to mask the pressure we feel?
The real meaning of “I’m Managing”
When we say, “I’m managing,” is it just a phrase to avoid showing weakness? Many of us, especially perfectionists (me included), find it hard to admit that we’re not always on top of things. The reality is that we all go through phases where we’re simply getting by, especially during periods of heightened stress. That’s normal. Sometimes, deadlines and priorities force us to compromise quality for quantity, which can be frustrating. Mistakes might slip through the cracks, leading to more stress down the road. But we need to remember that this isn’t constant. When pressure becomes prolonged, it’s time to stop and think: What’s causing this stress? Can I streamline the workload, ask for help, or discuss a solution with my manager?
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when deadlines pile up, but it’s crucial to take a step back and assess the situation calmly. Avoid placing blame and instead take a broader view of the circumstances. This helps in finding better ways to manage stress before it leads to burnout.
Balancing career and personal life
At Ennesse, we value work-life balance just as much as we take pride in our work. Some people seem to juggle both effortlessly, but not every situation or person is the same. We all have ups and downs, at work and at home, and sometimes it’s hard to keep them separate. That’s when the familiar “I’m fine” tends to surface. But are we truly fine, or are we avoiding a much-needed conversation with a friend, colleague, or even a manager?
Ignoring stress or dismissing our feelings can trap us in a cycle of overwork and exhaustion. It’s important to recognise when you’re not okay and take steps to address it. A short break, a walk, or a chat with a trusted colleague can work wonders. Remember, taking time for yourself isn’t a waste—it can help you refocus and approach your tasks with renewed energy.
Growth Through Challenges
Difficult times can take their toll, but they often lead to growth. We emerge more resilient, both personally and professionally. Stress, when managed well, can be a motivator. New challenges push us out of our comfort zones, driving us to develop skills and improve.
At Ennesse, we celebrate the small victories that come along the way. Whether it’s positive feedback from a client or a team member hitting a milestone, these moments remind us that our efforts are worthwhile. Balancing multiple tasks and occasionally working extra hours might be exhausting, but the satisfaction of seeing our hard work contribute to the company’s success is deeply fulfilling.
Conclusion
“Managing” doesn’t mean just surviving the day. It’s about recognising challenges, asking for help when needed, and celebrating the small wins. It’s okay not to have everything under control all the time and admitting that doesn’t make you weak. Often, when we say, “I’m fine,” we may be masking how we truly feel. But true managing goes beyond just getting by—it’s about growth, resilience, and understanding that it’s okay to not be fine sometimes. To anyone who feels like they’re just “managing” or saying “I’m fine,” remember—you have support, and you don’t have to carry the load by yourself.
Written by Marie Liz Novikov Grima
Why You’re Stronger Than You Think
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by a task that seemed just out of reach? We frequently encounter challenges that stretch our abilities and push us beyond our comfort zones. Our initial response is often to recoil, thinking, “This is too difficult” or “I can’t manage this.” This instinctive reaction highlights a crucial mistake: we begin with a limiting mindset that underestimates our potential.
Have you ever considered how a manager or director can often believe in our abilities more than we do? When they assign us challenging tasks, it’s typically because they recognise our potential and trust that we can rise to the occasion. So, why can’t we adopt the same mindset? Why not approach new challenges with an expectation of success rather than fear?
Our perception shapes our reality. The way we see challenges determines our actions. It’s like navigating a stormy sea: we can either focus on the dark clouds or look for the rays of sunshine breaking through. Ultimately, it’s up to us to choose our perspective.
Instead of immediately labelling a task as “impossible,” we can cultivate a mindset geared towards exploration and growth. Asking ourselves, “What can I learn from this?” or “How can I approach this differently?” can transform our experience. This shift encourages us to push beyond our perceived limits and explore unknown areas of our capabilities.
Encouragement plays a significant role in fostering a positive environment. As we strive to maintain our own optimism, it’s vital that we also uplift our colleagues. Sharing our belief in their abilities can be incredibly powerful. A simple affirmation or acknowledgement can inspire someone to tackle challenges with renewed confidence. Let’s create a culture of support, where we remind each other that we’re capable and that we have each other’s backs.
Moreover, it’s essential to reframe our relationship with failure. Society often portrays failure as a negative endpoint, but many of the most successful individuals have faced failure head-on before finding success. For instance, J.K. Rowling was rejected by multiple publishers before finally releasing the Harry Potter series, which has become a global phenomenon. Similarly, Steve Jobs faced numerous setbacks before establishing Apple as a leader in innovation.
These stories remind us that without experiencing failure, we wouldn’t appreciate the sweetness of success. Failure is not the opposite of success; it’s a crucial part of the journey. Instead of fearing failure, we should embrace it as an opportunity to learn, adapt, and grow. Every setback can be a stepping stone towards future achievements.
So, how can we shift our mindset in practice? Start by setting small, achievable goals when faced with a daunting task. Celebrate each accomplishment, no matter how minor, to build confidence. Seek feedback and engage in constructive dialogue with colleagues and supervisors, fostering an environment where questions and challenges are welcomed rather than feared.
In conclusion, our mindset is a powerful tool that can either propel us forward or hold us back. By consciously choosing to approach challenges with positivity and resilience, we open ourselves up to greater possibilities. Let’s not just wait for others to believe in us; let’s believe in ourselves and each other. Together, we can navigate the complexities of our work with courage and determination, transforming potential obstacles into opportunities for growth.
Written by Liridona Dega
The Evolving World of Social Media
The realm of social media nowadays is quite distinct from that of the past. What was once a place to interact with friends and share personal updates has evolved into a multipurpose platform where entertainment, shopping, and content creation all coexist. Social media’s development over time reflects how much our online behaviours have evolved. Our interactions with these platforms evolve along with technology.
The widely known statement, “We don’t have a choice on whether we do social media; the question is how well we do it,” by author Erik Qualman, sums up the situation nicely. This assertion is even more accurate today. Social media is pervasive, and we’re always learning how to use it more effectively.
That’s not all, though. Users can now produce content with the help of AI tools. It’s no longer necessary to be a skilled designer or editor to produce visually appealing posts or videos. AI-powered writing aids and design tools may assist with everything from caption writing to graphic creation. This has made it simpler for anyone to get started and share their tales in original ways, expanding the process of creating content.
The most watched type of content is still short-form video, particularly on TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts. These brief but engaging movies grab viewers’ attention in a matter of seconds, which makes them ideal for the fast-paced scrolling culture of today. For marketers and creators, short-form video is the preferred format, whether they are using it for education or pleasure.
The social commerce industry is growing. Users can buy things straight from posts and videos on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok thanks to their linked buying functionality. This smooth interaction that combines social interaction with e-commerce simplifies shopping. Brands and influencers are utilising these platforms to increase sales through more engaging means.
In this day and age, sincerity is highly valued. Users are increasingly drawn to unfiltered post-sharing apps like BeReal because they prefer authentic, unfiltered content versus brightly lit edited images. Both regular users and influencers are sharing more unedited and honest content; they are putting less importance on perfection and more on real-world experiences.
The virtual world has begun to influence social media, even if it is still in its early stages. Users can engage in active virtual environments for play and business, such as those seen in Meta and Roblox. The metaverse is providing an early look into social interactions that will go beyond traditional scrolling and posting, even though they are still in their youth.
Going forward, social media will be more complicated and dynamic than ever. Short-form films are still popular, social commerce is transforming online shopping, and artificial intelligence is improving content development and personalisation. In the meantime, the metaverse is creating new opportunities for digital contact, and the drive towards authenticity is changing the way we connect.
Being flexible and concentrating on making effective use of these platforms is essential for navigating this always-changing online world. It’s important to remain true to your values and aspirations as social media grows and evolves. There will be plenty of chances to experiment and interact with social media in the future, whether you’re making, buying, or just interacting.
Written by Martina Abela
Finding Balance: 5 Practical Tips for the Busy Professional
In today’s fast-paced and demanding work environments, it’s easy to lose sight of our well-being. As we strive to meet goals, fulfil expectations, and excel in our careers, we often neglect the very things that keep us grounded, energised, and connected to ourselves and those around us. At Ennesse, we understand how important it is to maintain balance amid pressure.
That’s why we asked our team what they do to disconnect and recharge when stress becomes overwhelming. From their insights, we’ve compiled five practical strategies to help you stay balanced and thrive—both personally and professionally.
1. Take a Walk to Reset Your Mind
When you feel overwhelmed or stuck, studies confirm that a simple walk can work wonders, like the one made by Jared Posey from the University of Arizona, where he studied the level of stress from a certain number of people before and after taking a short walk, showing that the levels usually decreased after the walk. That’s why sometimes you need to step away from your desk and give yourself permission to breathe fresh air for 10-15 minutes. This brief change of scenery can refresh your perspective and improve your creativity, allowing you to return to your tasks with renewed focus. Especially when most of the work we do is seated in a chair for us, this will also help improve your physical health.
2. Embrace a Hobby Outside of Work
It’s crucial to have interests beyond your professional life. Whether it’s gardening, painting, or learning a musical instrument, even one of our team members loves crochet as a way of distressing. Engaging in a hobby you enjoy can provide a much-needed mental break from stressful situations related to work. It gives you something to look forward to and helps maintain a healthy work-life balance.
3. Incorporate Short Meditation Sessions
Meditation doesn’t require hours of your time or expert-level skills. Even five minutes of mindful breathing can significantly reduce stress and improve mental clarity. In fact, there’s a few apps that might help you go through this meditation journey, like Headspace or Calm. They can guide you through brief mindfulness exercises that might help you release yourself a little bit from stress.
4. Stay Active with Physical Exercise
Regular physical activity is a powerful tool for maintaining both physical and mental health. Find an exercise routine that suits your lifestyle, whether it’s a morning jog, an evening yoga session, or a weekend sports league. Physical activity improves energy levels, reduces stress, and improves overall mood, helping you manage the work challenges with increased resilience.
5. Prioritise Time with Loved Ones
When we are going through a difficult and busy period of work, it’s easy to underestimate the importance of quality time with family and friends. Make a conscious effort to schedule regular catchups, family dinners, or social outings. These moments of connection provide emotional support, help you feel close to your people and create better bonds. It is always important to keep a good support system for those difficult times.
Is imperative to remember that taking care of yourself isn’t a luxury at all, in fact, it’s a necessity for sustained professional success. You need a proper balance so you can keep a good quality of life.
By implementing these strategies, you can maintain your well-being while managing the demands of your career. A balanced life leads to better focus, increased productivity, and greater job satisfaction in the long run.
Written by Natalia Nino
Work Smarter, Not Harder
“I choose a lazy person to do a hard job, because a lazy person will find an easy way to do it.”
A quote attributed to Bill Gates
In our fast-paced world, efficiency is key, and we wouldn’t have achieved it without advancing technologies. While I wouldn’t describe myself as lazy—let’s be honest, we all have those days when motivation wanes—I’ve often embraced a “lazy” mindset. I get bored with routine and repetitive tasks, especially those tied to administration, which are prone to human error without a monitoring system in place.
I prefer to rely on available technologies to work smarter rather than harder. This approach not only decreases my workload but also minimizes errors and ensures greater confidence in the accuracy of our work. Investing time in technology can initially seem time-consuming, but the long-term benefits are substantial. For instance, automating a simple task may take more time upfront but significantly reduces time and errors later. Here’s how I make it work.
Learning MS Excel
MS Excel is my trusty sidekick (and for those who know me, I’m sure I sound like a broken record!). When it comes to automation, Excel is my go-to tool. With its macros, conditional formatting, and functions, Excel helps me improve data entry processes, monitor work, and keep records up-to-date. Even though we’re an accounting company with Excel pros on the team, I’ve found it invaluable for managing recruitment records as well, ensuring GDPR compliance, and monitoring employee details. Conditional formatting highlights cells based on set conditions, while macros automate repetitive formatting tasks. If you like having Excel sheets that are nice and tidy, but you hate repetitive formatting, Google “How to use Excel Marcos” and thank me later. This is one of the easiest tools that you can use, and you will regret not knowing about it sooner. By automating repetitive tasks and organizing data effectively, we have reduced the frequency of human error; and having pretty Excel sheets never hurt anyone.
ChatGPT – Our AI Colleague
In recruitment, creating vacancies, job descriptions, and writing lengthy emails is part of the job. ChatGPT helps us create engaging job postings and can adjust the tone to fit the occasion, whether more formal or funny. When inspiration is lacking, ChatGPT assists with brainstorming creative scripts and catchy titles for our new TikTok page (which you should definitely follow @ennesssemalta). If you’ve ever struggled with a long email that even you can’t decipher, ChatGPT can review it, suggest edits for clarity, and provide more powerful proofreading than MS Word. It also outperforms Google Translate by considering the context for accurate translations. And if you’re too “lazy” to figure out a tricky Excel formula, ChatGPT can help with that too. It’s becoming increasingly smart, though it’s wise to use it with a pinch of salt.
Using Notion for Better Collaboration
In our dynamic team environment, overlapping tasks can occur if everyone has separate to-do lists. To improve this, we’ve adopted Notion—an online tool that consolidates our tasks and tracks deadlines effectively. It helps keep everything organised and ensures nothing is forgotten, which is crucial when juggling multiple responsibilities between different team members.
Conclusion
Adopting a ‘lazy’ mindset—focused on smarter, more efficient solutions—has transformed my approach to work. By integrating innovative tools into our daily processes, we’ve not only boosted productivity but also unlocked greater creativity. While we still work hard, we prioritise working smart, proving that efficiency and innovation go hand in hand.
Written by Marie Liz Novikov Grima, edited by ChatGPT
Senior Accountant
Job Description:
We have a brilliant opportunity for a Senior Accountant. We’re looking for someone with high ambition and keenness to develop and progress their career swiftly. You will manage general accounting functions such as the month-end close process, preparation of financial statements, and various account analyses. You will be the ‘number 1 in finance’ and will report directly to the business owners. You will also hold strong working relationships with the external stakeholders (bank / auditors / insurers) and must be confident presenting financial information.
You will benefit from working for partners that actively encourage a good degree of work-life balance and will enjoy a high degree of flexibility.
The selected candidate will be responsible for:
– Assist with reporting, forecasts and budgetary processes
– Prepare, reconcile and analyse financial statements
– Review balance sheet reconciliations
– Preparation of journal entries
– Management of creditors & debtors
– Plan, assign and review junior accountant’s work
– Completion and submission of VAT and Corporate Tax returns
– Identify areas for improvement, provide recommendations to management
– Assist with the finalisation of monthly management accounts and financial reports
Requirements for the role:
– Must have an accounting diploma as a minimum requirement. Ideally in final stages of ACCA.
– Fluency in both Maltese & English is a must.
– Ideally 5 years’ experience in a similar role.
– Ability to work independently, make decisions and use initiative.
– Ability to organise, set priorities and meet deadlines.
If you adopt a positive approach towards work and are ready to live up to our smart name then we’d like to hear from you!
Accounts Officer
Our client is a boutique Hotel based in Central Malta. They are looking to recruit an Accounts Officer to join their team on a full-time, permanent basis. Any experience of working Hotels and back office accounting would be very useful.
Responsibilities:
- Process invoices, record payments and track company expenses;
- Communication with banks, suppliers, third parties and staff members as required;
- Perform bank reconciliations and other control reconciliations;
- Update purchase invoices, sales invoices and petty cash payments;
- Filing of documents, daily;
- Check stock receivbles and update stock movements;
- Monitor and update stock movements;
- Assist in preparing Payroll at the end of the month;
- Assist in the implementation of internal controls.
The succesful candidate will have achieved an A’level certification in Accounting and is pursuing ACCA qualifications.
You must possess good attention to detail and can ‘hit the ground running’ supporting this busy team. It is imperative that you have strong communication skills in both Maltese & English, with the ability to support and communicate with internal and external stakeholders.
Interested?
Submit your application below or contact us directly at [email protected] today! Interviews are taking place straight away.
Accounts Officer
Ennesse is currently recruiting for an Accounts Officer to join a well established business. This in a excellent opportunity for an Accounts Officer looking to join a business with clear progression plans available. Our client is seeking a progressive individual who wants to grow and develop their Accounting career further. The suitable Accounts Officer will ideally be studying ACCA and have experience working with Sage.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Reporting and assisting the Senior Management Accountant;
- Liaising with banks;
- Chasing debtors;
- Preparing accounts up to trial balance level;
- Checking and handling the petty cash;
- The preparation of tax returns;
- Posting of invoices;
- Preparing reconciliations;
- Handling payments and bank transfers;
- Any other duties that may be required for the smooth running of the department.
Skills and Qualifications:
- Studying ACCA and achieved at least 3 modules so far;
- Possess 1 years’ experience in a similar environment;
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both Maltese & English;
- Good IT skills, in particular, Excel;
- Experience with Accounting Software (training will be provided);
- Good attention to detail;
- The ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines.
Interested?
Submit your interest below or contact us directly at [email protected]
Are flexible work schedules the way forward?
Employers are constantly on the lookout to attract and retain talent. Recruitment and training are a challenging and expensive process. Moreover, building chemistry within the team takes time and requires employees to feel engaged and committed to the company. Money aside losing key employees affects morale and may also unsettle other members of the team. Therefore, employee satisfaction is considered one of the key factors for sustained success. Today’s employees want a healthy work-life balance. They will favour a job that gives them flexibility to schedule personal appointments during work hours or tend to family matters when the need arises. Such a need is not satisfied within the traditional 9 to 5, 40-hour week.
Modern organizations have found that offering flexible work schedules has proven to be a successful incentive that not only increases employee satisfaction but also provides a competitive advantage during the recruitment process. Such an incentive can be offered through flexible work hours policy. Traditionally such an approach would be limited to allowing employees to start an hour earlier in the morning to gain an extra hour after work. However, a more desirable and meaningful approach could be to enable employees extended flexibility to pick and choose when and how to allocate their hours of work. Management must create policies that ensure the needs of the company are met whilst extending the flexibility of the employee. Such policies typically require employees to work a prescribed number of hours per day and be present during a daily ‘core time’
Flexibility can be further enhanced by enabling full time or partial teleworking. Productivity should not be measured by the number of hours worked. Rather it should be based on quantity and most importantly the quality or work provided. Implementing and managing a remote workforce can be challenging. Often Employers are hesitant to offer flexible working schedules due to a lack of understanding of how employees can benefit from such incentives and how to implement such policies.
The company must invest in the necessary tools and resources to enable employees to work from home as well as for managers to effectively manage their team. Managers must also acquire new skills that enable them to gauge performance based on set daily and longer-term objectives. Senior management must identify the right metrics that allow them to see whether their expectations and company goals are being met.
Here are some useful tips that help ensure the transition to remote working is successful:-
Start Slowly – Rather than immediately enabling employees to work from home, start slowly and begin to introduce the concept to your teams. For example, start by offering a flexible Friday and then extend the flexibility to other days before working your way up to teleworking gradually. In this way both employers and employees can learn this new way of working and propose ideas based on experience to ensure policies are formed around the real needs and expectations for both sides.
Trust – Feeling trusted and empowered are key factors that determine employee satisfaction. Employers should worry less about what time the employee punched in and out and more about the value and quality of work delivered.
Accountability – Establish agreed upon metrics that enable performance to be measured and hold people accountable when they are not met. However, do not immediately take drastic measures that restrict their flexible work schedule. Explain to the employee where s/he needs to improve and allow them to identify ways to raise their performance level.
Praise – Recognize and highlight team accomplishments. Teleworking may increase productivity, but if people are on different work schedules, they may not see it. Praising an employee’s work raises morale not only for the individual but also for the team. Ensure that everyone sees the potential and benefit that can be gained though the incentives being offered.
Inclusivity – Try not to restrict teleworking to specific segments of the company. As much as possible ensure policies and incentives are offered in ways that satisfy the needs of each department. Where this is not possible try and think of different fun ways for the remaining employees to benefit from other forms of incentives.
Communication – One common disadvantage of flexible work schedules is that employees are less frequently together at the office. This may hinder teamwork and lead to some becoming disconnected from the company. This can be avoided by implementing modern collaboration tools that allow employees to
- Communicate using chat,
- Share ideas on discussion boards,
- Share files easily and easy access to company shared resources.
- Hold videoconference meetings on demand.
- View and edit personal and team calendars.
It is also useful to hold regular meetings with all the team present were everyone is encouraged to share what they are working on and challenges they are facing. This enables employees to gain appreciation and understanding for the work done by their colleagues and encourages teamwork. More over managers are able to ensure employees are progressing on their assigned tasks and is able to resolve and challenges that may be hindering that progress. Such meetings can be held as often as required but usually recommended at least once per week.
Junior Accounts Coordinator
Ennesse is on the lookout for a committed and adaptable Junior Accounts Coordinator to compliment our team of professionals. This is an exciting opportunity for somebody looking for a progressive and varied position.
Duties & responsibilities:
- Reviewing incoming financial reports;
- Delivering a monthly analysis of expenditure (against forecasts for budgets) including highlighting areas of concerns and producing commentary for management;
- Raising purchase orders;
- Assisting with submissions of VAT and TAX returns;
- Handle any queries related to incoming invoices;
- Ensuring the finance system is accurate in terms of financial records (budgets, forecasts, accruals etc);
- Developing and maintaining finance spreadsheets;
- Supporting the annual budgeting process;
- Any additional adhoc duties required by the Management team.
Requirements for the role:
- Achieved at least 5 ACCA modules;
- Has some experience in a similiar position;
- Possess strong communication skills in both Maltese & English;
- Solid Computer skills: MS Word, Excel, other financial related software strongly preferred;
- Strong team-player;
- Flexible and able to cope with high levels of stress;
- Self-driven with a solution-oriented approach.
Interested?
Submit your interest below or contact us directly at [email protected]