Meet our Group Finance Director: Having things in order is simply part of my nature | People of Accace

Meet Mária Kmečová, our Group Finance Director, someone who thrives in structure, lives by precision and finds peace in rhythm.

Her workdays are packed with numbers, reports and back-to-back responsibilities, but behind that structured world is a person who finds balance in simple, grounding moments: getting her hands dirty in the garden, losing herself in the keys of a piano or immersing in the stillness of a theatre performance.

She’s up at 6 AM for workouts, keeps her garden “vacuum-clean” and manages to bring the same energy to a complex financial consolidation as she does to weeding or composing spreadsheets. In this interview, we explore how she finds harmony between discipline and creativity – or in other words, between spreadsheets and symphonies.

What helps you switch off after a busy day full of numbers, decisions and responsibilities?

Honestly, most days I don’t really “switch off” in a peaceful way, it’s more like I crash. After work it’s straight into mum-mode: school pickup, after-school clubs, dinner and by the time the kids are in bed, I’m usually half-asleep on the couch. But I don’t complain, I think that’s just the reality for most working mums.

What really helps me reset, though, is getting outside into the garden. I can be out there for hours, even in the rain or wind, digging, planting, or just pulling weeds. It doesn’t matter if it’s something small, I always find something to do, and it completely clears my head. It’s not about relaxing on the terrace with a coffee (I’m not that type), it’s more the physical work that helps me release stress.

And if I’m really overwhelmed, sometimes I’ll sit down at the piano and play a bit, even if I haven’t touched it in weeks. That helps too. Just doing something with my hands, away from screens and numbers, makes a big difference.

Gardening can be creative and a bit messy. Do you enjoy it because it’s different from your work, or do you bring your love of order into the garden too?

I’m the type of person who has all the garden beds outlined at right angles, the bushes trimmed to the same height, and it bothers me when trees don’t grow straight… I spend a lot of my free time in the garden. On one hand, it’s my need to be surrounded by a space where everything is tidy and harmonious, but on the other hand, it’s a great way for me to relax – a time when I’m mostly alone and don’t have to think about anything.

Do you see any connection between how you manage financial projects and how you organise things at home or in your personal routines?

Most of the time, I’m very organized, both at home and at work. I like it when everyone knows what their role and responsibility is. At home, I involve everyone in household chores – including the kids. Even the little things that a five-year-old girl can handle contribute to us feeling good at home and everyone has time for the things they enjoy.

It’s similar at work. Everyone in the department knows what their responsibility is. Most of our work is only seen by company management in the form of reports that show only aggregated numbers, variances and percentages. But there’s a lot of work behind that, from correctly entering invoices, to communicating with other departments and finally analysing the results. Everyone has their share of responsibility and it’s thanks to this that we function well as a whole. I can stand behind my team’s results, even if I don’t see every detail, because I know both the processes and the people are reliable.

Your work is all about control and accuracy. Is this why you enjoy activities that are more creative or emotional in your free time?

I spend most of my working hours analysing results. I might not immediately remember the name of the colleague I see at the coffee machine, but I know her department’s profitability, how they planned their sales and whether they’re doing better than other departments in the group.

My entire job revolves around numbers and order. Having things in order is simply part of my nature. But even if you have a perfectly tidy room or garden, it all only makes sense when you can sit there with a cup of coffee and turn on some music. I need those moments too: a balance between order and emotion.

What’s something people might not expect about what keeps you motivated or inspired in your role?

For me, finance is primarily about order. One plus one will always be two. But I am fascinated by watching how numbers change under various circumstances, whether it’s external factors we can’t control or internal decisions that move us in a certain direction. In the end, everything is reflected in the numbers.

Every position in a company is important, but through finance, you can see into all areas. Ultimately, decisions are made based on numbers. That’s why it’s important to me that our outputs are accurate, timely and in order. That orderliness is something that comes naturally to me and that’s exactly why this work fulfils me so much.

Do you think how we spend our free time says something about how we work and lead others?

I think so. A person who likes order, structure and clear rules in their personal life usually brings those same qualities into their work. The way we organize our free time reflects how we think and approach responsibility. If someone needs to have an organized environment around them, it’s often because it brings them peace and certainty. And that’s exactly what they then transfer to their team.

At the same time, I believe that free time is important because it gives space to another part of our personality. The one that doesn’t need to be constantly rational, precise and under control. At work, efficiency, precision and decisiveness are often expected of us, while in our free time we can allow ourselves to be spontaneous, not plan every minute and just “be.” For me, it’s a time when I can slow down, recharge and gain perspective.