Employee Interview: Megumi Takagi (Image)

My seed is thinking ability.

Megumi Takagi

Career hire , Financial Division, Accounting Department

Takagi is responsible for accounting processes such as fixed assets and payroll as a company representative at Macnica. Currently, he is also participating in an overseas ERP deployment project and is working hard as one of the representatives of the Financial Division.

Q1: What is your current job and what is rewarding about it?

Contributing to business with diverse knowledge.

My main responsibility is responding to accounting-related inquiries from various business divisions.
In new businesses, we are often asked for advice from an accounting perspective and explanations of how accounting procedures are carried out. These are all situations that do not occur in existing businesses, so we have to think for ourselves to ensure that accounting standards and operations work well together, and because it requires a wide range of knowledge, we feel like we are growing every day.

Since last year, I've been participating in a cross-departmental project to deploy an ERP system to overseas companies. Leveraging my English skills, I'm working with other departments, consultants, and system vendors to figure out how to integrate the system into the existing infrastructure while meeting local accounting and tax legal requirements.
The tight schedule means there are many tasks that must be completed in a short period of time, such as making decisions on how to proceed, conducting research, verifying results, and preparing documents. It's very demanding, but being entrusted with these responsibilities by my department head and superiors as one of the representatives of the Financial Division gives me confidence and a sense of fulfillment.

When communicating with many people both inside and outside the company, both domestically and internationally, I always make sure to have my own opinion when talking to anyone and to avoid giving ambiguous answers. When asked a question, I clearly state YES or NO and the reason why, and if I cannot answer on the spot, I make it clear that I cannot.

Q2: Why did you choose Macnica?

From a long-established industry to a rapidly changing one.

I was in charge of accounting at my previous job, but I decided to change jobs because the industry has a long history, so there are many routine tasks, and it's difficult to gain new experience due to the seniority system. I was looking for a company where I could enhance my expertise as an accountant while working with a broad perspective, and Macnica was the perfect fit.
Macnica is constantly challenging itself in growing markets and new businesses, so there are many issues to consider from an accounting perspective. I felt that this was exactly the kind of company I was looking for, with plenty of topics to tackle after thinking things through proactively.

Furthermore, the positive responses I received from my future supervisor and Member of the Board during the interview were also a deciding factor in my decision to join the company. They told me during the interview that they expect me to be able to handle a certain level of work independently within a year of joining, and they explained the expected responsibilities and content of my work if I were to join the company.
They didn't just talk about dreams; they were straightforward, saying things like, "The bar is set high," and "If you're prepared for that, please join our company." I remember feeling that it was a good fit for me.

After actually starting work, I found that the job duties were the same as what I had been told before joining the company, and there were no negative discrepancies in the company's atmosphere or culture.

Daily Schedule

8:45

Started working from home

Check your daily schedule and tasks.
9:00

Regular online meetings

System vendors/IT departments are working with the IT department to manage progress and confirm action items regarding accounting issues in overseas expansion projects.
12:00

Lunch and a nap

Recharging for the afternoon's work.
13:00

Accounting Section

Sharing questions from each team member and discussing policies regarding accounting procedures for new businesses.

14:00

Departmental project progress meeting

Report the progress of the global project to the department head.
We will share the matters to be discussed and then hold another project meeting once the finalized decisions have been made.
15:00

Project meeting

A three-party meeting was held between a consulting firm, a system vendor, Macnica to discuss the progress and considerations of the global project.
16:00

System verification and creation of explanatory materials.

We will verify the shared information from the progress meeting using the system and prepare explanatory materials for the on-site team.
19:00

End of Business

Q3: An episode that made you grow

Let's try it first.

I strongly felt Macnica 's culture of delegation during a troubleshooting situation that occurred about three months after I joined the company. My boss told me, "It'll be fine, just go and check it out," and I ended up attending a meeting alone that was attended by department heads from other divisions.
In this setting, I'm expected to offer my opinion as an accountant and provide operational instructions from a professional accounting perspective. Before the meeting, I reviewed the nature of the problems we would be addressing and the existing operations, but I still didn't know what to say or how to say it. With a positive attitude of "let's just do what we can," I'm currently trying to offer my opinion and gauge the reaction, based on the knowledge and experience I gained in my previous job and my three months at Macnica.

When the meeting ended without any problems, I remember recalling my boss's words, "It's okay," and feeling reassured that things would work out somehow. This experience also made me realize that, even though I had only been with the company for three months, I was seen as a member of the accounting department by other departments and people outside the company, and therefore I had to take responsibility for my words and actions.

I was initially surprised by the wide range of responsibilities and the frequent opportunities to be entrusted with new tasks, regardless of years of service or position, but I've come to realize that this is Macnica 's culture of empowerment. Furthermore, even when I'm given responsibility, I'm not left to fend for myself; my superiors check on my progress regularly and offer frequent consultations, so I feel that I'm in an environment where I can proactively take on challenges while receiving support.

MY VISIONFuture goals and aspirations

I aspire to become an accounting staff member with more specialized knowledge, not only in accounting but also in areas such as taxation. I am currently discussing with my supervisor the possibility of being assigned necessary tasks so that I can put what I've learned from books into practice and truly master the skills.

Macnica is involved in a variety of businesses, and we receive inquiries about accounting on a daily basis. This requires us to develop accounting standards and underlying concepts from scratch that can be applied to new businesses. We are also entrusted with non-routine tasks that don't have established rules, such as global projects, so I want to continue growing by thinking and acting independently.

Message

One of Macnica 's attractions is its high degree of freedom and the ability to freely exchange opinions regardless of job title. First, think about your personality and what kind of work you want to do from a broad perspective. At Macnica, you might be able to utilize your individuality and do what you want to do.

Also, while finance is often perceived as a rigid department, Macnica has a casual atmosphere where you can easily talk to and consult with anyone, so I recommend it.