Our Meet the Hiring Manager series allows you to get to know the people who grow teams at VMware Bulgaria. You will learn about our hiring managers’ career paths and what they look for in candidates during the interview experience.
This week meet Ina Velcheva, Senior Finance Manager and Vladimir Todorov, Finance Manager.
Tell us about your career journey to date?
Ina: I have started my career as an accountant 15 years ago, which gave me great basis for my next roles. That was also the reason to get my ACCA certification. After several years of number crunching and balancing the balance sheet I decided to move to finance. I spend 3 years in the retail business where I have learned a lot about controlling and managing budgets. 8 years ago I joined VMware’s team as Senior Financial Analyst supporting the AMER GEO Sales organisation. Since then I have worked with different business partners and financial leaders from whom I have learned a lot during my journey to Senior Manager.
Vladimir: After graduating bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at Sofia University, I joined a local management consultancy firm and completed my master’s in Strategic Management. After 4 years of various finance projects with 20+ mid and large Bulgarian clients, I joined a local Telecom company as a BI analyst and quickly realized Financial Planning and Analysis is the field I want to grow in the long term and enrolled for CIMA qualification. Almost 3 years later, after fully integrating a complete management reporting system around revenue, customers and services, and taking most of CIMA exams, I joined VMware as a Senior Finance Analyst. It’s been almost 7 fantastic years with the Sales Finance team where currently I’m a Finance Manager with a team of 12 across Channels, Professional Services and Global Support Services.
How is VMware different to any other tech company you have worked for?
Ina: I can’t compare to other tech companies but for sure VMware is different to the other companies I have worked for with its culture, spirit and values.Vladimir: I’d echo 100% Ina’s words – it’s the culture, the EPIC2 values and the team spirit.
What has been the biggest lesson you have learned as you moved upwards in your career?
Ina: The biggest lesson – “No pain, no gain” – to achieve something you must go out of your comfort zone. Other crucial things for the success are integrity and relationship with team.
Vladimir: I would add:
- Be curious, learn and bring change
- Be a team player, we’re better together
- Be proactive – don’t wait for opportunities to come, be the one to identify and explore them
Your team is hiring. Can you tell us more about your organization’s charter?
In VMware Finance we tell business stories to our Sales & Marketing Partners.
The Financial Planning and Analysis team in Bulgaria is part of VMware Sales Finance. We plan, forecast, track performance and explain variances. We help and advise our business partners on how to better execute plans and overachieve targets.
If someone reading this was coming to interview with you tomorrow for a role in your org, what interview tips would you give them?
Start with the why:
Why am I applying for this position – be clear with your motivation.
Why VMware – research the company.
Why me – tell us what you can bring to the team.
Also be honest and straightforward. Be prepared for some Management Accounting and Excel questions.
Check out the open roles:
