Interview with Tiina Mirka, Head of BPO at Rödl & Partner Estonia

To celebrate Tiina Mirka’s birthday and her incredible journey of over 20 years at Rödl & Partner Estonia, we sat down with her to reflect on the evolution of accounting, the realities of leadership, and what’s kept her inspired all these years.

You’ve been with Rödl & Partner for over 20 years. What has kept you here all this time? Was there ever a moment when you truly felt, “This is where I belong”?

Absolutely — and that moment has come many times over the years. What has really anchored me here are, first and foremost, the people. My colleagues have been a constant source of support, collaboration, and genuine companionship. We’ve grown together, both professionally and personally. That kind of long-term team dynamic builds deep trust, and it becomes a big part of why you stay. At the same time, I’ve always found a lot of satisfaction in our client relationships. There’s something very rewarding about helping businesses navigate complex financial and operational challenges, and having clients rely on your expertise — it gives meaning to the day-to-day work. So yes, the sense of “this is my place” hasn’t just happened once, but many times, especially during moments of team achievement or when seeing the real impact of our work.

What has been the biggest change in accounting over these past decades?

The shift toward automation and digitalisation has truly transformed the field. When I first started, it was completely normal for clients to bring in boxes of physical documents — all paper, all manual. You had to sift through every single page. Fast forward to today, and we’re working with sophisticated accounting software, cloud-based platforms, and integrated systems that pull data in real-time. We’ve also moved toward using different tools and programs depending on the specific nature of the client’s needs — whether it's for complex reporting, handling cross-border VAT issues, or automating payroll. This digital shift has increased efficiency enormously, but it’s also changed the skill set required in our field. Today’s accountant needs to be just as comfortable with systems and analytics as they are with numbers.

What is one thing people often get completely wrong about accounting?

A common misconception is that accounting and tax reporting are one and the same. People often lump them together, assuming they’re just two sides of the same coin. But in reality, they’re quite different in both function and impact. The numbers you report for internal management purposes or for financial statements might look very different from what's reflected in tax filings — and that’s because each serves a different purpose and follows a different set of rules. Misunderstanding this can lead to confusion, especially among entrepreneurs who are new to financial reporting. Part of our job is helping them make sense of that complexity.

What’s the most important part of being in a leadership role for you? Is there something you know now that you didn’t know 10 years ago?

Leadership has so many layers, and over time, I’ve come to see how diverse the role really is. One thing I definitely didn’t fully realize ten years ago is just how many different kinds of issues can land on a leader’s desk — not just strategic or operational matters, but very human ones, too. You might be managing a business challenge one moment, and then the next, you’re supporting a team member through a personal crisis. It’s about being present and adaptable — understanding the nuances of how people feel, how they perform under pressure, and how to guide them in both difficult and successful times. I think leadership is as much about emotional intelligence as it is about business acumen. And learning to navigate that space — that’s something I’ve grown into with time.

If you could receive one new skill as a birthday gift — completely unrelated to work — what would it be?

I’d love to have more creativity — especially the ability to truly “paint the world in all its shades.” There's something magical about being able to express emotions and ideas in a visual or artistic way. That kind of creativity brings balance to the analytical nature of my work. To be able to see the world not just through structure and numbers, but also through colors, textures, and imagination — that would be a beautiful gift.