3.12.2014

Mr. Accountant

“Only specialist should do a specialized job!”

Mr. Jan Hádek, or Honza, as we informally call him, has been a member of our team for quite a while, working as an accountant of the BanglaKids Program. Being a professional with an ability to stay on top of things and a unique sense of humour, he really is a colleague for rainy days. Therefore, the current issue of BanglaKids magazine brings you a completely informal interview with him. 

Honza, tell us something about yourself.

Well, that’s not really a question. I didn’t expect you to take me unawares like that; it’s not easy to tell somebody something about me. Maybe some facts – the truth; because if you tell the truth, you can’t make a mistake. So, I’m 40, have a wife and two wonderful kids, two sons, and live happily with them. I like my work, but I also like spending time with my family. 

We know that you’re a little bit of a gourmet. What’s your most favourite meal?

Yeah, that’s true. I like good meals and I like preparing them. I don’t save on food, because I like eating; but the fact is, I don’t have any favourite meals. On the other hand, there are some meals I don’t like and try to avoid them – sweet food. But except for that, I eat everything.

Could you tell us how did you get to the job of an accountant, please? What do you like about it?

When I was a little boy, I loved filling various forms and documents and pretended I was a clerk; my aunt worked in Česká spořitelna, so she brought me loads of these papers and it really fascinated me. Later, when I had to choose my high school, I had no idea where to go. But my brother noticed what I was interested in and told me about the high school of economics. And he got it right. After finishing the high school, I started working as an accountant and it has been my job already for 21 years. One has to find out all the data, enter every item, fill forms in a proper way, put them in the file – that’s what I like about accounting. The feeling everything is the way it should be, that everything is alright. To put it simply, accounting is just about putting numbers and documents in files.

What brought you here, to the humanitarian organization ADRA?

Well, there were many things at once. I had some free capacity and wanted to fill it up with something, but when I started looking for a job, I found out that the only organizations offering a half-time job for an accountant were the humanitarian ones. So I picked up the one I liked the most – and I believe it was a good choice. I liked everything I read about ADRA, it wasn’t far from my home, there were wonderful people and it’s a non-smoking workplace, which is really important for me. And the best thing is I can help an organization that helps other people – and suddenly, accounting has got even more significant.

Is there anything you found interesting about the BanglaKids Program?

It caught my attention because it has a clearly stated purpose and aim. The purpose of the BanglaKids Program is to help children with their education because educated people manage to have sort of better life and to prepare their children for better life, too.

Is there anything special about being an accountant for BanglaKids?

I don’t think there’s much of a difference. I have to keep the books by looking at bank statements, sometimes also to investigate – when a good soul sends money to the children with wrong payment details, I have to identify the sender. And that’s what I like about it. Sometimes I really feel like a character from a detective story. 

Looking on children sponsorship as an accountant, what are the challenges and problems the BanglaKids Program has to face today?

PWhat comes to my mind of an accountant immediately is that the current exchange rate of American dollar isn’t really favourable to us, but unfortunately the sponsorship of our children is calculated in American dollars in Bangladesh. To give you an idea of the whole problem – under the influence of the Czech National Bank’s intervention, the exchange rate of American dollar has grown for almost CZK 3 since last year, which causes serious problems when buying dollars and sending them to Bangladesh. That’s why we had to use our reserves this year and announce that price of sponsorship will be CZK 100 higher next year. I believe that the sponsors will understand that and will not take against our children. 

Another challenge is that the number of sponsored children has been growing. The more children we can support, the greater extant our meaningful work has; but to do that, we need new donors, which may not be part of my job, but it’s a challenge for the whole team.

Your personal motto is: “Only specialist should do a specialized job!” Could you explain that?

Well, it’s nice if you do something with love, but the same thing done by a specialist – with love, too – is always better. And that’s what I try to do in my work.

Is there anything you would like to wish our donors, children in Bangladesh and the BanglaKids team for the following year?

I’d like to wish the same to all of them – not to be hurt by anyone and to feel happy. In my opinion, the purpose of our lives lies in this – no suffering, only satisfaction.

And what is your new year’s wish?

I wish my knees stopped hurting.

Do you have any deep idea you’d like to share with our readers before we say goodbye?

Well, I’d have a deep idea, but I’d have to dig really deep for it and there’s no time for it now.

OK, Honza, but you can still try it.

I’d say I’m glad I can work for BanglaKids because I enjoy it and it’s a great team. And if our donors enjoy sponsoring children in Bangladesh, they will be also part of this great team. And if the children understand our support even in Bangladesh, the great team will be all around the world.

Only specialist should do a specialized job!


More information about program Support BanglaKids

BanglaKids is a development program of ADRA Czech Republic.
Since 1999 we have provided education to 6,500 children in Bangladesh.
Together, we’re giving them an opportunity for a better future.

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