Delivering with pride - Anne Ma Hoddevik

''Every time I speak with a customer, I provide them with the support they require but also receive something in return as I learn more and more about the industry.''

At the heart of Mintra lie the service and delivery teams, advising our global human capital management solution OCS users. Committed to the highest level of customer care, Anne Margrethe Hoddevik, or Anne Ma as she is known by her colleagues, plays an integral role heading these critical functions.

Anne Ma has a deep understanding of the most intricate details of the OCS suite from a Mintra point of view but has also deployed the technology as a customer. Prior to joining Mintra’s team of expert support staff, she had first-hand experience of the system in her role implementing OCS at Onsoft Computer Systems/OCS HR AS, later acquired by Mintra, and previous to this as a Payroll Manager and Head of Superusers Global for two years at the Norwegian vessel management company DOF Subsea.

Anne Ma started at Mintra as a Senior Payroll Consultant in 2011 and today leads a large customer support and payroll function at the business’ headquarters in Bergen, Norway.

She is Mintra’s own OCS HR payroll module whizz, having worked with and finetuned the technology over the past decade and more. As a nod to her payroll and accounting background, her team is also responsible for delivering the payroll function to support finance departments in a number of large organisations.

But her love for payroll and accounting has far earlier origins. Whilst working at a small bookstore in the coastal town of Volda, many years prior to joining Mintra, she started to develop a keen interest in accounting. Anne Ma built up her knowledge by attending different courses around her working hours. As the years progressed, so did her accounting skills and she began attending night classes following the birth of her children.

‘It was difficult at times, especially with young children but I knew this was a topic I wanted to know more about. Back then there were no options for digital learning, I’m glad this has changed now. Step by step I honed my skills and with each role became more confident. My position at Mintra today is a culmination of a lifelong quest for professional development and self-improvement.’

Anne Ma’s team has a close relationship with all OCS customers, who they visit on-site during system implementation and if additional support is required. The function undertakes a long list of tasks ranging from customer demos to product testing. What makes it all worthwhile are the customer interactions and connections made during those visits.

‘The most attractive aspect of my role is the people. Every time I speak with a customer, I provide them with the support they require but also receive something in return as I learn more and more about the industry. Mintra does not have two clients who are the same.

‘Each day is different. We at Mintra take great pride in delivering the best available service to our clients and I take personal responsibility for maintaining high standards amongst the team. Mintra delivers with pride.’

Anne Ma takes her responsibilities to her team just as seriously as her commitment to Mintra customers. Training and growing the competence of new employees is extremely important to her. Each team member enjoys the autonomy of taking ownership of their workload and the quality of the output. It is important to give everyone the right tools and skills for the job.

‘We were all forced home during the pandemic but today we have settled into a pattern of structured flexibility. The teams enjoy a hybrid working week, with hours to accommodate the needs of each individual. I like to connect in the office but our two recent hires are fully remote, based in Ålesund, Grimstad as well as the Netherlands.’

‘We can no longer rely on the physical office environment to bring teams together. During the pandemic, I started a chat group where we would all wish each other a good morning to keep in touch. I have noticed this group is being used again by the teams. Everyone has learned over the past few years how to reach out using non-traditional channels.’

Anne Ma remains passionate about delivering for Mintra teams, the business and our customers.

‘I am delighted that I have been lucky to be working for a business where I feel supported and heard.’