“Be curious and ask questions”: Arthur Alén’s Lindström story 

Arthur Alén started as an Invoicing and Accounts Receivables Trainee in April of 2025, and now runs invoicing and incoming payments for an entire country. But he didn’t get in on his first try. Or the second. 

“I’d actually applied several times over the years,” he says. “I even got another job offer before reaching the final interview here. But I always kept Lindström in mind, as it’s a big and sustainable company that really seemed to take care of its employees.” 

His role was part of Lindström’s Grow & Shine summer trainee programme, based at the head office in Helsinki. The programme offers soon-to-be graduates hands-on experience, meaningful projects, and mentoring in fields like finance, marketing, sustainability, IT, and more. 

In early spring, Arthur gave it another go. “I applied in January, had an interview soon after, and got an offer right away. It all went really smoothly in the end.” 

At the time, he was finishing his Master’s degree in Accounting and Finance at Aalto University. He aims to graduate in the summer of 2026. Balancing studies and a full-time job hasn’t been easy, but he’s made it work, and has grown a lot along the way. 

Finding his footing 

Arthur joined as a trainee alongside three others in the accounting team, and in total, there were fifteen other trainees at the Helsinki head office. “It helped a lot to start with a group. We supported each other and even organised our own activities, like bowling and lunch meetups.” The onboarding experience made him feel welcome from day one.

There were company events for trainees, and I had two buddies. They were more experienced colleagues I could go to with any question. That made a huge difference, especially during the busier weeks.

Throughout the summer, trainees took part in activities like onboarding day, a CEO meet-and-greet, afterwork events, and a sip-and-paint evening followed by dinner. “It really helped us connect. Not just with our own teams, but with other trainees across different departments in the company.”

Before Lindström, Arthur had two very different kinds of work experience. He worked two summers as a credit analyst, gaining experience in finance. Separately, he spent several years involved with his local tennis club in Hanko, where he took on much more hands-on responsibilities. “I took part in organizing tournaments, managed a team of ten summer workers, handled finances and schedules, and ran a small shop,” he says. “But the office world was still a whole different scale.” 

Stepping up to the challenge 

During the summer, Arthur faced one of his biggest tests when he had to cover invoicing and accounts receivables functions for two countries at once. “It got pretty hectic with emails coming from all directions,” he laughs. “But I learned to prioritise and stay focused.” His managers were supportive throughout.

They treated it like a challenge, not a crisis, and that mindset helped me grow.

By September, Arthur was offered a full-time Specialist role, taking responsibility for invoicing and accounts receivables in Slovakia. “Most payments go through fine, but some need detective work,” he explains. “I track where they came from, match them manually, and fix what’s off.” 

He also updates reports, handles credit notes, and manages monthly invoicing. “We send out invoices worth millions of euros at once. One mistake affects everyone, so you need to double-check everything.” 

Learning by doing 

“This is the first company where I work fully in English,” Arthur says. “That was one reason I applied, as I’d heard it was very international.” With one of the managers from Turkey and teammates from around the world, he’s found that to be true. 

He speaks Finnish, Swedish, Russian and English, and gets to use them all. “It’s great practice,” he adds. “Even this interview is good practice!” 

He’s also sharpened his Excel skills fast. “At university, you take one course and forget most of it. But here, I use Excel every day for reports, macros, and automation. It’s probably the tool I’ve improved in the most.” 

Balance, growth, and big goals 

Balancing full-time work with finishing his degree takes discipline. “Sometimes I start working or studying at 7 a.m. to fit everything in. Saturdays are for studying, and Sundays are completely off. It’s my recovery day,” he says. “When there’s time, I cook, go fishing, or play tennis. It helps me reset.” 

Lindström’s flexibility has made it possible. “If I need time off for exams or help from a backup, we always find a solution,” he says. 

Looking ahead, Arthur has clear ambitions. “This has been a great step for learning, and I’ve already been given real responsibility,” he says. “Eventually, I’d like to move toward perhaps business controlling or management. Lindström is a big company with a lot of directions to grow in.” 

A team that cares 

For Arthur, the best part of Lindström is the people. “Managers are really supportive. They don’t just tell you what to do, but they help you grow and treat you with trust.” What’s stood out most is the atmosphere. “It’s not all just tasks and deadlines. There’s a real effort to make people feel included, whether it’s casual coffee chats, check-ins that go beyond work, or the moments we get to relax and have fun together.”

His advice for new trainees?

Be curious and ask questions. You’re not expected to know everything, that’s what the buddy system and team are there for.

Who:  Arthur Alén
Role at Lindström: Invoicing and Accounts Receivables Specialist
Location: Helsinki, Finland

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