Meet our Manager, Financial Controlling, Nikolaj Lehto

Q&As with Nikolaj

Who are you?
I love wine.

Despite coming from a country with very little wine history and only being 29 years old. I love wine with a passion, and everything related to it.

How would you describe yourself?
Someone with a positive mindset no matter what challenges I’m being dealt and trying to spread the positivity with humor and self-irony.

What do you do at European Energy?
I work as Manager, Finance Controlling and Team Leader for six Financial Controllers. I have a portfolio of companies across different countries and business sectors in European Energy, where I handle the day-to-day financial and business challenges as well as the contact with internal and external accountants. I handle the internal and external reporting for these companies and have the responsibility of our quarterly controlling and reporting of these into the European Energy Group. Also helping in growing and optimizing the Controlling Department as well as developing our future plans and goals.

How do you try to be a creative enabler of the green transition?
Working in Finance is often seen as a support function, and I try to be a partner for my colleagues in the other departments of European Energy to help and support them in the best way possible, so they can do what they do best; accelerate the green transition.

What is the best things about working at European Energy? 
The chain-of-command is very flat and there’s a very short way from idea to execution which makes every day dynamic and exciting, while the people in the organization are fun to be around. The business is growing at a very rapid rate making it possible for my personal development to go quite fast as well, which is something I value highly.

Why is it important for you that European Energy is a driving force in the green transition?
Working in a business that is one of the frontrunners in their field makes every day new, fun and exciting. There’s always new challenges and ideas coming up, and it’s great being part of an organization where we’re not afraid of taking chances, taking the lead and having high ambitions.

What are the best things about your colleagues?
We’re a young and agile organization and it shows in the people working here as well. Everyone is ready to do their part and are not afraid of chiming in with ideas or solutions. On top of that we always have fun while doing it!

European Energy has six core values. In it together, Excitement, Inclusion, Agility, Trust & Courage, and Ambition. What are the most important values for you and why?
For me it’s Agility and In it together, but they’re all an integrated “symbiosis” of what we do. I’ve chosen these two because they shine through my daily work the most while I’m trying to be a help and support for the organization in a field where it’s important being agile and always ready to act on a whim and doing so together.

What has been your best experience so far at European Energy?
It’s been my personal growth journey over the last years coming in as a Financial Controller directly from a Big 4-Auditing company and transitioning into being a Senior and now also a Team Leader of six colleagues. Being giving the trust and help for myself to reach new goals and milestones and to help build up something even greater has been a huge driver for me.

What do you like to do outside work?
I have a very large passion for wine – and especially champagne – which I spend a lot of my free time and money on. I also have a small business together with my brother importing champagne to Denmark from 3 smaller producers that we sell to both private customers, wine shops/bars and restaurants while also hosting champagne tastings for private people and businesses!