Don't overcomplicate it

Don't be surprised if Anna has her sock drawer sorted by both colour, length and fit. Here everything is neat and tidy. Anna smiles with her whole body when she talks about streamlining and automating companies' payroll management.

One of her first customers paid for example 50,000 kr for their payroll management from their previous supplier. But Anna reviewed the payroll management system and streamlined all processes. Now their payroll run costs only 35,000 kr per month.

It is thanks to Anna Lundsten that the employees at POJI receive the right salary every month.

Rocket career in a hotel chain

"I like my job. But it hasn't always been that way."

After secondary school Anna had a rocket career at a hotel chain. First as a cleaner and receptionist in Karlstad. Then to Stockholm where she worked her way up. In 2006 she became hotel manager, 25 years old, which was both great and rubbish at the same time.

"The staff rang round the clock with questions and you were always available. But it was fun with all the numbers, booking costs and making budgets," Anna recalls.

Longed for home

She took a job as an accounts assistant at a building company. But homesickness chafed and Anna moved back to Karlstad and became responsible for finance and payroll at a web agency. To get more variety she moved on to an accounting firm, where she became responsible for payroll.

"I realised that payroll was incredibly fun and got an offer to set up a payroll centre that did payroll for all the agency's customers in the region. Then I also understood how fantastically fun it is to streamline an operation through smart working methods and get the digital systems to work for you."

Started own payroll agency

After a few years at an agency and a stint as payroll manager at a large industrial group, Anna started the company "Din Lönekonsult i Karlstad" in February 2022 with the philosophy of not overcomplicating things.

Payroll is complex

She helps companies create order in their payroll management so that everyone gets the right salary regardless of whether they have been on sick leave, taken parental leave or had a baby.

"Payroll is complex and affects both holiday pay, pension and taxes. After all, it is the employees' personal finances that are at stake in the end. If it goes wrong the employees can turn sour, or in the worst case sue you and claim damages. But if you have good working practices, a digital system and systems that are set up correctly, it is easier to get it right."

On the client list are some larger manufacturing companies, a staffing company, engineering firm POJI, an architecture firm and others. The assignments vary between continuously managing the entire payroll process to temporarily stepping in and streamlining systems and processes.

Will build a small personal company

Anna does not want to build a large company. "It should be a small personal agency. If I hire someone it should be the same calibre as me. Someone who has the same goals and direction and likes to simplify and improve things for the customer."