Marika Polak
Meet Marika 👋
Role: Bookkeeper
Background: Chartered Management Accountant (ACMA, CGMA), Member in Practice (MiP)
First-hand experience: Living in & working from a campervan, professional experience in accounting, finance, business cases and commercial decision-making
Areas of expertise: Management accounting · Bookkeeping & financial reporting · Budgeting & forecasting · Business planning & analysis · Financial processes & controls
Experience and expertise
Marika brings a structured financial mindset and deep practical experience in nomadic living to remote accounting. She is a fully qualified Chartered Management Accountant (ACMA, CGMA) and a Member in Practice (MiP), offering over 7 years of professional expertise in accounting, finance, business cases, and commercial decision-making. She manages the company’s finances from the road, specialising in management accounting, budgeting, forecasting, and financial controls. Fully immersing herself in the lifestyle she supports, Marika designed and built her own DIY campervan conversion, which she now lives and works from full-time, seamlessly pairing rigorous corporate financial analysis with authentic, real-world van life experience.
Personal story
Marika grew up in Poland's capital, Warsaw, but spent most of her time in Lekarty, a countryside village a three-hour drive away. Staying at a family cottage by the lake, surrounded by forests and farmlands, she embraced an active, outdoor lifestyle. She spent her days swimming, cycling, foraging for wild mushrooms, harvesting fruit and vegetables, hanging out with friends and family, and helping out on her friends’ farm. There, she learned everything she could about farming, from collecting eggs, milking cows and goats, and delivering piglets, to feeding animals and getting her hands dirty in the fields during harvest season. It was the perfect childhood, fostering a deep connection to both community and nature.
Following life changes at the age of 15, her mum and brother decided to move to England for a fresh start. Her mum’s dream was for her children to receive a great education and build independent lives. While it was challenging adjusting to a new culture, norms and learning a new language, her and her family settled in comfortably and started building their new life. Marika later attended the University of Sheffield, graduating with a BA in Accounting and Financial Management. Eager to advance her career, she joined a finance graduate scheme that allowed her to work full-time while continuing her studies. Sponsored by her employer, she completed her CIMA chartership to become a fully qualified management accountant. It was a long and demanding journey that was incredibly worth it.
After moving between various cities and jobs, she decided to settle down in Newcastle upon Tyne. This move sparked a new thirst for adventure and a focus on both old and new hobbies, including travel, rock climbing, mountain biking, yoga, and paragliding. Over time, she grew tired of being office-bound and living strictly for weekends and holidays, prompting a shift in her life. While figuring out her next steps, she began converting a van alongside a close friend who happened to purchase the exact same model. Together, they designed, sourced, and built everything themselves. Although they spent plenty of time procrastinating, tweaking designs, and shopping for materials, they had an amazing time building both vans side by side. During this transformation, Marika decided to quit her full-time corporate job, rent out her flat, and become a freelancer. Today, she lives a truly nomadic lifestyle, travelling in her van while working, climbing, practicing yoga, and mountain biking across Europe, as well as travelling further abroad to work and fly as a solo paragliding pilot.
Whilst staying in Nepal, she qualified as a solo paragliding pilot, flying through the Himalayas and enjoying the unique blend of a slow yet vibrant local life. After returning back to Europe, she is now focussing on climbing, mountain biking, and flying in new spots. She has also recently invested in new "hike and fly" gear to make her mountain treks even more exciting. As she gains more knowledge and airtime, her ultimate goal is to combine her two greatest passions: rock climbing and paragliding.
The recent changes in my personal and work life have taught me how to slow down, focus on things that matter in life and enjoy it to the fullest. It has been a life-changing experience to switch from a full-time, office-based job to a part-time, freelance job. Not only that, but swapping my flat for van living has given me more flexibility to move around, explore and decide what to do next…
Marika Polak, Bookkeeper
Fun Fact: Marika absolutely loves to cook and eat good food. Her favourite culinary adventure is trying different types of pickles from around the world, exploring diverse ingredients and pickling methods. She loves discovering new flavours and spices on the road and can’t wait to cook up a feast for her friends and family.
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