Maria Stathoulia

Maria joined the Transfer Pricing team at KPMG in April 2024 after completing her internship with the firm the previous year. From the outset, she impressed us with her integrity, professionalism, and eagerness to learn. Her consistent willingness to support the team, combined with her collaborative and pleasant demeanor, has made her a valued member of the team.

“Only a year after completing my internship at KPMG, I returned to the firm to start the next chapter of my professional journey. The welcome from my team was more than warm with smiles, teasing and jokes about a little ‘welcome back’ party! That sense of acceptance and familiarity made me feel like I had never left.

The first few months weren’t easy. It was my first real exposure to a field I didn’t know that well, and each day was filled with both excitement and nerves. There were plenty of times I made mistakes and had to start over, or when something was explained and I just didn’t get it. Yet, I didn’t give up. Step by step, I started finding my pace.

Tax is a demanding yet fascinating field. What makes our work so special is that it never lets you get bored, each day brings something new to learn. And the best part? The people. Even though Tax might seem 'heavy' or 'monotonous' from the outside, our team brings energy, humor, and a positive atmosphere.

During the most demanding times, I try to support my team by taking on tasks whenever I can to lighten their workload. I believe it’s important to stay calm and avoid tension, so I also try to lift the team’s spirits, by sharing a joke, bringing snacks, or simply saying something encouraging.

One thing that brightens my day is my daily morning walk from the metro station to the office. It’s my calm moment, coffee in hand, enjoying the quiet morning, knowing I’m heading into a place full of kind people who are always willing to help, even if I ask the same question twenty times.

So, if I could go back to my internship days, the advice I’d give my younger self would be simple: 'Relax. Everything will be fine. You have the right people around you. Keep going, and everything will fall into place'.”