How Monty Compost Co’s Marketing Associate Preps for EOFY

If you find yourself scrambling around EOFY time, trying to pull together what you need to lodge your individual tax return, these tips and tools from Kristina Cao, marketing associate for the Monty Compost Co, might just be what you need to feel more prepared.

The Monty Compost Co is a female-founded Australian company with a goal of changing the way you look at compost – literally. Its monitor and app gives users insight to the health of their compost piles in order to maximise the health of their gardens and wider environment.

Kristina leads the company’s digital communications arm, where she puts her love of composting and her communications degree to good use. “I’ve been doing marketing for Monty for almost two years now,” she says. “When I first came across the company, I was super intrigued, especially having an interest in compost and sustainability.”

A typical day for Kristina includes planning content for Monty’s social media channels, identifying social trends and picking up props to bring her ideas to life. These are her tips for staying efficient when you have a busy day-to-day and staying organised for tax time.

Tips for Developing Your Career

A GIF series of a hand planting a composting device into compost and connecting to the device using a smartphone.

Follow Your Passion

“Working for a sustainably conscious company like Monty Compost Co was definitely a career goal. I’ve always found that sustainability was super important to me and it’s something that I’ve always practised. I think the interest subconsciously came from observing my grandparents and all the things they did in order to minimise waste. So it’s a feel-good moment coming into work every day making a positive impact,” says Kristina.

Give Everything A Go

When you’re at the beginning of your career, it’s hard to know exactly what you want to do or what path to take. It’s important to branch out and try different things to help you discover new avenues. “I’m a super big advocate of ‘don't knock it until you try it’, because it’s actually so true,” says Kristina.

Keep at Your Own Pace

Kristina says it’s important to focus on your own achievements, especially when working in the social media space. “Don’t compare yourself too much to others. Everybody’s working at their own pace and you don’t really know what's going on in the background of what people share on social media.”

Kristina’s Top EOFY Tips for Tax Time

A woman wearing a white t-shirt sitting at a round table with the supplies and equipment she uses for work on the tabletop, including a laptop, smartphone, pens, highlighters and a label maker.

Talk About Tax Time

As EOFY approaches, Kristina suggests chatting with your peers and coworkers to help stay informed. “I listen to the news but I rely a little bit on my peers as well, just like casual talks about any last-minute tips people have come up with that can be applied to your own tax.” Always be sure to follow up with research on the ATO website to ensure the information you’ve discussed is correct and applicable to your individual circumstances at EOFY.

Try Different Systems

If a system isn’t working for you, don’t force it. Be on the lookout for different ways to track your expenses. The easier you find it, the more consistent you’ll be, making you better prepared come tax time. “I tried budgeting through [productivity software] Notion and keeping track of my expenses there but I found spreadsheets work best for me. It’s more customisable like keeping a note of my receipts, so it makes it a bit easier,” says Kristina.

Ask For Help

If you’re unsure about lodging your return yourself, seek out professional help such as a specialised tax accountant. “A lot of my peers go through accountants and they make it a lot easier for them,” she says. "They can claim a lot back because they know all the tips.”

Top Products For Efficient Working

An image of Kristina Cao sitting at a desk smiling with products on a desk behind her including a laptop, smartphone and label maker, and an image of her writing a checklist in a notebook.

For Taking Notes

Though a laptop, smartphone and wireless charger are her everyday essentials, Kristina relies on physical stationery, too. “I’m nothing without my stationery next to me. I need a pen and paper to quickly jot down light-bulb ideas that I have for content or any marketing ideas.”

For Keeping Your Space Organised

A clean desk is a clear mind, so it’s worth investing in items to keep your space in order, says Kristina. “I like to keep things organised with cable management and my handy desk organisers so my desk isn’t cluttered and I can hide stationery [when I’m not using it].”

For Planning Your Projects

“I’m a very big fan of undated calendars; the ones that you can actually customise yourself because I don’t use them [all the time], so it’s a bit less wasteful,” says Kristina. “I use digital calendars but I also like physical ones. Being able to write things down makes me feel a lot more organised.”

What to Try:

A GIF series of products useful for employees shown on various pastel-coloured backgrounds. Products include things like a charging pad, label maker, and a notebook.

This is general information only and does not constitute financial or legal advice. Other requirements under the law apply. Seek professional financial and/or legal advice to determine the right outcomes for your business.

SEE ALSO: Tax Tips From a Small Business: Blackwood Collective