Cloud9 Advisory, Inc.

Digital Intern

September - November 2024 • Boston, MA

What I liked

As a Fall 2024 Digital Intern at Cloud9 Advisory, I had the opportunity to be involved in contributing to website development projects, optimizing Cloud9’s software tools, and leveraging data analysis to improve functionality and user experience. Exposure to different tech and how it is utilized allowed me to deepen my understanding of digital strategy while refining my technical and analytical skills. Working directly with Irene and Sierra, they fostered a collaborative atmosphere giving me the confidence to take initiative and contribute meaningfully to projects. My work was always appreciated and recognized for its impact, which motivated me to continue to deliver high-quality results. My experience at Cloud9 prepared me to tackle complex digital projects with a strategic mindset.

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Marketing Intern

October - November 2024 • Boston, MA

What I liked

Interning at Cloud9 helped me gain a lot of insight into just what my career could entail. Being a marketing intern for a CPA firm was not something I would’ve thought about doing. However, with the knowledge, leadership, and personality of Cloud9 employees, I was able to learn and enjoy my time there. You truly get to see the hard work, dedication, and knowledge each member of Cloud9 brings to the company. While this was my first internship and I can’t base it off other companies, I will say Cloud9 makes you feel right at home. I felt valued, people truly listened to what I had to say, and I felt like part of the team. I was able to share any and all ideas I had with Chad, Sarah, and Kyla and was met with honest feedback. Kyla and I met weekly one-on-one and had other joint meetings. Kyla, while getting her masters in Florida, was always just an email away and made sure if I had any questions to help me. She was able to give me honest feedback about my content creation and give me tips along the way. Being the first marketing intern and part of the first fall internship program, I worked from home more. I had never worked from home and was scared I would get “left behind,” but the team made sure to connect with me anywhere from 2/4 times a week, and if I ever wanted to chat, everyone was more than happy to find a time to meet. Something I wish I had done sooner in my internship was meet with Sierra. She meets weekly with Chad to go over website updates and, anyway, they could bring more traffic. Sierra was very knowledgeable, and I was able to collaborate with her on driving more traffic to the website. Website design and analytics was something I did part-time at my last job, but seeing how passionate Sierra was made me want to dive into it more. Cloud9 gives you a great balance of working on your own and collaborating with others. Since my internship was not like the others, I was only able to have one in-office day. While I do wish I was able to go in more, the Cloud9 team was able to make my one-day memorable. I really got to know Sarah, Sierra, Michael, and Chad more throughout that day. Not just at a coworker level, but I really got to know who they are as people and build that personal connection. Overall, Cloud9 was able to give me great experience working in a field I originally had no interest in. However, I’m more confident in my abilities, learned more about what I want to do with my career, and made connections that I will never forget.

What I wish was different

Advice

Talk to everyone! Cloud9 is very collaborative across the different departments and you can learn something from everyone there. Also take advantage of in-office days, as someone that likes talking to people face-to-face the in-office days were great for picking peoples brains about ideas or needing feedback. Lastly, don’t be afraid to ask questions, shoot some ideas, and just be yourself.

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Rotational Internship & CPA Development Program Winter 2024

December 2023 - January 2024 • Boston, MA

What I liked

My time as a Cloud9 Winter Intern has been an awesome experience with a mix of professional and personal exposure to the business world. The projects that I was involved in throughout my internship have the ability to make a long lasting impact on the company for years to come. Even for me only being a sophomore in college, I felt that I was treated as a full time employee and was respected and trusted by my other colleagues. With the assistance of Chad, Sarah, Emily, and Zoe, the other C9 Intern, I was able to successfully complete tasks that will propel Cloud 9 towards a positive trajectory for the future. Additionally, this collaborative effort provided valuable insights into the significance of certain key aspects within their industry of expertise. Throughout the five weeks, I did not feel like a typical intern grabbing coffee for other coworkers and instead I felt that I was a true C9 Team Member. With the guidance from the C9 Team they made sure I stayed on track with my tasks at hand. They use a hybrid work environment where we were in the office Tuesday through Thursday and had “deep work days” on Mondays and Fridays. This allowed for me to have both the collaboration aspect of in-person working and checking in with the team but also having independent days to allow me to make progress on my projects and tasks I was given. Going into the office also allowed me to have an experience of what the commute would be like in the busy city of Boston including riding the commuter rail and walking throughout the city which I was unfamiliar with previously. I acquired a better understanding of my colleagues on a personal level, particularly with regards to Chad. Zoe and I had the privilege of having lunch with Chad during our office days, exploring local eateries in Boston, and engaging in more personal discussions rather than exclusively focusing on work-related matters. Chad ensured my projects reflected my personal experiences and semester courses. This allowed my interests to be involved and ensured success. I was successful. One of the major projects that I was responsible for was analyzing the current C9 tax process as a team and conceptualizing this into a flowchart to be used as training material for new hires. Chad was able to use my experience as a McDonalds Crew Trainer to determine if there were efficiencies or improvements that I knew of that could be applied to C9's new hire program. I am very grateful for this opportunity to work for C9 over this winter break. My experience and view on the professional and office environment has grown substantially while working for C9. I was able to make long lasting professional relationships that have had a positive impact on me. C9 has shifted its focus from just CPA work to focusing on CFO as a service, assisting clients with taxes, and digital development. They have really expanded on the connection of the business and tech industry with the ability to make a real difference in the near future with endless possibilities. These past couple of weeks have been a long lasting experience with lots of learning opportunities that I will also be able to apply to my future career. I greatly appreciate everything that Cloud9 has done for me and hope to work with them in the future.

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Rotational Internship & CPA Development Program

December 2023 - January 2024 • Boston, MA

What I liked

During my internship at Cloud9 Advisory, I gained a valuable and enriching experience that went beyond my expectations. Despite being a sophomore, I was entrusted with specific tasks that contributed to the progress of various projects within the company. The intimate setting of a small company allowed me to establish meaningful connections with coworkers spanning diverse areas of the business. One remarkable aspect of my internship was the opportunity to receive mentorship and guidance directly from Cloud9's CEO, Chad. Despite my status as an intern, Chad empowered me to excel and valued my contributions. Stepping into the office, I felt a sense of appreciation that fueled my creativity. In meetings, my voice was not only heard but actively considered as I collaborated with fellow employees on tasks aligned with their work. Connecting with former interns who transitioned into different roles at C9 provided invaluable insights, helping me and my fellow intern navigate our responsibilities effectively. Throughout the five weeks of my internship, Cloud9 took the initiative to align my interests and strengths with specific tasks. One notable project involved the collaboration between Cloud9 and Pepperdine's capstone course. My responsibilities included reviewing a blog post, crafting a proposal, and creating an abstract aimed at captivating future readers. I actively participated in meetings with Pepperdine's professor and Cloud9's staff, contributing to discussions, providing feedback, and assisting in the planning of the proposal for the next cohort. Additionally, I conducted a comprehensive review of C9's website, offering my insights on the strategic placement of specific services within the service matrix based on their overall focus. This hands-on experience not only enhanced my skills but also allowed me to make a meaningful impact during my time at Cloud9 Advisory. Overall, interning at Cloud9 Advisory created a compelling experience both in office as well as at home. A key element of Cloud9's approach was the strategic design of a schedule that prioritized work-life balance. While I spent three days a week in the office, this arrangement allowed me to fully immerse myself in the in-office environment, fostering connections with colleagues and engaging in collaborative efforts throughout the day. Shared lunches provided an opportunity to explore different parts of the city and build personal connections with my coworkers. These in-office days emphasized the significance of collaboration and provided the structure to adapt and establish a productive routine. On the days when I worked remotely, Cloud9's hybrid schedule allowed me to concentrate deeply on tasks at hand, fostering a conducive environment for focused and productive work. This flexibility in the work arrangement contributed positively to my overall internship experience, offering a balance that catered to both collaborative in-office dynamics and focused remote workdays. Cloud9 Advisory's thoughtful approach to creating a hybrid schedule enhanced the quality of my internship and showcased a commitment to fostering a flexible and supportive work environment.

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Summer Intern

June - August 2023 • Boston, MA

What I liked

My time at Cloud9 was nothing short of amazing. Being able to learn from two experts in Chad and Sarah was a privilege and I am grateful that I had the opportunity to intern at such a great company. I came into the Cloud9 Summer Internship Program looking to develop some key accounting skills as well as further my knowledge with financial statement recognition. Not only was I able to learn these principals but I also became familiar with the world of tech and starting a brand. Through my first two weeks of the 8 week program, I completed onboarding training where I learned the values of Cloud9 and the core meaning on CFOaaS (CFO as a service). I also finished two Google certifications which taught me about the cloud system as well as strategic sales techniques. As I became more familiar with the hybrid workstyle, I began to realize how beneficial and effective this strategy truly was. On Mondays and Fridays, I had deep work days where I would work from home and complete any tasks necessary. Then in the middle three days, Chad, Emily and myself would collaborate and do some innovative thinking to ultimately keep helping the company grow. It was a great opportunity to be able to sync with my manager Emily and an even bigger bonus to consistently sit in on meetings with Chad, the CEO of the company! As time went on, I became tasked with more responsibility and felt that I was positively contributing to the company. On top of the accounting and financial principles, I devoted a significant amount of time into researching and reviewing how to help build a culture of continuous learning. Along with applying my interests and courses at school to this internship, I also helped launch a marketing campaign. I constantly worked with the social team to help grow the brand and attract as much of a viewing as possible. I became extremely familiar with the world of tech and all the different intangibles that could help us become an emerging company in the technology industry. My two favorite parts of the internship were working on a Mass DoR Audit and sitting in on acquisition meetings. Both of these opportunities really exposed me to real life examples of what I am ultimately interested in: finance. While sitting in on these acquisition meetings, I realized how important collaborative thinking and attention to detail are. I also got to look through a company’s financials and give my own input on what I thought would be a good move for Cloud9. I received expert advice throughout these processes and learned a ton! Cloud9 helped me become more of a critical thinker and see things in more than one way. Being able to recognize a situation and pivot on the spot is a hard skill, but Chad was able to successfully do this on a consistent basis. Seeing how committed Chad was everyday to growing Cloud9 was motivating and it inspired me to do everything in my power to help the company evolve. My work at Cloud9 felt valued; as I was able to voice both my ideas and opinions in meetings. I was given responsibility from week one and was respected by everyone at the company. Chad and Sarah always made sure to check in and ensure that I was getting the most out of what I was working on at the time. They gave me constant feedback which helped me become more knowledgeable in areas with which I was unfamiliar before Cloud9. Another incredible feature that I was lucky enough to encounter during my time at Cloud9 was their variety of offices. Not only did I get to work in Boston everyday, but I was able to get a feel for all different parts of the city. Whether it was Beacon Street or the Seaport, I truly felt that fast paced work lifestyle. I took the train to work three days a week and grabbed lunch with people from surrounding companies such as Deloitte and The Connor Group. Not only did I benefit from the work aspect of this internship but I also realized how a great boss treats his employees. Whether it was going for lunch or a game of ping pong, Chad was a pleasure to work for and served as an incredible mentor throughout my time at Cloud9. Cloud9 cares about its employees as people and is a thriving company that I believe will be successful for years to come.

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Business Intelligence - Technology Winter Intern

December 2022 - January 2023 • Boston, MA

What I liked

“If you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life”. This is the best way to describe the employees of Cloud9 Advisory’s mentality and how it feels to work there as an intern. Cloud9 Advisory’s Winter Internship Program was incredible. C9 is composed of innovative people who care about the development of their employees and interns. The tasks that I was given were carefully curated to help me apply the knowledge I accumulated from classes at college. The experience and mentorship they offer for people are priceless and taught me a lot. I worked very closely with Chad, he was the person I reported to and is also the co-founder of the company. To be able to work with the former CFO of a software company is worth its weight in gold. He has a gift for explaining extremely complex concepts in digestible ways, and understanding the way he thinks and approaches tasks is something I will forever try to use myself. Everyone at the company is friendly, motivated, and extremely experienced, and gifted in what they do for the company. It is the perfect environment for a determined intern. The tasks that Chad as well as everyone at the company gives are important to the company's success, not busy work that is boring and unimportant. My work felt valued here, and being allowed to express my ideas was an element of this company that is rare to find in an internship. I was working to solve real issues/problems clients had. The tasks for the entire internship are organized at the start and have clear due dates for each one. Communication is one of the many strengths that this company has. It is easy to set up meetings with others, express any issues or problems I am facing with tasks and find solutions. Overall, this Internship was the best experience I have ever had with a company. The determination, innovation, excitement, and pride this company breeds should be an example for all companies. Thank you for everything.

What I wish was different

I wish winter break was longer. Time really flies when interning here.

Advice

Don't be afraid to be yourself, they make it so easy to be comfortable in your own skin. They support you when you are confused, or upset, so don't be afraid to open up.

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Business Rotational Intern

December 2022 - January 2023 • Boston, MA

What I liked

My experience at Cloud9 has been nothing short of unforgettable. C9 has provided me with so much opportunity and learning. The projects I worked on throughout my internship are ones I can see holding longevity and purpose for the company. Although my time at Cloud9 was short, and my experience is limited being only a junior in college, I feel I was respected, trusted, and given a lot of responsibility. I wanted my impact to be felt long after my six-week internship and with the help of Chad, Mark, and Sarah I know the importance and appreciation of my work. Chad, Mark, and Sarah not only mentored me immensely throughout my internship but truly made me feel a part of the team. They assured I was on track with my projects and prioritized my pursuit of a finance degree with hands on learning and experience in business. Chad always made time to take me and the other interns out for lunch in Boston and cared about us as people beyond just our roles in the office. Mark and Sarah were always available to answer any questions we had and gave great feedback on our projects. Their hard work did not go unnoticed and acted as great inspirations for myself with all their knowledge and experience. Overall I’m incredibly grateful for my time at C9. I’ve gained so much experience from being in the office and professional environment. I’ve not only gotten to indulge in business operations but have also met some of the greatest people. Cloud9’s culmination of technology and finance has endless potential I got to see first hand. Their creativity and innovation flooded the office and imprinted me and my ideas. I’m taking away from this internship a ton of learning, many mentors, and lasting friendships.

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Business Intelligence - Technology Winter Intern

December 2022 - January 2023 • Portsmouth, NH

What I liked

I interned at Cloud9 Advisory as a Business Intelligence - Technology Intern for 5 weeks during the winter of '22 - '23. Interning at Cloud9 was an extremely insightful learning opportunity. I was exposed to new real-world experiences that many college students don't get the opportunity to participate in during Winter Break. It is interesting and exciting to be a part of new finance and data-related projects. I am so appreciative of the opportunity to work with Cloud9 and I genuinely felt as though the recommendations and projects I worked on could actually make a positive impact. I thought it was awesome how C9 provides their interns with challenging and impactful tasks because they believe in us and are happy to provide the opportunity to help us make a real impact!

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Summer Intern

June - August 2022 • Boston, MA

What I liked

I loved the opportunity to work under someone as knowledgeable and experienced as Chad. He created a work environment in which I felt I was contributing to the progress of the company as well as learning about the role of Cloud9 and the finance industry as a whole. Chad ensured that I never fell under the radar and was always available to answer any questions or concerns that I may have had. Working at Cloud9 is an opportunity to view the financial consulting industry in a completely unique and intuitive way, incorporating aspects of marketing, finance, and technology. It was an incredible experience to be involved with collaborations with other businesses and schools including Pepperdine University. Chad allowed me to join meetings and be a part of presentations with the students and gain insight into how data analytics plays a role in the finance industry first hand. Chad always took the time of day to have lunch with me and answer any questions I may have had throughout the day thus far or going forward. It was nice to be a part of a company that ensured I had a keen understanding of my role and the projects I was working on. I am grateful for my first experience in this industry to be with a company that was so heavily focused on mentorship and development through a unique perspective into the financial consulting industry. It is not at every job that you get to play a game of ping pong with your boss during lunch, Chad always found a way to talk and brainstorm in different and fun ways throughout my summer working with him.

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Finance/Accounting Intern

December 2020 • Boston, MA

What I liked

Interning at Cloud9 Advisory has been awesome! The work has been tough but certainly meaningful and engaging. The company's integration of technology has made connecting and collaborating with my fellow employees as smooth as possible despite working remotely from home. Upper management has kept my career goals in mind and has been very accommodating as I pursue an MS accounting degree and a CPA license. I would definitely recommend working here!!