What I liked
I enjoyed so much about my experience, but most of it centered around the people I had the opportunity to work with. In an office of about 600 people, I was on a team of about 30 auditors who work in the commercial industry, which ranged from software to manufacturing, to distribution and construction. The team welcomed me in immediately and I could tell I had entered into a culture where everyone is constantly learning and improving.
Not only could I tell that the firm was very professional and successful, I could tell my peers loved spending time with each other. I joined the company softball team, participated in after-work events, and my favorite day of the entire summer was the RSM National Volunteer Day. This firm places so much emphasis on stewardship, and I appreciate that value so much. It radiates through the work they do even in audit engagements, and I am so eager to return and work there when I graduate.
I also appreciated how every week was different; I traveled to a new client site every week, and while the work we did was similar from client to client, no week was the same as the last. I compiled what I learned from week to week and by the end of the summer, I became confident in how to approach a significant variety of audit workpapers and the procedures we performed to complete them.
One last thing I really appreciated was the feedback interns received from their in-charge on each engagement. After a week was complete, we could send a review to our in-charge. In turn, they would rate our performance and provide advice on how to keep improving throughout the summer. The firm made it very clear upon our arrival that employee growth is something we should value, and being able to receive regular constructive feedback is incredibly important for that. Overall, I loved my experience and would recommend that accounting students complete an internship in public accounting before graduation.
