[theelite6]

Ok so i am working on an Accounting Internship in a public firm of only 2 CPA’s and an administrative accountant

Im the intern there. I just started on Tuesday of last week. So far I don’t do much just getting familiar with the computer programs that they use and learning where to put their files regarding clients and organizing client paperwork…..

In the first week though besides getting familiar with all the software they use, I was able to categorize accounts in quick books and putting them in their respective accounts such as office supplies category,equipment,entertainment, insurance and similar things. …and during the first week i was also exposed to sales tax returns and payroll tax returns…I was only exposed to it, I didn’t actually punch in the numbers and try to do everything by myself….

So in the the second week, which started yesterday on Monday, i did bank reconciliations, which i thought was very easy and self explanatory. The administrator teached me how to do like the first three and then i reconciled the rest for the months of June and July…and i finished both of them on time and with no mistakes.

So far i think my performance is very good since the administrator is actually trusting me that i will do a good job and she leaves me working while she goes to her own office to work on something else, and then she comes and checks on how im doing.

and today the owner of the firm which is they guy that interviewed me to do the internship he sent me across the street to get some cubicles to assemble in the back rooms of our office…..three cubicles….that was a lot of hauling back n forth….and now i have to assemble all of them….

I know I am just an intern and it is an unpaid internship…..but assembling cubicles doesn’t have nothing to do with accounting……i didn’t complain nor did i look like i didn’t want to do it….and i know im just an intern there…..but could this be like some kind of test that the owner wants to see how strong my work ethic is? or to see if i am a hard worker who doesn’t complain no matter what the task is? or is he just using me for favors that he needs? Thats is why I come here to this forum because I know most of you have taken internship and myabe they make you do things like these to test you or something?

When I went to interview for the internship i asked the owner what are the chances of me getting hired after the internship? …and he said that if depends on how busy we get…………..but then one day when i went to lunch with the administrator she told me that they were planing to do an internship earlier in the year but they were really busy and didn’t have time, and they wanted to do one because they were going to need help……..

and then the other day i heard the owner telling the administrator that he needs to get another computer…….and today when i was assembling the cubicles he was talking about getting a printer in the small room where im setting up the cublices……..

so in some way i think im just setting up my own office??? or am i just doing free favors…or is the owner is trying to see how strong is my work ethic by making me do things that have nothing to do with Accounting internship?

And by the way, the past intern would always be late and he made a mistake in some data entry and the owner was very upset and they had to give the client a discount for the wasted time fixing the mess he did…..and you know what happened? that same intern went to deloitte after completing his internship at the firm that im at now..

Keep in mind when i finish the internship i will get a letter of recommendation upon completion…..and he is no ordinary CPA,he is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE),Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF)

He is a very smart guy…he used to be a manager at PWC…and his friend that works there as well is an ex PWC..

And what are my chances of getting an internship at the big four after completing this internship…and what advice would you give to really exploit this internship for my benefit?

[jkpoker1]

First off, why would you take an unpaid internship? Meh you may learn a lot but not getting paid is not right in my book. I'd rather be a cashier at a grocery store for minimum wage than work for free. However, I would use your internship as a stepping stone to network and gain some references (if you do a solid job, which you probably will because internships are generally simple). Finally, doing work such as setting up a cubicle is probably standard for interns to do. Remember, many interns have to get coffee and do random tasks no one else in the firm wants to do. I would try to just learn as much as possible and gain some solid references as they may help you attain an internship with a big 4 firm down the road.

Honestly though, to get a big 4 internship you will need a solid gpa (3.4+) and network really well and attend on campus events. If your college campus has a big 4 presence when recruiting occurs, you should have a chance at attaining an internship if you can interview well and meet their bottom standards. GL

Quest to be a CPA

BEC-74 (7/13),
REG- ?? (8/13)
AUD-TBA
FAR-TBA

[theelite6]

well actually poker before taking the internship i was a cashier at a grocery store making minimum wage hahahaah

[mla1169]

I was never an intern, but can tell you as someone who has been out in the workforce for a long time, it is not unusual to be asked to do tasks completely unrelated to your job. Most companies run on a skeleton crew especially small companies as you work for that may not have a full time facilities staff. I've found myself lugging boxes to a storage area, rearranging filthy greasy machine parts in a stockroom, even plunging a toilet or two.

Don't read into it as a test, etc. Something needed to be done and they felt you had more free time on your hands to pitch in than other people there.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[acamp]

Complete BSin my opinion, you should sent them an invoice for the manual labor work.

Unpaid internship is a joke, even more so if its doing things that won't help your career. All interns are expected to some bitchwork, but the interns at the Big4 I work at get like $25/hour–so while they do get great exposure, they're not working for free, so I don't have to feel bad about sending them on random missions; although none compare to retrieving and setting up cubes LOL

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[so1913]

I actually went through an internship program and interned at a Big 4 for 4 summers, starting the summer after my senior year in high school before starting my freshman year in College. I was placed in an “administrative” department where I helped with travel arrangements and putting together copies and bound reports. My 2nd summer I intered with HR where I helped with staff scheduling for jobs and filling/organizing performance reviews. My 3rd summer was with Learning and Education (this was a fun one) who organized all the trainings. I got to travel and help facilitate various trainings through out the summer.

It wasn't until the summer before my senior year in college that I had my actual “accounting/audit” internship. I guess they figured that would be the time I had enough accounting classes to have a general technical understanding. I still did some admin/database type work to assist the audit team, and got to execute some of the real basic audit procedures nothing too advanced. I did the typical slum work interns and 1st years do like photo copies, filing, ordering lunch, etc as well. I feel like in public accounting, it's not out of the ordinary for interns and 1st years do slum work totally unrelated to actual auditing, its the culture of the industry.

AUD - 90 Pass
REG - 70,61,81 Pass DONE DONE DOOOOONNEEE!!!!!!!!
BEC - 79 - Pass
FAR - 70,82 - Pass

[jkpoker1]

what acamp said is right. I can't believe big 4 pays interns $25/hr. Insane. I was paid 10/hr (promised 12-14 beforehand which was lame), and was stoked about it because I was at least guaranteed 30-40 hrs a week. If I got 25/hr as an intern, i would feel so lucky. Honestly I would look for another internship that was paid (even minimum wage is immensely better than no pay unless you are guaranteed connections down the road to a cpa firm or big 4). If you can't find a paid internship, stay for the experience and the boost to your resume. Honestly, an internship will pay dividends because when you graduate, you will look much better than students without any relevant accounting experience.

Quest to be a CPA

BEC-74 (7/13),
REG- ?? (8/13)
AUD-TBA
FAR-TBA

[Anonymous]

Here is my thoughts about being an intern. While I was an intern, I would have done whatever they told me to do, related to my job or not. That being said, I was paid $25 per hour and time an a half for anything over 40 hours. I spent some time doing tasks unrelated to accounting that I expected to be doing (ordering/picking up lunch and dinner, running errands for the other team members because we were out of town, etc.), but I was also given the chance to work in different areas of the audit. I learned a lot and that is the whole point of the internship. I do think that any type of internship is good on a resume and may help you down the road.

Are you close to graduating? Is there any chance to intern at a larger firm before you graduate? I am not sure how big4 firms would look at this type of experience when hiring entry-level.

[littlenumberrobot]

I am a staff accountant at a small firm and I wash dishes when admin forgets. It's because you are at a small firm. I also interned at a small firm(different one than now) and I would get random little tasks. I am sorry it's not paid, but again small firm. Your boss sounds like mine. My boss has 5 certifications. You will learn a lot. Good luck OP!~

CA CPA - All because of the journey listed below
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FAR - 53('10), 8/25/12 79 PASSED!
REG - 66('11), 69('12), 12/06/12 77 PASSED!!
BEC - 58('10), 74('12), 01/05/13 77 PASSED!!!
AUD - 43('11), 66('12), 69('13), 74('13) 7/29/13 85 PASSED!!!!!

(Combinations of Roger, Yaeger, Wiley Book, Wiley TB, & NINJA Notes)

Ethics 90%

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