I was eagerly looking forward to January 3, 2017, the first day of my internship at Kreischer Miller. I was one of four interns working in the firm’s Audit & Accounting group. I had already taken my major Accounting courses - including Auditing - at Temple University, so I was confident in my knowledge of accounting. However, there were other aspects that I was not familiar with, like the software the firm used or what assignments interns had to complete.
Answers to all of my questions were covered during nearly two weeks of training. After we learned how to use the firm’s accounting software as well as how to audit Cash, Accounts Receivable, and Accounts Payable, we headed toward our personalized workspaces that had been furnished with laptops, additional monitors, and all the other tools we needed for our internship. From there, we were ready to help our fellow team members have a successful and productive busy season.
To ensure a positive outcome, we were assigned an intern supervisor who guided us through completion of our projects. The more projects I completed, the more confident I became in what I was doing. The detailed instructions that our supervisor provided us made it possible to complete the tasks with minimum help.
In January, we primarily worked in the office, completing a variety of assignments for a number of audit teams. Then, the time came for a new challenge. We were assigned on audit or review engagements, and I had the opportunity to work on-site at four different client locations, where I was even able to interact directly with clients as part of the audit team. This experience can’t be compared to in-class assignments because the clients were real and the companies’ activities and transactions were more complex. However, I did not have to worry because experienced team members were always there to help me.
One major thing I learned was that if I couldn’t find the answer to a question on my own within a few minutes, I was encouraged to ask a more experienced team member who could answer it quickly and also offer some additional background information.
What also stood out to me - aside from the professionalism of the Kreischer Miller team - was their friendliness and sincere care. Every team member that I worked with was always eager to help and answer my questions so I could accurately process the information. Even going back to our intern group’s first day, every team member present in the office greeted us personally. This made me feel like I was a part of a big family. I believe that no matter how smart someone is, without people skills it is impossible to build a successful relationship - both personal and in business.
During my internship I had an opportunity to apply the knowledge I acquired at Temple University and enhance such valuable skills as communication and critical thinking. I learned how to become efficient by asking the right questions, apply existing knowledge to complex problems, and be open to taking on new challenges.
I had an amazing experience at Kreischer Miller and learned so much during the internship that I know I’ll be able to apply this knowledge for years to come.
Galina Ivaniv attends Temple University. She will graduate in August 2017 with a Bachelor's degree in Accounting. In order to enhance her knowledge of accounting and successfully pass the CPA exam, Galina will continue working on her Master's degree at Temple. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, friends, and her dog Chip.
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