Internal Audit Intern Review

I enjoyed my internship within internal Audit. I gained a lot of skills and knowledge that I didn't have previously. The internship requires you to spend 5 weeks in two different teams (these teams are already chosen for you prior to the internship). I think your experience relies a lot on what teams you are in.

I was valued by both the teams I was in. I was given quite a lot of reasonability as time went on at first it takes time to build up friendships and networks with them. However, if you show interest and understanding of the audit you are working on they are more likely to give you responsibility.

This did vary based on who you was working with. Sometimes there were little guidance unless you asked for it. I think it would be good to be able to have more frequent catch ups with your managers rather than your buddies as it is more likely to benefit you, in regards to work. The buddies were great from day 1 however as time went on the involvement they required to give you was minimal, nevertheless it was nice to have a weekly catch up to check how you were progressing.

This varied based on what stage of the audit your team was at. For me personally I always had something to do, however you were required to ask for work as you wasn't given a constant flow. So some of the times you found yourself trying to be proactive and make your own work. August is a quiet month for audit as most people are away.

I was impressed by the amount of responsibility I was given. For both teams I was given work that other members of the team were also doing. I felt very valued and that I was making a positive contribution to the audit. I was involved in all meeting and activities that went on in the audits. It gave me a good understanding of what it would be like to work there full time.

This internship has allowed me to value of my degree more as I can see how several aspects link in to how it will help me with Audit. I have learnt terminology that is used within audit and how to write certain documents, the training could be improved by getting someone to review your work frequently so you are able to identify areas for improvement within your own work.

Both offices are very different to each other one being quieter than the other. However, the atmosphere was still good in both, everyone was welcoming and made you feel part of the team. It is a bit different at first to get use to the cultures in both offices.

The internship was fairly organised. I have nothing to compare this to but everything seem to be well planned for us to start and everyone seemed to know who you would be working with and have an idea of what you would be doing. There were also an intern on boarding day at Leicester on the Wednesday of the first week this was well planned and organised.

This was all internal training, we had methodology training in the first week, excel training and throughout we had several webinars. There is also a Santander online learning page where you can complete non mandatory training about specific areas if you have a spare minute

For me this would be a 10 as I think it is a perfect programme to get offered a graduate role with. I think the training for professional qualifications is great and you get flexibility in choosing which course you would like to do. Also I think the culture within internal audit is great everyone is friendly and clearly enjoys their job.

Yes this varied within the team you was in however there was always a good group of people up for doing something especially on Thursdays or Fridays. Mainly drinks after work was a thing the bar called The Refinery which is basically Santander Central and getting to know other interns within the charity project was a bonus in order to ensure you had different friendships.

Expensive because it is London and the cost of housing is a lot more expensive than what it would be elsewhere. Food prices tend to be the same as elsewhere however drinks are a lot more expensive! They do however pay you the National living wage for London so I guess it is appropriate.

It was mainly bars around both office areas however everything is in walking or commuting distance to food places or even nightclubs. There is loads of clubs in London it is definitely possible to go a different place every week!

This mainly came from the CSR project that all the interns have to do. It means that you have to be productive with the work we do and we arranged to do some charity raising outside of work as a team. There was also an off sight day where the whole of internal audit took part in a treasure hunt around London in teams and then later went to a pub where we played games and had food.