Summer Intern Review

I thoroughly enjoyed the 5 weeks I had with Smith and Williamson in London's ABS Department.

From the moment I joined, I felt incredibly welcome. There was not a moment that I felt as if I was surplus to requirements, and the individuals responsible for me always ensured that I was being kept busy. All the work I completed felt as if it was contributing to the completion of the Audit.

Whilst out on jobs, those responsible for you are exceptionally helpful, always ensuring you understand what you are doing, and how it fits into the Audit process as a whole. If completing a longer task I was always asked if everything was going well and whether I had any questions. I was not given a defined mentor as such, which would have been good for feedback and guidance, although I asked for this from those responsible for me on the various jobs.

I was always kept busy, and rarely had times when there was little for me to complete. I spent every week of the 5 out at different clients and thus got a very broad range of work to complete, being constantly kept busy with new challenges.

Right from day 1 on a job you are given full responsibilty to go and work with clients on a 1-to-1 basis, which I particularly enjoyed. The general view I had was that you were given a task, and had it explained to you. From then the onus was on you to interact with the clients to get the information needed and to ask questions if you came across any problems. This was in my case a very good way of picking up skills and I found myself learning a lot and quickly.

As previously said, you get a huge amount of client interaction, which allows you to learn of the professional relationships you should have with clients - a skill that is very useful going forward. The whole experience makes you much more confident in a business environment, and you get to learn the inner workings of a business.

There was a very good atmousphere both within the Moorgate office, and when out on site. The work style is fairly relaxed, but you are expected to work hard but to also enjoy yourself.

I found the placement very well organised, and knew exactly what I was meant to be doing when.

I think the firm invests very heavily in your future upon joining as graduate, paying for you to go to college to complete the ACA qualification. In terms of the internship, I don't think anything was spared in trying to give me a fully rounded impression of the firm and what the role would involve if you were to join as a graduate.

I would hope to be offered a job with Smith and Williamson. I can see myself developing well with the company and I would relish the environment provided to train in.

There was a good social scene amongst the office. This is a great way to meet others and talk to trainees about the firm in a more relaxed atmousphere.

London is what everyone says it is: expensive. Despite this, it is such a fantastic place to work and live. The money you earn is enough to have a really good time. Ultimately, you could live somewhere cheaper, but, in my opinion, I wouldn't have had as much fun, or met as many people.

The city's pubs are rammed most evenings and are great for meeting up with mates or having drinks with colleagues. Outside of this, you still have one of the greatest cities on earth to explore!

I was welcomed to partake in any out of work activities going on, and found these very enjoyable - be it going to staff parties, leaving drinks or even watching a game of cricket.