Intern Review

I had an enjoyable and varied experience in my five weeks, spending time on three separate audits as well as in the office. It was good to work with students from all three years, and thereby get a good idea of career and work progression at Smith and Williamson. My time in the office was not quite as interesting as being out with clients, but I appreciate that there was less work I was qualified to complete there!

I felt extremely valued by my colleagues - particularly when I was out on audit with a first year trainee on one occasion and a second year on another. The fact that there were only two of us completing the work meant that my input felt important and appreciated. In addition to this everyone I work with was welcoming and friendly, making it easy to ask for advice and feedback.

I was given good support and guidance by colleagues, but possibly could have been given more feedback on jobs as a whole. Having said this, those on the audits with me were more than willing to explain tasks, and over the course of the internship I feel that I became familiar with many of the tasks a first year trainee would complete.

Whilst out on audit in client offices, I was kept extremely busy. I enjoyed feeling that my work was important to the success of the audit, and valuable to my colleagues. I performed a variety of tests and system checks with financial directors of three companies, which was exciting and interesting work. My time in the S and W office was less busy and slightly more repetitive, although as I mentioned in a previous comment, I appreciate that most of the work I would be able to complete was on audit. Also, I was never without work, and always felt able to ask those around me, or send out an email signally my availability, at which point tasks would be incoming.

I was pleased with the level of responsibility I was given, as I enjoy feeling that my work is valued. Being on an audit with only one other person, themselves of trainee level, meant that I had to complete a good share of the work for the audit to be finished on time. I gained a familiarity with several tests and checks, and was allowed to be responsible for completing these over the course of several days.

The ability to undertake new challenges that I was hitherto unfamiliar with will be useful, but in general much of the work was not obviously connected to my degree. However, post-university, and especially if I go into accountancy, I have no doubt that the skills learnt and training received will stand me in good stead in future office environments. Having to work in different offices and with different clients and systems, and working out the intricacies of these, was a more specifically useful experience.

All my colleagues were very welcoming and easy to get along with. The college training means that trainee year groups remain close and socialised together. It was easy to ask for advice and assistance. The office 'team' system in addition added to this positive atmosphere, as they contain a mixture people of all different levels of seniority, and team meetings mean there are numerous times for raising issues and queries.

Good, but perhaps more thought could be given to the time spent in the Smith and Williamson office. Although there was work to do, it could have been more structured and working towards a more clear goal. As it was, my time was divided between work on several different jobs for different clients, which made the time a bit fractured and not as rewarding as working (as on audit) on a specific aim.

I have been offered a graduate job at Smith and Williamson in the ABS department, which I will be delighted to begin in September 2016!

There was an excellent social scene, with netball, handball and other sports events organised during my time there, as well as drinks for the individual office 'teams'. The Assurance and Business Services summer party also took place during my time there, which was good fun. It provided an opportunity to get to know my colleagues socially, and added to the sense that people enjoyed working together.

As mentioned before, office sports evenings were organised, as well as other events, the specific nature of which I cannot remember!