PwC, formally known as PricewaterhouseCoopers is a multinational professional services firm that works with companies to enhance quality and provide meaningful business solutions. PwC offers assurance, tax, and advisory services to a variety of industries. Currently, I am a Core Assurance Intern. My particular line of service assesses financial statements and related business processes with an overarching goal of providing valuable information to current and potential shareholders. At my internship, I am part of an engagement team for a company located in the Seattle area. My duties focus mainly on testing internal controls where we assure the company has proper processes in place to avoid potential financial misstatements. Currently, I am preparing audit documentation for the Revenue and Receivables cycles. This requires me to understand narratives, analyze flowcharts, and compile relevant information pertaining to the process.
Thus far, my internship has been an incredible experience! PwC truly treats their interns like first year associates. My team has completely immersed me in the audit process by giving me challenging tasks, all while being open to questions and confusion. During my first day at my internship, I was able to meet several of the PwC partners while sitting in on a quarterly review meeting. I did not think I would have such a great opportunity as an intern. I think this truly shows how much PwC values every one of its employees.
Although I am still in my first few weeks of my internship, I have already learned a lot. Perhaps most importantly, I have learned that it is okay to be confused! With that, it’s okay to ask lots of questions! Coming into my internship, I knew a good amount of theoretical accounting concepts (GAAP, accounting for various transactions, basically anything found in an accounting textbook). Certainly, this knowledge is vital for succeeding in the accounting world. But, technical knowledge and being able to apply that theory is equally important. At my internship, I have needed to learn how to operate PwC’s software, understand my client’s accounting policies, and follow the team’s control testing process, among other things. In short, I still have a lot of learning to do. But, the best thing you can do is to ask plenty of questions. Everyone on my team is very knowledgeable of the client and more than willing to give me a deeper explanation of the task I am working on. I believe this is a great lesson that will help me continue to grow as a PwC professional.
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Courtney Lemon, Senior
Accounting Major