WEC 2019 Summer Internship @wecinterns-blog - Tumblr Blog

A rewarding day of landscaping followed by butterflies!

A Choppy Transition from Boat Driver to Intern - K. Williams

Just like the lake on a crowded and sunny day, I was expecting my internship to start off choppy and hard to navigate. After spending my summers on the lake driving boats for a summer camp, I couldn’t imagine being stuck indoors all day. Although there was a learning curve with all of the technical skills and expectations, I actually found my transition to be smoother than I imagined. Every staff member opened doors, figuratively and literally, to welcome us in right away. The training we received was helpful and exciting; I could always go back to my notes to reference tips and tricks when the real projects came around. My first project seemed overwhelming at first, but the staff around me were uplifting and helpful when it came to answering my questions. Throughout my time here this summer, I’ve also gotten to know the interns better and they are truly great people. At summer camp I got to work with forty other college kids, and I was nervous I wouldn’t make as many friends in an office setting. However, this group of people are inspiring and hard-working. I loved getting to volunteer with them and enjoyed motivating each other on our various projects via snack breaks. The fun doesn’t stop at work; we occasionally get together for a happy hour and stay in touch through our group chat. The atmosphere here at WEC is about much more than hierarchies and strenuous projects, it’s about connecting with others and bringing meaning to the world of accounting. Although I won’t be returning to school with a tan like last summer, I’ll be returning with a new set of skills, knowledge, and connections that will last me a lifetime.

I don't care

Robert --> When Dom carries on about his weekend

Wow, that’s a really great question

Nash Tillotson (when helping interns)

Painting to Help: Volunteer Experience at YWCA - K.Williams

Freshman year of college was when I solidified my decision to major in Accounting. As I flew back from a mission trip in the Dominican Republic, the world seemed to grow small under my feet. My experience on this trip made me feel connected to my major for the first time, and it assured me of my future plans. In the Dominican, I assisted on a microfinance site where I sat in on bank meetings and made house visits into the communities. More importantly, I was able to build meaningful relationships with the women that were being affected by shark loans, predatory loans whose interest rates are astronomical. The organization I was with helped these women by offering microloans in return for payment and feasible interest, and also gave real financial education coupled with understanding. After this trip I discovered my goal is to align my skills in Accounting with my desire for helping those around me, in whatever way I can.

With that being said, one of the many reasons I was drawn to WEC is that every other Monday we get the opportunity to volunteer at a different organization. I believe WEC genuinely cares about their surrounding area and that they encourage their employees to pursue something deeper than just simply showing up to work everyday. For example, one of my favorite events was painting rooms at the YWCA for women and children affected by domestic violence. Not only were the interns able to brighten up someone’s room to prepare it for move in day, but I was reminded that every job requires immense skill. Painting was not easy, even for someone as smart as us Accountants. This really put everything into perspective, as I realized all professions require knowledge and accuracy. It’s safe to say that us interns could not pick up painting as a career, but now we appreciate just how hard others work. Overall, these ‘Community Mondays’ have taught me a lot about myself and how to best serve those around me. Everything seemed to come full circle as I connected my experience in the Dominican to my experience volunteering here at WEC.

Opportunities- G. Keller

Starting a new summer job away from home can be a bit nerve racking. I have lived most of my adult life in Richmond, Virginia, and have never lived fully on my own. This was going to be a first, living completely alone, and not knowing the area at all. WEC set all of the interns up with a unique program called LIVE Norfolk. This program connects multiple young professionals across Norfolk to meet, and network. This program allowed me to make friends, and get to know the city of Norfolk. It made me familiar with an area I have never been to, and allowed me to get to know some awesome people!

Personal Growth- J.Sanchez

As my summer internship with WEC winds down, I find myself reflecting on my entire experience. From my first day jitters to my now newly found confidence within the workplace, this internship has given me a ton of real world experience. Although I have had previous accounting internships in the past, it still baffles me how much one can learn in just two and a half months. Throughout my time with WEC, I have gained so much knowledge and wisdom from the projects that I have worked on, from the various training’s we have had, and most importantly, from my mentor and fellow co-workers and interns. I learned something new almost every day whether it be in relation to a tax return, audit workpaper, or even the CPA exam. One important lesson I think everyone should learn early on is that in life, things will not always go your way. You cannot always control the outcome, but you can almost always control your response. This was the case with some of the confusing and new projects that I worked on; however, instead of becoming discouraged, I asked my teammates for help. My team was always supportive and helpful when I needed assistance with things that I may have not been familiar with, and for this I am extremely grateful. I know of some people who get ridiculed by some of their peers and superiors for not knowing what to do and asking questions. This isn’t what leadership should be. A leader should be someone who cares about and takes part in the development of their team. Everyone who I have worked with at WEC has this leadership mindset, and it is a quality that I aspire to develop and practice as well throughout my career. My internship experience with WEC was a blast, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone.

Food, Food, and Food

Aside from my love for accounting, another thing we can all relate to is our love for food. One thing I loved at WEC was the lack of hierarchy and open opportunities to invite any member of the staff to lunch regardless of “rank”. The open set up of our office in “pods” allows for up to six people to share the same space, which led to many “pod lunches” throughout my internship. Personally, I loved the social opportunity to engage with those around me, and the ability to ask any question that came to mind whether it was in regards to the CPA exam, work experience, or any other life questions. At this time in my professional career, I am focused on soaking up every ounce of knowledge and advice I can obtain. I believe getting these type of casual opportunities to hear various advice on a broad range of topics helped me grow and become a better well-rounded professional.

Not like the Others- W. Snyder

My time here at WEC as a summer intern is coming to a close as we only have two more weeks left. That seems like a lot of time; however, the three day work week for interns makes the number of days in the office fly by. The WEC experience has been an unforgettable one. The lessons learned regarding projects are one thing, but the professional development opportunities are just as important to me. I felt that this summer not only improved my skill as an accountant but as a business person as well. The casual yet professional work environment allows interns to experience time with partners at the firm without being intimidated by their professional status. Everyone at the firm is willing to help and wants to see all of the interns succeed. Unlike other internships where you often get cornered into maybe just tax or audit, WEC wants us as interns to be exposed to all facets of the business. If we feel as if we are not getting a wide array of work, the firm is more than willing to help try and find us some work in the other sector. Advisory is growing market that WEC is trying capitalize on in their office as well. I was fortunate enough to be presented with the opportunity to not only see an advisory project from start to finish but contribute throughout the entire length. In short, the WEC experience is unlike any other firm as WEC gives its interns the opportunity to learn and grow through a variety of work and social interactions inside and outside of the office.

It’s the little things... - O.Rooney

When prompted to describe WEC in one word, embarrassingly enough the first that comes to mind is “snacks”. This may seem to be and odd and irrelevant descriptor for that of an accounting firm, but just let me explain. One of my favorite things at WEC is the snack closet in the break room. Stocked weekly with popcorn, granola bars, dried fruit, and any other savory morsel the mind may desire the snack closet is a thing of every child’s dreams. While this may seem like a superficial thing to love about work (free snacks at your heart’s content), it genuinely is about more than just the food. Here at WEC, something like snack closet isn’t the expectation, it’s the norm. Every inch of this office space is filled with amenities and conveniences with the purpose of making the space a fun, functional, and enjoyable area. The goal of the firm is not to make work a necessary evil of life, but instead a place that members of the WEC family actually enjoy and look forward to going. Here at WEC people take the time to look beyond simply the big picture of have a “successful firm” in order to also focus on the little things here at WEC that make this place so great to be at such as, yes, the great snacks.

Making an Impact - T. Itschner

One of the best things about the internship was being given the ability to get actual work and add value to the company while also learning the ordinary work flow of my desired profession. After the first few weeks of training, the staff is eager to hand out billable projects and assignments to the interns. Even some of the non-accounting work I received had a definite influence on WEC. One interesting ongoing project I worked on involved researching the area for new potential clients for our advisory services. It was amazing to see how many potential clients we had in our area and what WEC/accounting firms looks for in a client.

Adaptability - D. Lacombe

As I am in my fourth week at WEC, I feel completely integrated in the atmosphere of the company. I feel that the most important qualities here at WEC are a good attitude and a good work ethic. The company does not expect you to come in knowing everything, they simply expect you to be reactive to change and have the ability to adapt. In fact, some supervisors would even prefer you to come in with minimal knowledge of the software so that your “growth chart” can grow exponentially as you begin to learn. I think that this is a great philosophy as they are hiring you for your highest potential level, or your ceiling, and not just your current stage of understanding.

So far in my internship, my I have improved on both technical and personal skills. My Excel skills have sharpened and I have become more and more accustomed to the tax software’s and Project Management System that the company uses for audits and tax returns. Additionally, I have been able to understand more of what is acceptable in “corporate culture”. For example, how long you are expected to take at lunch, how you should approach asking for help in a task, and the best ways to set up appointments or meetings. By being exposed to all of these situations, I now have a much stronger understanding of the best way to carry myself in the office and how to interact with others!

It is really cool to see how the coursework I am learning in the classroom is being applied in the “real” work world. In class, when I am writing out journal entries, I can imagine a scenario, but when I am actually debiting and crediting real accounts to make up for changes that have, or actually will occur, it is captivating. I think that the accounting classes at CNU have prepared me very well for this type of job.

Have you tried the Sofritas from Chipotle or the Ficken from Hells Kitchen?

Vegetarian Intern (Kylie)

All Work No Play! - O. Rooney

Here at WEC, the lines between work and play become blurred as everyone values engagement and connection just as much as success and achievements in the workplace. One way WEC promotes this relationship between two once seemingly opposite ideals includes hosting fun events outside of the work day such as a firm wide party at Beach Social down in Virginia beach! Through playing shuffleboard, corn hole, and of course eating TONS of fried food, I was able to meet and connect with professionals at the firm in such a relaxed setting that I felt I was able to get to know them in a way that really can’t be achieved at an office. It's events like these that the traditional hierarchy of workplace melts away, leaving behind a pool of community and belonging that all employees are engulfed in.

Diversity- G. Keller

Coming from school and feeling like I had no idea what the difference between audit and tax is, I had absolutely no idea which route of accounting I wanted to go down. WEC provides a unique experience within the internship where lower level staff and interns have the opportunity to work within both fields. My first couple of projects were audit and I quickly enjoyed this side of accounting. Shortly after I got to work within the tax world of accounting. I enjoyed both sides, but after having experience with both, I now have more of an understanding the route in accounting I want to go down. From talking with other companies, and friends who have interned elsewhere, almost every firm makes you choose before having any real world experience. WEC is unique and provides a logical experience, and I am grateful for this opportunity thus far.

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WEC 2019 Summer Internship