I graduated with my Master of Accountancy and Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) in May of 2020. Initially, I spent time looking for career opportunities; however, because of the pandemic, many accounting firms and companies were in such a state that job openings were hard to come by. Finally, I saw an opportunity to join ADKF as a Tax Intern, and I knew that was something I wanted to pursue.
After my first interview with ADKF I knew that, if given the chance, I would join this firm because they offered everything I had been looking for. After receiving an offer and conducting the appropriate research, I chose ADKF because of the knowledge within the firm and its level of community involvement through community service and leadership on several local boards including that of The College of Business at UTSA. My goal has always been to remain here in South Texas and give back to the community that brought me to where I am today and ADKF presented me the opportunity to move towards that goal.
I began my internship with ADKF in August and immediately I could see how the firm was taking action in dealing with the pandemic From the beginning, I had wondered how the firm would handle the internship experience in a completely virtual setting. I was surprised at how well equipped the firm was to make working from home as streamlined as possible. It was challenging at first to manage my workflow and integration as part of the team, but I suddenly felt like I was learning and contributing at an effective rate. There were moments where I thought I may get lost in the shuffle, but the tax team always stayed focused on maintaining order as we neared deadlines. I was thankful for the team’s ability to stop and make sure I was receiving the proper guidance as I faced new tasks that brought with them more questions. I never felt as though I missed an opportunity to learn, while at the same time being given more complex work as the team saw fit. The level of exposure to a wide variety of tax related topics has been the most beneficial experience I received. Seeing so many different returns as well as doing various projects that went beyond the realm of tax preparation has been extremely helpful in building my professional foundation. Every project and task I faced offered new insight into the field and has made me more well-rounded as a fledgling tax accountant.
Though I did not interact with anyone face to face, I was still able to assess the aspect of an internship that is most important to me and that was the culture. I would say to anyone looking for an internship to make sure you evaluate how the culture of the firm aligns with your personality and values. It is important to not be afraid to establish a list of things you are looking for in a firm and then compare your opportunities based on the things you want. For me, ADKF offered everything I was looking for and more. Beyond technical experience, I value the mentoring I received that gave me true insight into the profession. Overall, ADKF provided me with a better understanding of the field from both a technical and professional standpoint. ADKF gave me an opportunity when opportunities were hard to find, and I am thankful for that and to be part of such a great firm.