By Nathaniel Luce
One of the most impactful experiences that Vanderbilt’s Master of Accountancy (MAcc) program offers is the Mod III internship. Working at a Big Four accounting firm during the industry’s busy season, the internships provide a unique opportunity for MAcc students to apply lessons from the classroom to the real world.
Like we’ve done in years past, we surveyed MAcc students upon their return to campus to learn more about their experiences. Several common themes emerged:
Lucy Wade Shapiro
More than coffee runs: Over the years, students have raved about the level of responsibility afforded to them by their teams, and 2018 was no different. From warehouse audits to preparing business development decks, MAcc interns analyzed, tested, and researched their way through Mod III. “I was surprised at the work I was doing…because it definitely went beyond ordering my team’s dinner every night,” said Lucy Wade Shapiro, who interned at EY’s Nashville office.
And with that responsibility comes exposure — to the business, leadership, and workflow — that paints a clear picture of what life looks like in a full-time position at the firm. “Getting to sit in on phone calls with partners…was my favorite, and most beneficial, aspect of my internship,” said Tyler Ratterree, a PwC intern based out of Charlotte, NC. “(It) allowed me to get a full, transparent view of the job as a whole, from the intern level all the way to the partner level.”
John Gleason
An internship during the busy season can be extremely demanding, but every student mentioned the positive effect that their teams and firm cultures had in the workplace. “I was surprised by how fun and welcoming everyone was,” said John Gleason, based out of the Nashville EY office. “I had a great experience with all of my teams and I think that left me with a really positive outlook on the Big Four.”
Laura McLaughlin, who interned for KPMG in Denver, felt the same way about her experience. “The most surprising aspect of my internship was how close I got with my team,” she said. “I really felt like a part of the team by the end of my nine weeks there.”
“The people I worked with were incredible,” said Nicole Powell, a Deloitte intern in Chicago, “and now I look forward to meeting more great people through the rest of my career.”
Addison Kulsea Perrett
Specific answers varied, but students credited the both qualitative and quantitative aspects of the Vanderbilt MAcc curriculum with preparing them for the internship experience. Carter Chandler, an EY intern out of New York City, cites “everything, from excel training to learning the risks and drivers of an audit in Karl (Hackenbrack)’s class.” Several students specifically referenced Phillip Woodlief’s research class. “(It was) a game changer for me. I used everything in this class on a daily basis,” said Addison Kulsea Perrett, who interned for PwC in Denver.
Others focused on the softer side of their — namely, the networking, communications, and leadership development aspects. “(The program) helped me with gaining my knowledge of the technical skills, but mainly the soft skills,” said Shapiro. “During the extensive recruiting process, I learned how to better interact with future team members, so by the time I started my internship I already knew some of them.”
Jack Benton, a New York City intern for EY, may have summed it up best: “Vandy MAcc prepared me to work long hours in a professional environment, learn quickly on the fly, and understand complicated accounting and financial concepts.”
To learn more about the Vanderbilt Master of Accountancy (MAcc) degree, visit the website pages for the MAcc Assurance or MAcc Valuation programs.
