I was surprised to learn just how many people without accounting backgrounds work within the profession... It was really interesting to see how people with different expertise work together.
What attracted you to IFAC when you joined?
As someone who loves working with and learning from people with all types of backgrounds, I was drawn into the international aspect of IFAC. It extended further than just the participating members, as individuals on leadership and within the different departments come from all around the world and work together to provide one cohesive message. I was interested to see how the communications team worked in the midst of such diversity and how they worked to deliver messages to such an international body.
What types of projects did you work on?
I worked on various different projects throughout my time here at IFAC. I created Instagram posts, which included editing the “Day in the Life of an Intern” series and Accountant Interviews. It was my first time using Canva to edit videos so it was a fun learning experience and seeing the videos posted onto our social media platforms was very rewarding. I was also in charge of finding images for the Knowledge Gateway categories on the IFAC website and uploading them onto the live site after receiving some feedback. I worked with the other interns on an end of summer presentation, which discussed the impact of artificial intelligence on the accounting profession.
What was your most memorable experience?
I had many memorable experiences, but one I’m really fond of was when I went volunteering with the rest of the Comms team. It was the first time I met most of them together in person and I had a great time getting to know them better, even if it was over bagging a bunch of vegetables. We all went out to lunch after and it was really interesting to learn more about what they do at IFAC and their lives outside of work as well.
What’s the most valuable skill you gained from your internship?
Aside from technical skills such as researching and video editing, I would say that my speaking skills have improved during my time at IFAC. From having to present my work to individual one-on-one meetings, I had many opportunities to talk to others, which was something I have always though was a little daunting, especially in a corporate setting. Over the course of my internship, I found myself opening up more and eager to talk to others. Whether it be because I gained more confidence or if it is just because I got comfortable with my colleagues, I will carry this confidence with me as I progress further.
What have you learned about the accounting profession that surprised you?
I was surprised to learn just how many people without accounting backgrounds work within the profession. Before coming into the internship, I was quite nervous as to just how little I knew about accounting, but my worries were quickly put to ease once I was introduced to the numerous amount of individuals who weren’t professional accountants. It was really interesting to see how people with different expertise work together.
What advice do you have for others going into internships?
Soak in as much as you can! Whether it be sitting in on meetings or asking questions, do everything you can to learn as much as you can. Reach out to your colleagues to just simply have a chat and learn a bit more about them and definitely ask as many questions as you can, something about their journey might resonate with you. Take everything as a learning opportunity.