[Thinkingbig828110]

Hey guys! I’m new to the forum and to the accounting field. I will finish with my Bachelors this Summer. I was contacted randomly by a very small accounting firm (1 CPA/Owner and 1 other accountant in the process of getting his CPA), and offered a paid internship. I was very clear that I had no experience at all. He said he understood that and was looking for “Fresh Talent.” I accepted the position and began working. My position requires me to Reconcile accounts of Small businesses such as gas stations, bakeries and small markets. It has been hell, to put it lightly. He very rarely has time to sit with me or give me an guidance. Monday he piled 2 very large stacks of paper on my desk and said he wanted them done by the end of the day. Nothing had been started, so it required me to do everything from entering bank statements in Quickbooks, to payroll, to Reconciling, A/R, A/P…it was a mess. I completed 99% of it, but he wasn’t available to help me that day, and I asked the other accountant and the bookkeeper and neither knew what to do?? So yesterday he pulls me in his office and tells me I’m not meeting his expectations, not cutting it and what took me 2 days to do he could have done in 2 hours. I explained again that I had never done this, it was all new to me, and apologized. I told him I asked others for help with the ONE problem I had and they weren’t sure what to do. So he proceeded to call the person I asked into the office and embarrass her for not knowing either.

So my question is…Is this normal for an internship? My idea going into this was that I wouldn’t be expected to perform at the same level a CPA with 20 years of experience was performing. There is a Huge learning curve, that I’m sure all New Graduates go through? I thought that I would have some sort of guidance, and it would be understood that I am learning and would take longer and need help. Any advice?

[Anonymous]

Guy sounds like a douche to me… Constructive critisism is always the best way to go… You catch more bees with honey than you can with fire

[Anonymous]

Guy sounds like a douche to me… Constructive critisism is always the best way to go… You catch more bees with honey than you can with fire

[Anonymous]

I believe the appropriate term for a boss that would do something like this is a$$hat. His head is so far up his a$$, he appears to be wearing it as a hat.

[Anonymous]

I believe the appropriate term for a boss that would do something like this is a$$hat. His head is so far up his a$$, he appears to be wearing it as a hat.

[Thinkingbig828110]

Thanks guys! I feel very frustrated… I left a Decent job to accept this position, and went into it with a positive attitude, as this was supposed to be a HUGE step for my career. Now it seems it's going to leave me discouraged about myself. I've done the best I can, with no help. Did any of you have internships similar to this?

[Thinkingbig828110]

Thanks guys! I feel very frustrated… I left a Decent job to accept this position, and went into it with a positive attitude, as this was supposed to be a HUGE step for my career. Now it seems it's going to leave me discouraged about myself. I've done the best I can, with no help. Did any of you have internships similar to this?

[san4596]

I would find another firm after tax season is over. Even at my small firm, we are constantly discussing ideas and new topics to help our clients. Being a CPA for 20 years does not mean you know everything, and power has gone to his head. Everyone should be learning something at least once a week, and newbs learn everyday. It is his fault for not providing some guidance, which is apparent by the employee who could not answer your question.

CPA EXAM: DONE!!!!
Ethics Course: Passed
Application Mailed: 3/16/15
Professional Conduct Exam: 97
Certification Date: 4/2/15!!!

[san4596]

I would find another firm after tax season is over. Even at my small firm, we are constantly discussing ideas and new topics to help our clients. Being a CPA for 20 years does not mean you know everything, and power has gone to his head. Everyone should be learning something at least once a week, and newbs learn everyday. It is his fault for not providing some guidance, which is apparent by the employee who could not answer your question.

CPA EXAM: DONE!!!!
Ethics Course: Passed
Application Mailed: 3/16/15
Professional Conduct Exam: 97
Certification Date: 4/2/15!!!

[Mayo]

totally the opposite of a normal situation.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[Mayo]

totally the opposite of a normal situation.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[yourmomsaCPA]

That sounds like my first job out of college (tier II CPA firm in my home town). I worked my way through college. I had an academic scholarship but that didn't pay for everything. I waitressed b/c that's what brought in the most $$. When I graduated, I didn't even own my own computer (2005) and had NEVER worked in an office setting EVER. I barely knew how to work a copy machine.

Anyways, my first day one of the partners came and sat a box on the floor with a trust. I can't even remember what I was supposed to do with the trust but I didn't even know what the eff a trust even was! I would do a tax return, turn it in, and literally never hear another thing about it. Not even a piece of feedback. I hated it SO much that on Sunday nights, I would fall into a depression about working 5 whole days in a row starting the next day. I was very seriously considering going back to school for something else. This was NOT for me at all. We mutually parted ways 6 months later. I then got a job in industry as a cost accountant for a frozen Mexican food manufacturing facility (so much win!) and it was SO MUCH BETTER! I worked with normal people, had real company goals, and felt like I was an important member of the team.

There are better things out there! Internships are about learning and if you're not learning, I'd search for something else. Good luck!

FAR - 87 2/18/14
AUD - 84 4/2/14
REG - 87 7/23/14
BEC - 78 8/26/14

I'm finally an *official* CPA - TX

[yourmomsaCPA]

That sounds like my first job out of college (tier II CPA firm in my home town). I worked my way through college. I had an academic scholarship but that didn't pay for everything. I waitressed b/c that's what brought in the most $$. When I graduated, I didn't even own my own computer (2005) and had NEVER worked in an office setting EVER. I barely knew how to work a copy machine.

Anyways, my first day one of the partners came and sat a box on the floor with a trust. I can't even remember what I was supposed to do with the trust but I didn't even know what the eff a trust even was! I would do a tax return, turn it in, and literally never hear another thing about it. Not even a piece of feedback. I hated it SO much that on Sunday nights, I would fall into a depression about working 5 whole days in a row starting the next day. I was very seriously considering going back to school for something else. This was NOT for me at all. We mutually parted ways 6 months later. I then got a job in industry as a cost accountant for a frozen Mexican food manufacturing facility (so much win!) and it was SO MUCH BETTER! I worked with normal people, had real company goals, and felt like I was an important member of the team.

There are better things out there! Internships are about learning and if you're not learning, I'd search for something else. Good luck!

FAR - 87 2/18/14
AUD - 84 4/2/14
REG - 87 7/23/14
BEC - 78 8/26/14

I'm finally an *official* CPA - TX

[fuzyfro89]

Many bosses will give you a seemingly impossible task to see how you cope and if you ask the right questions.

But no, that is not normal. If you ask the right questions, you are supposed to get answers. If you get scolded for not doing the right things when you were given no guidance, then he clearly has no idea what he's doing.

No, accounting internships are not supposed to be like that. What more do you expect from a 2 person “firm”? I'm sure there are some that are great, but if 1 of those people is no fun, then half your company sucks.

[fuzyfro89]

Many bosses will give you a seemingly impossible task to see how you cope and if you ask the right questions.

But no, that is not normal. If you ask the right questions, you are supposed to get answers. If you get scolded for not doing the right things when you were given no guidance, then he clearly has no idea what he's doing.

No, accounting internships are not supposed to be like that. What more do you expect from a 2 person “firm”? I'm sure there are some that are great, but if 1 of those people is no fun, then half your company sucks.

[CPA soon]

A$$hat LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLL Kricket I'm LOLing in my chair at work.. my colleagues are probably like what the heck.

FAR - 71, 68, 74, (8/31/14) 78 ✔
REG - 67, 71, 71, (10/18/14) 78 ✔
BEC - (11/29/14) 86 ✔
AUD - 73, (4/4/15) 86 ✔

I can't believe this is over! 2 years and 3 months..

[Author]

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