Member Spotlight: William True

What did a typical day as an intern look like?
Checking emails was the first thing; I would strongly encourage interns to take time to read the firm-wide emails. You can learn much about the company’s policies, culture, and overall work environment. I then checked in with my supervisor and started signing into our system. I sorted the digital tax documents clients sent to us. One could describe it as ‘digital paperwork’. I made sure the files went to the right place. One main thing was to separate clients’ personal and business documents. 

What was the most valuable part of your experience?
Being able to work in a professional environment with a firm that values its staff and interns. School is great but I think it is crucial to have at least one internship in your area of study. It can shed light on if you want to work that job. The lifestyle of any job you are pursuing is something to consider. For instance, does your future job require non-traditional work hours? Do you value the personal interactions your job requires? Do you enjoy the work environment and general atmosphere in the profession? Getting to see what happens ‘behind the 1040’ is enlightening. 

What was the most surprising part?
People were happy! There is a negative stigma associated with the profession and I one hundred percent agree that the ‘boring accountant’ stereotype needs to go. Doty Pruett Wilson strived to care for the wellness of their staff and be innovative. They seemed to value not only the growth of their firm but the growth of all their employees as well. 

When I received my (Educational Foundation) scholarship from the OSCPA, I had the opportunity to personally talk to my donor. She said that it is important to be engaged in the work of your clients. The word ‘engage’ is a great word to describe a good accountant. In fact, ‘Engage23’ was the title of the AICPA’s recent conference. Being interested and engaged in your clients’ business is so important. We all should have the attitude of, "Wow, isn’t this cool that there are so many different types of businesses I can learn about?”. As an intern, seeing these tax documents that I organized sparked my curiosity about their business. 

What other kinds of work experience have you had and how did this compare? 
I worked with OnPoint Community Credit Union’s loan operations department. One similarity is the focus on following company policy and being consistent. From receiving the physical car title from the DMV to entering it into the credit union's tracking system, it is essential to follow the established format. 

At Corban University, I acted as the Vice-President of Finance and Administration as a student government cabinet member. As the school year progressed, I worked to develop and improve our processes so that my constituents could receive relevant information more conveniently. Seeing how Doty Pruett Wilson and OnPoint operated taught me how I could adopt similar procedures when serving the student body. 

What advice would you give someone beginning a new accounting internship?
Do your research beforehand. There is a reason firms have a cool website and LinkedIn page to follow. It is not just for clients but prospective employees too. Learning about the firm you are interning at can help you not feel as nervous. 

My senior year of high school, I conducted informational interviews with accountants. I would encourage other college or high school students to do likewise. Three of my biggest takeaways are: accounting is the language of business, there are multiple paths an accounting degree offers, and there is no ‘personality mold’ you must fit into as an accountant. When joining as an intern, you may notice how cool it is to see such diverse employees with distinct backgrounds and personalities. 

Do not be afraid to ask questions. At the OSCPA Career Showcase event, a recruiter gave me great tips on asking meaningful questions. First, they recommended asking people why they came to their firm. Secondly, they recommended asking why they currently enjoy working at their firm. I remember asking similar questions with the response, ‘Well, ever since I can remember, I just loved counting money and here I am now”. Another time, someone replied, ‘My softball coach told me I would be a good accountant and now I’m a CPA’. While some did not join this profession right out of college, others have stuck with accounting their entire life. For instance, not only did one of DPW’s partners start as an intern at the firm, but he also graduated from my college. That is certainly encouraging. 

While you must operate on a fast timeline and complete your work quickly, it is perfectly fine to learn about the firm. I was even encouraged to do so at DPW when time permitted. I have found that people are more than willing to tell their story; you just have to ask.

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