Dan Wiegmann
Accounting and Business Administration, Finance – Thiel College
Interning with Grossman Yanak & Ford LLP was one of the best career decisions I have ever made. The experience was truly amazing and I have learned so much. Taking my classroom knowledge and applying it in a professional setting allowed me to better grasp what I had learned.
Auditing was nothing like I had anticipated; it was equally fast paced, exciting, and intriguing. As I had not taken an auditing class yet, this was my first time dealing with this specific practice of accounting. One of the hardest things I had to do this summer was to learn new things quickly to complete the work assigned to me. Unlike most internships, at GYF I was actually doing the same work as a first year staff and was treated accordingly.
As I continued to learn, with the support of my fellow professionals, the work became more natural and allowed me to reach my full potential.
Everyone at GYF was so helpful in teaching and guiding me through the processes and information. With GYF’s family atmosphere, getting to know everyone within the firm was a breeze. The corporate culture made working easier and more enjoyable.
Internships are imperative to obtaining a full-time job following graduation in public accounting. They teach real world skills while focusing on professional growth. I believe I have learned more in my three months than I could have in a school year, mainly because applying concepts is a more effective teaching method. College teaches the basics, but an internship can take those simple skills and allow you to find out if accounting, more specifically public accounting, is a career that you want to pursue.
Following my internship, I will return to school for my senior year, planning to graduate in May of 2017 with 150 credit hours. I truly look forward to starting my career in public accounting and cannot wait until I graduate!
The best advice I can offer any future intern is to be open to working with anyone and in every department. Different opportunities can come up and having an open mind and the willingness to learn will take you far. The experiences you can take from special projects and unique assignments allow you to diversify your learning. I hope you truly consider an internship at GYF and that you will have an excellent learning experience while working with one of the best firms in Pittsburgh.
