How Caroline Ellis Built Real-World Skills as an Audit Intern

Caroline Ellis is an accounting student at Spring Arbor University, in Spring Arbor, Michigan. As part of her education, she interned for the audit team at Blue & Co. Here is a bit of first-hand insight into her experience in the Carmel, Indiana, office.

Enjoying the Team Culture

"Interning at Blue & Co. was an amazing experience! Everyone was so nice and welcoming. And, best of all, they knew how to have fun while still producing quality work. This warm, friendly culture made the office a fun and happy place to be.

I truly enjoyed how close the audit team is—they aren’t just coworkers, but friends, too. The people at Blue & Co. care about you, and that has made my time here particularly special. A specific memory that demonstrated this for me is when a bad storm hit near the office. We were told to go home if we thought it would be safer, but, because I live 45 minutes away, I would have been driving into the storm. When another intern heard this, she offered for me go home with her and then continued to check on me throughout the rest of the day. I really appreciated her kindness and support."

Gaining Real-World Experience

"At Blue & Co., you can apply your skills in a hands-on way. They treated the interns as if we were full-time new hires. Since this was my first internship, I was a little nervous because I didn’t have a lot of experience, but everyone helped me feel supported and at ease.

I have loved getting the opportunity to work with clients and apply what I’ve learned in the classroom to the real world. During my internship, I learned how to test cash, accounts payable, investments, and current assets, as well as property, plant, and equipment. I also learned how to write an engagement letter, create workpapers, and conduct eligibility and contribution testing."

Learning from the Team

"My coach, Christina, and I met every other week to check in and discuss how my internship was going. Christina was very helpful. She always made sure that my questions were answered and that I understood what I was working on. The audit team as a whole was great about helping me overcome challenges and learn every step of the way.

I also had a chance to see behind the scenes of Blue & Co., working with the marketing team. I loved learning more about what goes into video editing, writing blogs, social media posts, and setting up websites. Everyone on the team was approachable and, even though I don’t have much experience in marketing, they took the time to teach me and allow me try new things."

Preparing for Graduation

"Overall, my internship at Blue & Co. prepared me to excel in my profession once I graduate from Spring Arbor University. I now know what it is like to have a long commute, work eight hours a day, and manage my time. This internship, above all, made me realize that I am in the right major and going down the right path."

About Blue & Co.'s Internship Program

Ready to start gaining career experience while completing your degree? Blue & Co. offers paid, three-month internships year-round. 

Blue attends career fairs and events at more than 20 colleges and universities per year. Stop by our booth to learn more about the tax and audit internships we have available. You can also reach out to our Campus Recruiter, Courtney Kriz, at ckriz@blueandco.com.