The transition from college to the professional world can be intimidating for many recent graduates. After years of learning in the classroom, your daily routine, responsibilities, and lifestyle suddenly change as you begin applying your knowledge in a real-world setting.
One way to ease this major life transition is by interning during college, and even continuing full-time at the same company. While much in your life will change, staying connected with familiar colleagues and clients can provide a sense of comfort and continuity.
At The Bonadio Group, many of our People have successfully transitioned from interns to Staff Accountants, leading to career progression as a Senior Accountant and beyond. Our relationship-driven culture, commitment to work-life balance, and vast learning opportunities provide our interns with a solid foundation to jumpstart their careers. Read on to hear about the experiences of some of our current Staff and Senior Accountants who started their careers as TBG interns.
A Culture of Support
At the core of the TBG employee experience is the unwavering support from colleagues at every level, from Staff Accountants all the way to Partners. Our People are eager to help interns and new staff members learn and develop. This sense of support left a lasting impact on former intern and current Senior Accountant Eric Andolina. “The willingness of everyone to develop me and my personal skillset was something I didn’t expect,” said Eric. Throughout his internship, he gained the confidence to walk into a Partner’s office to ask them a question whenever he felt stuck on his work. “Never be afraid to ask questions because if you aren’t asking, you aren’t growing,” he added.
Even during various busy seasons throughout the year, our People go above and beyond to support each other. “No one was ever too busy to put down their work and help me with any question,” said Staff Accountant Nathan McConnell. He worked directly with his management team of principals and directors during his internship, which gave him confidence in the quality of his work and his on-the-job skills.
Our interns can also gain a wealth of knowledge from their colleagues working in different service lines. Marley Glasgow, Staff Accountant within our Assurance Service Line, started his TBG career with an internship in our Corporate Finance business unit. “I connected with many people in assurance throughout my internship, and l learned a lot from them even though I wasn’t working with them directly,” Marley reflects. This aspect of our firm culture led him to complete three internships at TBG before becoming a full-time member of our team.
Starting a career in public accounting doesn’t have to be stressful or overwhelming. Being surrounded by the support of professionals at all levels who want you to succeed and find your niche is what makes a TBG internship truly unique.
A Seamless Transition
After learning and developing throughout a TBG internship, making the leap to the staff level is a seamless transition. Staff Accountant Jenna Piotrowski remembers being nervous about taking on more responsibilities, learning additional areas of the audit, and completing her first busy season after her internship. However, she found that our environment made the transition painless – “I already had relationships and felt comfortable with my coworkers, and they helped me through the change and answered all of my questions,” shared Jenna.
Staff Accountant Graeme Billiski had a unique transition experience, as he interned in the Buffalo office and moved to our Albany office when he began working full-time. Even while moving between regional offices, Graeme had a smooth progression to the staff level. “It’s pretty easy – you’re eased into it with simple projects, and from there you learn, ask questions, and take on more complex work,” he said. Our strong culture is consistent across all our offices, ensuring a smooth transition from intern to staff, no matter which region our People call home.
Our goal is for interns transitioning to staff members to have a seamless experience. By continuing to work with the same projects, clients, and colleagues, the transition is effortless, allowing for growth and success at your own pace.
A Career that Works for You
Upon settling into a staff role, our People can truly take advantage of the opportunities and benefits our firm has to offer. We never want our People to feel stagnant in one service line or industry, and we encourage them to find what they’re passionate about. Eric’s recommendation to new staff is to “keep seeking the work that you’re interested in and ask for what you want.” Each of our People have unique personal and career aspirations, and we aim to support every team member in achieving those goals.
We also encourage our firm members to take advantage of our Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO) Policy and spend quality time with loved ones, rest and relax, and take their bucket list vacations! “I’ve gone on trips that I never thought were possible because of the flexibility and vacation time,” said Nathan. Also focused on finding a healthy work-life balance, Jenna says “my life doesn’t feel overwhelmed by work, and my managers really stress the importance of finding a good balance for me.” At TBG, we pride ourselves on providing our People with vast opportunities both in and outside of the workplace.
If you’re interested in an internship or position at TBG, we encourage you to visit our internship page or view our current openings. Whether you’re a new college graduate or an experienced professional considering a career at TBG, we’d love to connect with you and support you in finding the right career path for you!
