Part VII - Achieving More: An Inside Look at R?dl & Partner’s Internship

R?dl & Partner's internship program offers hands-on, practical training. Our paid spring and summer internships allow students to learn both audit and tax. With one full week of training and on-going support and supervision, our interns are set up for success!

This past spring, our interns worked side-by-side with R?dl & Partner staff to gain valuable experience. We asked a few of our summer interns, Kayleigh Artise (Atlanta), Tiana Branch (Birmingham), Paige Leshock (Greenville), and Melody Kernan (Birmingham) to share their experiences about how they made the most of their internship.

Why did you decide to spend your time interning at R?dl & Partner?

Kayleigh Artise: I decided to spend my time with R?dl & Partner because I felt as though I could learn the most from the firm in my short time there. I had other offers for firms the same size and in the same area, but none of them could offer the client base and experience that R?dl & Partner could. R?dl & Partner dominates a niche market providing accounting services for American subsidiaries of German foreign parent companies. Before I heard about R?dl & Partner, I never knew working in a niche market like that was possible. The people I met through different recruiting events at the University of Georgia were also major reasons. For instance, having the opportunity to go bowling with the firm showed that each of the associates, managers, associate partners and partners have personalities and lives outside of the firm. It also reminded me that at one point there were right where I currently was.

Tell us which department you are interning in, and a little bit about the department.

Tiana Branch: I interned at the Birmingham location doing both audit and tax for foreign-owned business in the United States of America. I also collaborated with the Atlanta team to assist in the preparation of the US tax compliance for one of their largest clients and several entities.

Paige Leshock: I interned with the Manufacturing & Distribution (M&D) department. As the name suggests, they work with companies in the manufacturing and distribution industry. The same team or individual will often work on both the audit and the tax return for the same client throughout the year, which allows the team to gain an even greater understanding of a client's business.

Briefly describe what you accomplished during your internship.

Tiana Branch: I was exposed to and gained a good understanding of both Tax and Audit, as well as Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO). I have gained new and improved skills through the preparation of tax returns, audit binders, and using QuickBooks for BPO. One of the most valuable skills I got from this internship was the ability to speak with people in a professional setting. The audit simulations were also an amazing opportunity to gain hands-on experience and knowledge of what to expect during audits.

Paige Leshock: I completed quite a few corporate tax returns during my internship. Each one offering new and different challenges. I also had the opportunity to attend two audits and communicate directly with clients.

What was your favorite part of the internship?

Kayleigh Artise: I have so many favorites about this internship, but the thing I truly enjoyed the most was the ability to get together with current associates outside of the work environment. Whether it was exploring some part of Atlanta, watching our kickball team play, or even just eating lunch together outside in the courtyard, it showed that the people here really care about getting to know you as a person just as much as how you perform as an employee. I've always been the person to think work is work and your personal life is your personal life. Being able to combine work and friendship has shown me that I can have a rewarding career and also increase the quality of my personal life by adding such great people.

As an intern, how did you fit into the team at R?dl & Partner?

Paige Leshock: I'm getting to do the same type of work all my team members are doing. I'm treated as a first-year staff, being given complicated projects that add value, not just busywork. It's been a great experience to be treated like a true member of the team.

How would you describe the culture at R?dl & Partner?

Paige Leshock: R?dl & Partner's culture is friendly, welcoming, and engaging. You're always learning new things, and your coworkers are often facilitating that growth. They all want each other to succeed and work together to be a great team and good friends.

What do you think sets R?dl & Partner apart as an employer based on your experience?

Kayleigh Artise: One thing that I think stands out about R?dl & Partner is that if you have a question or a concern you can ask anyone. Every person in the office has an open-door policy, so I have been able to ask associates, managers, associate partners, and partners for their help on projects. Every person I have gone to has been more than helpful and checked up on me at some point just to be sure that I understood their answer.

What skills can you apply from your internship to school or future jobs?

Kayleigh Artise: Some skills I gained that I can apply to other aspects of my life like school or future jobs are my developed soft skills. A major skill I feel that I learned was the ability to take constructive criticism. As an intern, you're going to make a lot of mistakes, but everyone here has been understanding of that and turned it into a teaching moment. Another skill I learned was how to manage my time more efficiently. I was given multiple projects with various assignments at the same time. It was stressful at first, but once I got the hang of it, found a way to keep myself organized, and made sure I was making progress on each project, I felt as though I was able to work more efficiently.

What advice do you have for students looking to intern at R?dl & Partner?

Melody Kernan: It's cliché, but don't be afraid to ask questions! Also, take the time to ask the staff at recruiting events why they not only chose R?dl & Partner but why they choose to stay. Don't be afraid to talk about what interests you and always try to get to know the person who is least like you - you might be surprised! Don't forget that everyone laughs in the same language.

Paige Leshock: Always be willing to learn and have a great attitude. Interns aren't expected to know everything, so personality is what will set you apart and give you the best experience.

About us

R?dl & Partner, a leading global professional services firm, provides you integrated audit, legal, tax, and business consulting solutions from its 111 wholly-owned subsidiaries in 50 countries. You benefit from a single point of contact approach which is designed to meet and exceed the needs of your domestic and globally operating businesses. Since our 1977 formation in Nuremberg, Germany we have grown to more than 4,700 entrepreneurial professionals worldwide working with your success in mind.

R?dl & Partner USA

We have specifically tailored our accounting, auditing, tax, and business consulting services to the unique needs of your foreign-owned business in the United States of America. For more than 40 years our core practice has been serving the accounting and tax needs of primarily German-speaking and other foreign-owned companies operating in the U.S. Our headquarters is located in Atlanta, GA. We have other offices in Birmingham, AL, Charlotte, NC, Chicago, IL, Greenville, SC, Houston, TX and Manhattan, NY.

R?dl & Partner USA is always looking for dynamic people to join our firm. Are you interested in interning next year? Look for us on campus this upcoming fall, or reach out to the firm recruiter, Elizabeth Gottlich at [email protected]. To learn more about our firm, visit our website at https://www.roedl.com/us/