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    jenjen110's Avatar
    jenjen110 Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #1

    May 22, 2015, 08:44 AM
    Is this accounting internship right for me?
    I got hired as an accounting intern but my manager is not an accountant and asked me to fill in journal entries with receipts. This is my first time intern in start up company and my first time filling in journal entries in real life. I self study to fill in journal entries but mostly, I am worried if I am doing it the right way. There's no one to help me for accounting problems in this company because no one is an accountant here.. Also, I was only trained how to do answer calls from clients, project management, and other tasks that are not accounting. Is this the right job for me as my first intern... I feel like I am not really learning anything here
    joypulv's Avatar
    joypulv Posts: 21,591, Reputation: 2941
    current pert
     
    #2

    May 22, 2015, 09:51 AM
    This notion of interns doing not only menial work not in their field but also working for a company that has virtually no one who can mentor and monitor you drives me nuts, but it's rampant these days.

    I take it that you tried to get a paying job first?? I don't know what to say. You do seem unskilled in accounting and doing nothing but JE's should be easy, so I would just struggle along and not worry about how bad you are. After all, they aren't paying you!!! (Their outside accountant will have to sort it all out monthly or quarterly.)

    I would actually work my butt off for this start up, because if you do well and they do well, the sky's the limit. It's a risk, but you have to learn sometime. I would be thrilled at being asked to do project management too.

    I learned most of my accounting on the job and from sending away to the IRS for booklets - before the internet. (I won't answer accounting questions - I hate the subject.)
    Wondergirl's Avatar
    Wondergirl Posts: 39,354, Reputation: 5431
    Jobs & Parenting Expert
     
    #3

    May 22, 2015, 10:40 AM
    Like joypulv indicated, this internship might just be a great opportunity to become a mover and doer. Does the company have an off-site accountant or auditing company that does their books once a year? Maybe ask to be connected to them for hands-on help, if they're willing.

    Listen and observe how the company you intern at does business. Can things be streamlined or improved? Do procedures need to be written down for uniformity and training? What you see as problems may well be tasks that need to be added or changed or omitted. Turn on your logical thinking and common sense to high. However you find a fit in this company will help you in countless ways in the future. Your manager meanwhile will thank the fates that you are interning there.
    Fr_Chuck's Avatar
    Fr_Chuck Posts: 81,301, Reputation: 7692
    Expert
     
    #4

    May 22, 2015, 07:04 PM
    I will argue that this is not an intern. This is a accountant. Sounds like a start up company that wanted a cheap worker.

    An intern works in an office with other accounting people and learns from them.

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