MY EXPERIENCE AT EY

By Izan Tahir

Navigating the corporate culture of a Big Four firm was one of the most significant challenges of the internship.

Having had the privilege of interning at one of the Big Four accounting firms, I can testify to the demanding nature of this opportunity. To even be considered for the internship, I had to achieve excellent academic performance, demonstrate a strong work ethic, and undergo a rigorous and highly competitive recruitment process. Only a small percentage of candidates were selected for interviews, and those who made it through were subjected to an arduous battery of tests that evaluated their problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and ability to handle high-pressure situations.

Once I secured the internship, the real work began. As an intern at Ernst & Young (EY), one of the Big Four firms, I was expected to work long hours, often up to 80 hours per week. The workload was physically and mentally draining, and balancing my personal life was a significant challenge. Nonetheless, I was committed to giving my best effort and learning as much as possible during my tenure.

Working alongside some of the most talented individuals worldwide was both inspiring and daunting. The pressure to perform well was relentless, and any mistakes could be detrimental to the firm and its clients. Yet I found that my colleagues were supportive and willing to help me whenever necessary, and we established a closeknit team that worked together towards common goals.

The internship involved a range of tasks, including research, data analysis, report writing, and evidence-gathering activities (EGAs), and required me to assist with client meetings and internal audits. The work was intricate and demanded a high level of attention to detail, speed, and accuracy. Knowing that even minor errors could have severe repercussions, I pushed myself to work quickly and precisely.

Navigating the corporate culture of a Big Four firm was one of the most significant challenges of the internship. The culture was fiercely competitive and focused on performance and results. I had to adapt to this culture quickly and learn to work effectively with colleagues at all levels of the organization, necessitating a high level of adaptability and communication skills.

Despite the challenges, my internship at EY was a gratifying experience. I gained exposure to a wide range of industries and sectors, deepened my understanding of the accounting and consulting profession, and worked alongside some of the most accomplished professionals in the field. Their guidance and knowledge will stay with me throughout my career.

In summary, an internship at one of the Big Four accounting firms is a highly challenging opportunity. However, for those who are up for the challenge, the rewards can be significant. Working alongside top-notch professionals in the industry and gaining exposure to diverse industries and sectors is an invaluable learning experience. If you are considering an internship at one of these firms, be prepared to work hard, learn quickly, and embrace the corporate culture. With dedication and hard work, you can thrive in this highly competitive environment and pave the way for a successful career in accounting or consulting.

OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP AT KING’S UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

By Muhammad Salaar Durrani

Graduating as an international student is an exciting and yet challenging experience. It is a milestone that marks the end of an academic journey and the beginning of a new chapter in life. While the experience is unique to each individual, these are some of the experiences and challenges that I faced during my time at King’s University College.

I have achieved a great deal during my time at King’s. As co-president of King’s International Association, I organized a successful networking event with other clubs and the School of MEM, which provided opportunities for international and local students to connect with King’s alumni and professors. I also directed any student questions regarding immigration to the international office at King’s, ensuring that students received professional support.

As a Residence Assistant (RA), I helped firstyear students transition into university life, guiding them on the abundant resources available at King’s. In addition, as a peer guide and International House coordinator, I planned tours around London for students who were not from Canada, which gave them a positive impression of how welcoming Canada and King’s are. Once they settled in, I organized affirmation circles – a group activity in which participants stand in a circle and share positive affirmations about themselves and others in the group – which reduced their stress and helped them have a more relaxed academic year.

As the VP of Human Resources for King’s EconoMath Society, I was responsible for hiring candidates whose core values were closely aligned with the club’s values. I also made students aware of how important it is to get involved on campus, which encouraged students to be more actively involved.

As a Residence Information Desk staff member, I fostered strong relationships with co-workers and responsibly managed the inventory at the desk. I also coordinated with the managers in unexpected situations and figured out solutions that were appreciated by staff in the Residence office.

As an International Student Representative for King’s University College Student Council (KUCSC), I arranged a meeting with King’s President and the Dean of Students to discuss concerns about the increase in tuition for international students. I was successful in getting the concerns addressed, resulting in all international students being granted a $250 stipend.

Overall, my experience shows that I have accomplished a great deal at King’s University College. I am feeling a sense of nostalgia as I prepare to leave the King’s family. Although I may be saying goodbye to friends and professors, I have the comfort of knowing that I will always be a part of the King’s community and will always cherish the beautiful memories I made here.

By Vanshil Agarwal

The interview was conducted by Vanshil Arun Agarwal, first-year BMOS and Finance student at King’s University College at Western University, on February 26, 2023. The interviewee is Michael Dakin-Green, who has accomplished the incredible feat of passing the CFA Level 1 exam with close to the 90th percentile. Vanshil asked some questions regarding Michael’s journey in the School of MEM, the benefits of MEM that Michael experienced and his overall view.

What was your major and how did it prepare you for your career?

“I did an honours specialization in Finance. Going through the first year in many programs is pretty general. In the second year, however, you start taking courses that give you an idea of what careers are available to you and get a sense of some of the more ‘real life’ applications. In my second year I had an Economics course that I really liked and got that intrinsic drive to learn more about what was going on. That’s when I realized that I really liked Finance and wanted to take this further. This has helped me in many stages, but a significant instance was during the interview process – the interviewer really notices whether or not a person knows what is really going on around them and has that drive to learn more every day.”

What extracurriculars were you involved in and how did they impact your life after graduation?

“In the middle of first year, in second semester, I began a tutoring service for free, because in London, I feel like the poverty rates are relatively higher than a lot of other cities of the same size. My tutoring services were mostly targeted to students at the end of high school or even some first years at university. I tutored courses such as Business 1220, 2257, and some calculus courses.

“I did other extracurriculars here and there as well. The biggest thing to pull from extracurriculars and how they shape you is doing and knowing your part in the community, because it helps build your network and connections and you get to know and understand new people. Also, you learn how to prioritize and manage your time, which requires skill to learn and just like any skill, you can learn this through experience. I was also a KAMP [King's Academic Mentoring Program] mentor for about two years and I still have connections and relations with my peers and juniors that I helped or got help from.

“I would also personally recommend knowing the basics of programming. We are rapidly shifting towards a more digitalized world and even when I was doing the tutoring, I needed some basic programming and coding skills to set up my services. Interviewers really like if a person knows their way around the rapidly evolving status of technology and it can be a massive, massive resume boost.”

Did you have any exciting projects or accomplishments that you have achieved since graduating?

“I did – I applied to the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) scholarship through King’s and I was fortunate enough to get that, and I wrote the paper and passed that, so I believe that and getting a decent job right after school are my biggest achievements. I know it can definitely be tough, especially when you’re directly out of school, and there is always pressure and the change of atmosphere and responsibilities so getting a decent job can be quite stressful and demotivating.”

What advice would you give to current students who are hoping to achieve similar success? Any academic or non-academic advice?

“I feel like, as a student, everything can get quite overwhelming at times so it is important to take a step back and give yourself a break at those times. The biggest thing would be developing discipline on when to relax and when to get to the grind. Students can easily make the mistake of overworking and be drained, or underworking and being paranoid. Having the perfect balance of work and breaks can be difficult to achieve but each person knows themselves the best and can tailor their time accordingly. I was a victim of those mistakes as well, and felt like everything was too much work to do for such a short time, but when I started to manage my time and give time to myself when needed, everything that I thought was a drag ended up being pretty straightforward and the quality of my work improved a lot after I made those changes within myself.”

Are there any factors that helped you get to where you are right now that aren’t academic related?

“I feel like during that time of my life, for the most part, was the time where I could explore my hobbies and new things that I could learn and enrich myself. Being open to new things will definitely help you grow as an individual and help you connect to different people, which again brings me back to the point I made earlier regarding networking and making connections.”

Anything that you found particularly hard or challenging while at university and MEM?

“I was lucky because when I went to university, I knew what path I wanted to go into. I feel like many students when they enter university are unsure of what their destination or pathway is going to be, and I think that can be quite overwhelming. I would say the best way to fight that would be to try out as many things as possible. Having diversity in courses and joining various different clubs can help narrow down what direction they want to go in. I think that would be a major challenge that I luckily didn’t have.

“Another one could be managing my finances and grades – maintaining good grades in my courses and also learning to control my finances was initially quite a challenge for me but eventually you understand, for the financial part at least, what you need to do to get it on track. The sooner you make that reflection and changes, the better it will be for you. And once again, balancing things and giving time to myself to relax was a big challenge initially for me and several others like me.”

Did you have any particular memories of MEM that you are fond of, with your friends, professors or MEM in general?

“Definitely! It was with my second-year Economics course. That was the course that solidified my thoughts on what I wanted to do. I remember that I was super enthusiastic about that course, and that was new for me – I was not the type of guy who would be excited over a course and say I want to do this more. Like for most courses, you say that the course is great but nothing extraordinary. This course was extraordinary for me. The drive to learn more was intrinsic and I did not wait for the professor to assign us work – I would just find myself diving deeper into the course and the details willingly!

“Obviously, the memories made in MEM will stay with me forever. I am so grateful to have met so many unique people, make life-long friends and learn valuable lessons from MEM. I am so happy I made this decision and I am thankful to meet such lovely peers and professors. I think we – the School of MEM – are the best schoo at King’s University College. Some students from other programs may say something else – I don’t mind proving them wrong, haha!”