Blake Shamblin '27 Dublin

Blake Shamblin '27 (Economics & Accounting) interned at Company Formations Internationals in Dublin.

If you worked on a big project during your internship, please describe what you did to help. 

I was responsible for using a database of thousands of client files to create documents ensuring compliance with Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations. This included drafting and completing forms such as the Relevant Persons Information Form (RPI) and the Risk Assessment Monitoring Form (RAMF).I also conducted outreach to clients to request missing or outdated documentation required by regulators. Quickly, I became confident in this process and was asked to help train other interns to perform similar compliance work. What I enjoyed most was the subjective element of AML risk assessment—conducting due diligence, researching clients online, and identifying potential red flags that could impact their credibility. 

What did you find most challenging about your internship? 

The most challenging part of my internship was simultaneously my favorite part: being trusted to make judgment calls when I believed suspicious information arose. I oversaw completing Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) forms, documents that cut ties with a client due to information I find when doing background research. This terminates the relationship with the client and our business and reports them to the proper regulators. At first, I wanted more structure in the process in hopes of finding the “right” answer. Quickly, I warned that there was not an absolute right answer, there was simply a conclusion to reach through meticulous and reasoned analysis. This has greatly helped my decision-making skills and taught me to have faith in my ability to assess objective risk. 

What advice do you have for other students that are also considering interning abroad? 

My advice to other students who are considering interning abroad is to take the chance! The notion of working in a new country can be daunting, but if you choose to commit yourself to the experience there is so much to gain from being in an uncomfortable environment. Before this trip, I had never experienced homesickness. That changed in the first few weeks of my internship. It’s been incredibly rewarding to watch that feeling fade as I adjusted to a new environment—until one morning, I woke up and realized I genuinely felt like I belonged here. Immersing myself in this experience has helped me grow more independent, adaptable, and open to change. 

How did Eller (or your previous coursework) prepare you for your internship? 

Eller played a large role in helping prepare myself for this internship – from basic knowledge of financial statements to business communication. BCOM helped teach me some concepts of how to communicate in a business setting, and although Ireland has a relaxed work environment, being able to communicate efficiently has been an important skill. Additionally, my accounting coursework provided me with a stable background to read and analyze the financial statements I need to pour through to make inferences on clients.