Internship Spotlight: Isabella Estrella, PwC

Isabella Estrella '25 BSBA (Accounting) was a Start Audit Intern at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in Orlando, Florida.

Did they offer to pay for housing and/or transportation?

I did not receive any housing help other than recommendations from the firm, but I was awarded a stipend from the LifeLab at the U of A! I found out about it through an email I received from them.

If I needed to travel to a training and/or the Tampa office for any reason, I was reimbursed by the firm for transportation costs.

Did you have any other challenges you were surprised by this summer (or as you prepared for the summer?)

No :)

What was the process for getting this internship, job, or summer experience?

I got this internship through Meet the Firms in Spring 2023! Since it was mandatory or strongly encouraged for Accounting majors starting upper division in Fall 2023, I went and walked around. I connected really well with PwC recruiters and professionals and decided to apply. A few weeks later, I completed interviews and heard back from them coming back from spring break in March.

What was a typical day like?

Since I was based in Orlando, I was in a remote setting, but I had to be based there for any occasion I had to visit the Tampa office and any trainings. 

I would wake up, have breakfast, be online by 8am, and I would have a game plan done for the day. These consisted of calls I had with my supervisors (called my ‘People Team’), other professionals, and my team of interns I was working with. By the end of the day, I would draft an agenda for the next day.

What was your favorite part of the experience?

I had 2. The first was training, as all 600 Start Interns nationwide were in Disney for 3 days. Other than the fact that we were in Disney, the training consisted of many meaningful sessions where there was group talks and keynote speakers, where I was able to connect with so many people, and overall, figure out if this is a firm I want to work for.

The second was definitely the people. When I would ask professionals why they chose and have stayed with PwC, I got the same response — the people. Everyone that works for the firm is always happy to have a chat, answer any questions, and is willing to problem solve with you. Overall, I can strongly say that people here WANT you to succeed and be the best version of yourself which was such a wonderful experience.

How did Eller prepare you for this experience?

Our last project was a Pro Bono Project which was treated as a case competition for all intern groups across the US. Eller prepared me VERY well for this, as now I have completed 3 case competitions in the first year of upper division, so it made this one no different and it was such a breeze. I would say that Eller, specifically BCOM equipped me with the tools I needed to make this go smoothly.

Regardless of this, I did learn more about what it means to fully serve a real client, and expanded my knowledge on platforms such as PowerBI and Alteryx.

I highly recommend this internship experience to any student, as the Start program is not only just for Accounting majors! I met others who were majoring in Economics, MIS, Finance, and Business Management! This internship is not very technical, rather it is more about seeing if the firm is the right fit for you. It is also very much about focusing in your professional development skills, from being able to network to being able to give a presentation.

Did you feel supported by the company or organization you worked with? 

YES 100%. From before the start of this internship, I felt the immense support from professionals at the firm in many different ways. It feels cheesy to say but I had a perception that in a firm this big, I would just be a number, but at PwC you genuinely feel cared for. 

If I had any question at all, from technical, to something where I was seeking advice, or ideas, I never felt like I couldn’t ask anyone. When I asked questions, I was given in-depth answers and options as everyone was eager to help me. In fact, one of the goals set for us through this program was to be curious, and to ask everything. I am glad I did this because it expanded my knowledge and perspective on many things.

Besides this, multiple Intern socials were held, supervisors took us out to lunch, and we were encouraged to bond and meet up with our teams! 

Anything else you’d like to share about the experience?

I am very excited to announce that I will be an Advance Audit Intern for Summer 2025 in Tampa, Fl! When I got my offer, it was a no brainer, and I am looking forward to getting to experience a physical setting next Summer!