Miles Edwards '27 (Accounting) Assurance Intern

Miles Edwards '27 (Accounting) was an Assurance Intern at Baker Tilly in Phoenix, AZ

Baker Tilly provided a stipend for housing costs. 

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

It was very similar to other accounting positions. I received a phone screening from the recruiter and chatted for about 15 minutes. I was then instructed to schedule two interviews, one with an associate and the second with a partner. They were both basic behavioral and very casual interviews. They called me about 15 minutes after the second interview ended with an internship offer. 

Tell us about your internship.

My favorite part of the internship was guiding and creating an impact for students. A third of the students I worked with were rising sophomores preparing to embark on the same study abroad experience I had in Fall 2024. I had opportunities to share my experiences and give advice on cultural adjustment, class management, and independent travel. Another third of the students were incoming freshmen to the university. That allowed me to share my first-year experience and advice on getting involved on campus. I also got to teach them certain aspects of how the university works and how to adjust to the independence of college. I was also tasked with hosting events that brought students together, such as team-building exercises and games. Watching the students grow closer together, form friendships, and ultimately enjoy themselves was very rewarding. Overall, that was the most rewarding part of the internship: watching the students grow. Additionally, I was able to build versatile skills in real time, such as people management, conflict resolution, and public speaking. Adaptability was a huge skill set I was able to refine over the summer. Each student brought a different personality, background, etc., and learning how to manage them individually and in a group was very valuable. Additionally, even in small situations like the weather when taking headshots, cancelled catering orders, office appliances breaking, or schedules being changed last-minute, I was able to maintain composure, think critically, and act accordingly instead of panicking. Many of those issues are the ones that stick with me the most, and are what I will continue to carry as I grow professionally.

How did Eller prepare you for this internship?

Eller really helped me make connections with other people in the office, how to start conversations, and build those relationships. I also feel like Eller helped me with problem-solving skills. When I came across something I didn't know, Eller helped me find steps on how to solve it, whether it was accessing information we were given or asking an associate for help. A challenge was there was a lot of slow time when the interns didn't have much to do, so making yourself useful or finding other tasks to do was very important.