Internship Spotlight: Colin Dempsey, Sey Tax

Colin Dempsey '26 BSBA (Finance & Personal and Family Financial Planning Minor) interned at Sey Tax in Dublin, Ireland.

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

During my internship at Sey Tax, I have primarily researched and assisted in U.S. tax compliance
of our clientele. The biggest projects I have worked on are estate transfers of non-U.S. citizens
who possess U.S. assets. This process begins with collecting necessary information including the
deceased person’s will, probate, and summary of financial assets. Using this information, I
complete a 706NA form, an IRS document that must be filed for estate transfers of
nonresident aliens (a non-US citizen). Learning the ins and outs of the estate transfer process
has been extremely rewarding and has furthered my knowledge of wealth management, the
industry I want to enter after college.

What did you find most challenging about your internship?

The most challenging aspect of my internship has been adjusting to getting new co-workers’
week to week. Sey Tax hosts a variety of international interns throughout the summer, and
they often “apprentice” for a short period of time, 2 or 3 weeks. The revolving door of interns
during my time here has exposed me to a variety of cultures and language backgrounds. While
this acculturation has been extremely fruitful, each week can look very different for the more
long-term interns.

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

Interning abroad exposes you to other work cultures, which are typically a little more laid
back and egalitarian than the US. This change of pace can lead to much more autonomy in
your own work and teaches you how to find a routine that works for you. The more open
work culture has taught me how to ask more questions and engage more closely with my
boss, who is very apt to mentor and help me learn.

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

Project management, financial analysis, and my Excel coursework have been most applicable
in my internship. Eller has improved my ability to work closely with a team while also
managing my individual projects and schedule. Problem solving and independent research
have also been a huge part of my day to day, skills that are often overlooked when going
through your courses. Most importantly, Eller has taught me how to show up with a positive,
engaging, and coachable attitude each day - this is the key to being successful at any job.