BEYOND THE CAMPUS: REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE AS A DELOITTE AUDIT INTERN
with Mary Kate Donohoe
Mary Kate Donohoe Shares her Experience as a Deloitte Audit Summer Intern
Mary Kate Donohoe is a Business (BESS) student at Trinity College Dublin. Her desire to gain experience working in a large firm led her to apply for Deloitte's summer internship. As an intern in the Consumer Technology Business (CTB) unit of the Audit department, Mary Kate enjoys problem-solving and working with a diverse range of clients. She appreciates Deloitte's culture of growth and learning, which align with her career aspirations.
My name is Mary Kate Donohoe, and I am originally from Wexford. I study Business (BESS) at Trinity College Dublin and have spent the last two summers as an intern in a local South-East accounting firm. I applied for the summer internship as I knew I wanted to experience working in a large firm, and after speaking with representatives from Deloitte, such as Dylan Maguire and Ellen McKimm, I felt that Deloitte’s culture and prioritisation of growth and learning would suit me.
This summer, I was working as an intern in the Consumer Technology Business (CTB) unit of the Audit department. Auditors work with companies to review their financial statements ensuring that they portray an accurate view of the financial position of the company. This work is critical in instilling trust and confidence in capital markets. I chose this business unit as I enjoy problem-solving and thought it would be a good opportunity to see how different types of businesses work. I work in CTB and really enjoy the variety of clients I get to work with, including but not limited to, food and beverage companies, healthcare organisations, and charities.
Towards the end of my summer internship, I worked on intricate engagements, as the company reports in many different countries in relation to the audit. I learned a lot during this project about balancing the needs of the team and knowing when to prioritise more urgent tasks. As this has been a long-running audit and I am new to the engagement, I feel I have been able to bring a fresh set of eyes to the project. Within this engagement, I got the opportunity to work with a large team and learn from many different colleagues.
There are lots of memorable experiences being an intern at Deloitte, both in my work and social life. Apart from Audit work, I also had the opportunity to work with the Growth Marketing department to create Performance Packs for the Irish Olympic team. It was insightful to work within a different department and see how different units in Deloitte work together.
"... I got the opportunity to work with a large team and learn from many different colleagues. "
Bonding and becoming friends with the other interns were one of the most enjoyable aspects of the internship. Deloitte’s intern events, like pub quizzes, treasure hunts, and the summer social, helped in bringing us together. There is a real sense of camaraderie and friendliness, not only among the interns, but with all colleagues you interact with.
Every Wednesday, we had “Educate and Elevate” sessions, which serve as structured learning opportunities for the interns. We have had a variety of sessions helping us to develop new relevant skills, such as professional writing and presentation skills. The most valuable session for me was an AI session where we learned about the AI tools available to us at Deloitte and how to use them effectively.
"...There is a real sense of camaraderie and friendliness, not only among the interns, but with all colleagues you interact with. "
Aside from the formal learning, I found the management to be incredibly understanding and encouraging of my development. My project director took the time to sit down and explain certain aspects of the company and regulations to ensure I not only understand what I was doing, but why I was doing it and how it contributes to the overall audit.
My advice for future interns would be to try to absorb as much as you can. Being an intern at Deloitte gives you the opportunity to learn from experts in their fields. Even when you are on a call and feel you can't contribute anything, attentively listening and taking in the information is incredibly beneficial. Finally, ask lots of questions; everyone at Deloitte is so helpful and will take the time to explain anything you don’t understand. I would highly recommend applying to be an intern at Deloitte.
"...everyone at Deloitte is so helpful and will take the time to explain anything you don’t understand."
Mary Kate's internship at Deloitte has offered her valuable professional and social experiences. She has enjoyed both the challenging audit work and the camaraderie among the interns. The structured learning sessions and supportive management have significantly enhanced her skills. As she continues her academic journey, Mary Kate has gained experiences during her internship that will greatly benefit her future career. For those interested in similar opportunities, visit the Deloitte Ireland careers pages to learn about upcoming graduate roles and start your own professional journey.
