Spring brings warmer weather, longer days and blooming flowers. But for the accounting professional, spring brings tax season.Lacie Fink, junior accounting major, is currently working at Horne LLP, an accounting firm in Jackson, Tennessee, to gain experience during tax season.
Tax accountants work around the clock from the start of tax season in January until April 15 to ensure that the Internal Revenue Service collects and refunds money as needed. The hours are long, and extra help is often needed during tax season.
“At Horne, my co-workers and bosses are very patient, kind and fun to work with, even in this stressful season,” Fink said. “They encourage me to further develop my accounting skills by helping me to find what I am comfortable with and in turn I am better able to be a part of the strong team dynamic.”
While Fink is gaining valuable experience working through tax season, she is still a full-time student at Union. Fink is currently taking 19 semester hours and working 16 hours at Horne LLP. Six of the 19 hours count as internship credit hours.
According to Fink, time management is key to getting everything done. She has a routine that she follows to maintain her busy schedule.
“It’s tough, but I’ve learned to manage it,” Fink said. “I make check lists, reduce socializing time, and when I am working on homework, I set a timer to go off every 20 minutes to make sure I am staying on track.”
Despite the long hours and heavy course load, Fink loves working for Horne LLP and appreciates the beneficial work experience she is receiving outside the classroom.
“The most rewarding part of working at an accounting firm is definitely the experience I’m getting and the variety of work I’m learning to do from professionals. It’s invaluable training that you just can’t get in a classroom,” Fink said.
Fink highly encourages younger accounting students to get internships during tax season if they can.
“It makes your resume stand out even more than your GPA can for future jobs,” Fink said. “You’ll learn and retain information on a deeper level at an internship than in your classes, the income is great and you’re preparing yourself for a smoother transition to post-grad life.”
