An employee reveals what it's like to work in a Big 4 accountancy firm.
I’m a Financial Services Audit Co-Op intern, specialising in Collateralised Loan Obligations (CLOs) and Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) at a “Big 4” accountancy firm. I wish I could give more insight into what this actually means, but your guess is as good as mine. Most of my day is spent scrolling on my laptop trying to look busy and asking team members for work on Microsoft Teams. When work does come my way, it usually involves formatting Excel files to match templates already laid out in the system.
I have barely dipped my toe into real audit work. We have had training sessions on tasks like cash testing, but it is hard to properly learn when you only watch someone demonstrate it once rather than practising it yourself. Sometimes I wonder whether these internship roles will even exist in five or ten years. The limited responsibilities I am given now already feel easily automatable by AI.
One thing I cannot fault is the office itself. The facilities are impressive, with kitchens, a canteen, a prayer room, yoga studio, and even a multi-sensory room. My personal favourite is the changing rooms with showers. Sitting at a desk all day makes me restless, so I have started going on lunchtime runs, which would not be possible without them. The games room is popular with other interns too, with pool, table tennis, and even an intern league. The tech is mostly great, although staring at monitors all day has started to strain my eyes, so I am finally giving in and getting glasses.
The working atmosphere is far more relaxed than I expected. Working from home is strongly encouraged and many people use it as much as possible. I am torn on this. It is great that people can structure work around their lives, but as an intern trying to learn, it is hard to build relationships or properly pick things up through Teams calls. For now, I am aiming to be in the office four days a week. Dress code is casual too. I usually wear a shirt and chinos, but most people opt for polos, runners, and even the occasional football jersey.
Fridays are typically work-from-home days and I really enjoy them. I will often grab lunch, read in the park, or use quiet time to practice guitar or screenwriting. It gives me flexibility to fit in appointments or a gym session and frees up more of my weekend. The best part is closing the laptop at 17:15 and skipping the long commute home. That said, I think this day would lose its appeal if it became the norm rather than the exception.
One of my favourite parts of the internship has been getting to properly experience the city centre. I love the UCD campus, but working in town makes Dublin feel more alive and less like a place I only visit on nights out. Despite complaints that Dublin has nothing to offer, I have found the opposite. Lunchtime spots like Tula on Upper Baggot Street are always packed, and “corporate” Thursday nights have become a fun way to unwind and explore new pubs. Toners has become my current favourite, with McCafferty’s a close second.
During training, HR emphasised how much the company cares about interns. While no one has been unkind, it does sometimes feel like we are more of a responsibility than a priority. I understand why. Teaching interns takes time, and it is often quicker for experienced staff to do the work themselves. Still, this makes it hard to form connections outside the intern group. It also feels like many people here chose this career for stability rather than passion.
There are bright spots. Every Wednesday our team holds a bake-off where we spend fifteen minutes eating, chatting, and voting on the best dessert. It is a small tradition, but it genuinely builds community. There is also playful rivalry between the two interns on the team, although I try to avoid turning it into anything too competitive.
I do not want this to sound like self-pity. I am grateful for the opportunity and for the experience. I am also conscious of how lucky business interns are to be paid, unlike many students in healthcare or teaching placements who work unpaid while contributing far more directly to society. That perspective keeps me grounded, even on slower days staring at spreadsheets.
At this stage, the internship has been less about mastering technical skills and more about learning what full-time professional life actually feels like. That, in itself, has been a valuable lesson.