Summer internship at a Chartered Accountants firm

Students of classes 11 and 12 were offered assorted internships related to their streams. Everyone was excited. We were to volunteer our names for the internships. One of these was an internship offered by a chartered accountants firm. We wanted to be a part of it as a few years later we see ourselves earning the privilege to be among its members! Two of us, Chhavi Khurana and Ashween Chandhok, class XI B, were selected for internships there.

The internship programme was planned for four days from 1 to 4 June, 2015 at Muku Associates, a chartered accountants firm. We were very excited and filed with anticipation because we were to experience a ' real office environment'.

We were welcomed by Mr. Mukul K Sharma, head at Muku Associates. We were also given an orientation about computerised accounting. It was a fascinating opportunity to receive a hands-on experience on our laptops, learning how to make entries on Tally a team of experienced chartered accountants!

The first session of the internship was devoted to reinforcing the basic concepts of computerised accounting. Two key merits of computerised accounting highlighted by Mr. Tarun Chadha, partner at Muku Associates were:

SPEED Accounting software processes data and creates reports much faster than manual systems. Calculations are done automatically in software programmes, minimising errors and increasing efficiency. Once the input of data is done, one can create reports literally by pressing a button in a computerised system.

BACKUP All transactions can be saved and backed up, in case of a fire or any other mishap. This is not possible with paper records, unless copies of all pages are preserved. Undoubtedly a tedious and inefficient process.

[gallery link="file"] We also learnt that there are several merits of using accounting softwares like TALLY. Few of them are listed below: 1. Easy maintenance 2. Complete answer to accounting needs 3. Internet support 4. Quick, reliable and user-friendly 5. Numerous language supports

Sitting in an office is altogether a different experience and we felt this when we went there. Tally solves a great deal of manual labour and at the same time, reduces manual work. The job of an accountant involves a lot of paperwork and patience.

We went to work, as it were, for four days and it seemed that the four days ended far too soon! Learning is said to be a continuous process and extends beyond the four walls of a classroom. We got such an opportunity to learn through practice.

We were awarded internship certificates by the firm as they were satisfied by our performance and had full confidence in our capabilities. We heartily look forward to another such golden opportunity.

Chhavi Khurana, Class XI B and Ashween Chandhok, Class XI B.