Spotlight on Accordion’s 2022 Summer Interns
Accordion Interns: Making Their Mark
This past summer, Accordion was lucky to welcome thirteen interns across all practice areas and internal teams. These interns hailed from top schools across the country, with most having been recruited through Matriculate: an organization that empowers high-achieving, low-income students through an innovative near-peer, virtual advising model. Accordion’s ongoing partnership with Matriculate enables us to target a more diverse group of talented candidates as we double-down on our firm’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Throughout the summer, we exposed the interns to the challenges facing private equity-backed CFOs and the realities of working in a high-growth, entrepreneurial environment. Between rigorous client engagements and weekly lunch & learns with leaders across the firm, our program embraced the spirit of “coach and be coached”; the interns eagerly absorbed the ins-and-outs of our business as we absorbed their positive energy and genuine curiosity.
This class of interns worked hard, played hard, and left a permanent mark on our firm. But don’t just take it from us; let’s hear what they have to say as they reflect on their summers at Accordion:
Q: What were some key learnings and takeaways from your projects and/or client engagements?
I gained exposure to 13-week cash flows and cash flow forecasting, and it was cool working day-to-day with the client to better understand their company processes. And in addition to mastering quite a few Excel shortcuts and formulas, I learned a ton about the PE industry overall.”
I joined two different engagements preparing and uplifting financial statements, learning about the IPO and S-1 filing process, working on financial statement performance, and just learning about finance and consulting in general. None of it would have been possible without the team’s kindness, willingness to teach, and eagerness to invest in me and my growth. ”
The team exposed me to and trusted me with so many new projects and systems during my internship experience; I learned how to effectively utilize Excel, Power BI, and Power Query. I even became a Certified Model Builder in Anaplan.”
As part of the Turnaround & Restructuring group in Chicago, I had the opportunity to learn so much about restructuring and financial due diligence. Between that and exploring a whole new city, my internship experience was amazing.”
I made it a goal for myself to reach a certain level of proficiency in Excel (and I met that goal!). But really, I was just excited to commute from Brooklyn to Manhattan every day knowing that I’d leave the office with new knowledge — whether it was a deeper understanding of financial analysis, knowing how to build and update complex models, or learning about a new industry. ”
Q: What surprised you most about your summer at Accordion?
I had assumed that most of my internship learning would happen alongside my manager, mentor, and buddy, but I was surprised to learn from other members of the TES (Transaction Execution Services) Team and individuals from other practice areas as well (even though mentoring me wasn’t their responsibility on paper).”
Accordion emphasizes the idea that bringing a stellar attitude and willingness to learn is one of the most essential parts of the job. Once I internalized that, I was able to go outside my comfort zone and be okay with making mistakes — which allowed me to absorb as much as I could and get the most out of my summer.”
What surprised me most was the constant interaction between practice areas. I was working in Strat Fin, but it was great to learn from the FAAS (Financial Accounting Advisory Services) team members that were on my project as well. Beyond that, Accordion really is exactly what it claims to be. A lot of firms advertise that they have smart, collaborative, and fun people, but that isn’t always the case. Here, it’s the truth.”
I was surprised by the amount of responsibility I was given — from constructing deliverables for key executive meetings, to sending out weekly summaries, to maintaining workstream updates, to assisting with change management tactics. The team both guided me and trusted me, and I’m grateful for that.”
I was surprised by the variety of work that’s possible within the PE consulting space, from pre-deal diligence to integration and carve-outs (and everything in between). Other than that, I was just shocked by how willing everybody at Accordion is to sit down with you, teach you, and really get to know you as a person. They identify where you can excel and find the areas where you can add value to a project.”
Before this summer, Excel felt like an intimidating and heavy program. Now, it’s something I can use with confidence; I’ve even found myself making spreadsheets in my personal life, which I never thought I’d do. Aside from that, I was just surprised by the team’s unwavering friendliness and patience, as well as by the dynamic nature of the engagements. I got to dip my toe in so many distinct projects and industries.”
Q: How would you describe Accordion’s culture?
The culture and aura of support at this firm is simply unmatched. People are so willing to connect me to opportunities and accept me for who I am. It's a growth company, so naturally sometimes people are hard to get a hold of, but they are always willing to give you their time and advice.”
Accordion is a company fit for anyone no matter where someone may be in their career. The upward potential for someone looking to grow is seemingly limitless as those more senior are always willing to teach and welcome curiosity. Furthermore, the dynamic nature of each project ensures that you must constantly be growing, stripping away any possibility of boredom regardless of your experience level.”
Accordion is a workplace environment that demands responsibility, supports an entrepreneurial spirit, and fosters strong teamwork with colleagues who are genuinely invested in both your personal and professional growth.”
Q: Do you have a favorite memory from the summer or an achievement that makes you proud?
Nick and Atul weren’t kidding when they said this was the 'better way to work in finance.' It’s a strange feeling to be excited about the bumpy bus ride to the office and to look forward to clicking on that early morning Zoom link. But at Accordion, I felt entirely accepted for who I am, and that’s what made this summer incredibly transformative and meaningful.”
My favorite memory at Accordion has to be spending the Day of Service with my team. It was such a wonderful opportunity to spend time with my teammates — who had already become my friends — while supporting a good cause. It was so much fun, and it made me feel proud of where I was interning.”
For me, getting certified in Anaplan was a big milestone. But outside of work, my favorite memory was flying in from Boston to bowl with the CFO Tech Team in Philly. That was such a fun way to bond and meet my colleagues that I hadn’t gotten to meet in person.”
We had so many great times this summer, but my favorite memory has to be 'Pitch and Putt' with the other interns. It was a ton of fun. ”
