One of the many voices that may get overlooked within an accounting firm would be that of the interns. They are like unspoken heroes here at High Rock Accounting. The tasks that they help our team with and the culture they add bring to the office speaks to the added value our interns bring. We want to give them a voice and share how cloud accounting has helped mold their experience within the industry thus far. Please enjoy Garrett Staker’s story:
“In August of 2018, I had a life-changing professor that understood cloud accounting. All of the homework assignments and tests were completed online. Even though we met in class every week, the professor had us practice online as well. Many students questioned why the accounting course was fully online, yet we had to attend the class in person. But reflecting on this experience, I realized that my professor provided an environment to learn and to prepare us for our future in accounting. Practicing online and then gathering together to discuss our experiences in class helped with rapid growth and developing confidence with standard accounting software. While developing confidence with all of the software we use, I would learn a skill, apply it, and then afterward review and discuss the process so it would stick.
So, what does cloud accounting mean for the intern who is just beginning their career in accounting? Interns are much like clay, ready to be shaped and formed into fantastic accountants. Optimization of cloud accounting simplifies the “grunt work” of bookkeeping. This means the intern is less overwhelmed at the beginning with the overall accounting experience. Now the focus can be less about the basics and more on specifics that are needed to perform the job with attention to detail. Since cloud accounting is paperless, there is no need to worry about an intern losing a physical copy of the paperwork.
The intern is responsible for developing an understanding of not only accounting and the basic principles but also mastering technology. When I first started at High Rock Accounting, we used an application called Trainual. This helped me learn the daily tasks and apps associated with those tasks. Developing a mastery of a suite of software helps increase productivity and reduces the stress of being put on the spot when a client has questions about that software. Training yourself to be flexible on different types of software is a significant benefit as well because there is an abundance of software that can benefit your client depending on business size and industry.
As a kid, if anyone asked me about what I wanted to be when I grew up, I never would have said an accountant. Because the stereotype of accounting is you never get to talk to people. You are always sitting at your desk sipping on coffee. You are doing math problems and working magic within a company that no one understands all day. The process of understanding mathematical concepts has never been a strong suit of mine. As a result I always stayed away from accounting. It was not until college that I realized my stereotypical accountant that I had imagined is far from what accountants do, except the sipping coffee part.
Cloud accounting means access to the most current information to a business. Communication with clients is vital for accurate accounting. Understanding the entire company and providing solutions for questions a business owner might have is a priority as we transition into the cloud. Easy access to secure private documents between the client and the preparer is easily provided through cloud applications. This means fewer trips for tax paperwork and less of a headache for the client during the busy tax season. And if the client is interested, cloud accounting gives access to up to date books whenever the client needs.
To put it simply, my experience with cloud accounting has been natural. It makes sense in my mind that all of the data we need would be online and secured. Because of cloud accounting, I have the opportunity to learn in the classroom and apply it to High Rock. At High Rock, we are progressing towards the future of accounting one day at a time.”
Written by:
One of the many voices that may get overlooked within an accounting firm would be that of the interns. They are like unspoken heroes here at High Rock Accounting. The tasks that they help our team with and the culture they add bring to the office speaks to the added value our interns bring. We want to give them a voice and share how cloud accounting has helped mold their experience within the industry thus far. Please enjoy Garrett Staker’s story:
“In August of 2018, I had a life-changing professor that understood cloud accounting. All of the homework assignments and tests were completed online. Even though we met in class every week, the professor had us practice online as well. Many students questioned why the accounting course was fully online, yet we had to attend the class in person. But reflecting on this experience, I realized that my professor provided an environment to learn and to prepare us for our future in accounting. Practicing online and then gathering together to discuss our experiences in class helped with rapid growth and developing confidence with standard accounting software. While developing confidence with all of the software we use, I would learn a skill, apply it, and then afterward review and discuss the process so it would stick.
So, what does cloud accounting mean for the intern who is just beginning their career in accounting? Interns are much like clay, ready to be shaped and formed into fantastic accountants. Optimization of cloud accounting simplifies the “grunt work” of bookkeeping. This means the intern is less overwhelmed at the beginning with the overall accounting experience. Now the focus can be less about the basics and more on specifics that are needed to perform the job with attention to detail. Since cloud accounting is paperless, there is no need to worry about an intern losing a physical copy of the paperwork.
The intern is responsible for developing an understanding of not only accounting and the basic principles but also mastering technology. When I first started at High Rock Accounting, we used an application called Trainual. This helped me learn the daily tasks and apps associated with those tasks. Developing a mastery of a suite of software helps increase productivity and reduces the stress of being put on the spot when a client has questions about that software. Training yourself to be flexible on different types of software is a significant benefit as well because there is an abundance of software that can benefit your client depending on business size and industry.
As a kid, if anyone asked me about what I wanted to be when I grew up, I never would have said an accountant. Because the stereotype of accounting is you never get to talk to people. You are always sitting at your desk sipping on coffee. You are doing math problems and working magic within a company that no one understands all day. The process of understanding mathematical concepts has never been a strong suit of mine. As a result I always stayed away from accounting. It was not until college that I realized my stereotypical accountant that I had imagined is far from what accountants do, except the sipping coffee part.
Cloud accounting means access to the most current information to a business. Communication with clients is vital for accurate accounting. Understanding the entire company and providing solutions for questions a business owner might have is a priority as we transition into the cloud. Easy access to secure private documents between the client and the preparer is easily provided through cloud applications. This means fewer trips for tax paperwork and less of a headache for the client during the busy tax season. And if the client is interested, cloud accounting gives access to up to date books whenever the client needs.
To put it simply, my experience with cloud accounting has been natural. It makes sense in my mind that all of the data we need would be online and secured. Because of cloud accounting, I have the opportunity to learn in the classroom and apply it to High Rock. At High Rock, we are progressing towards the future of accounting one day at a time.”