Accounting is more than just crunching numbers, and FIU student Alec Sanchez’s summer internship in the capital proved just that. He served as a Start program internat one of the “Big 4” accounting firms—PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)—whose services range from audit and assurance to tax and consulting, spanning fields from cybersecurity to forensics.
Adding dynamism to their internship program, PwC also sends interns to “client” sites for several weeks to gain experience in client interactions; make new personal and professional connections; discover the scope of opportunity accounting has to offer; and become learned, adaptable players in their field. Alec was placed at the Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF), which serves as a professional development pipeline for young Latinos, placing them in positions for leadership while fostering cultural pride.
On a bright D.C. morning, we headed to the HHF headquarters to meet with Alec’s supervisor and longtime FIU champion, Jose Antonio “Tony” Tijerino, CEO and President of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. We later met up with Alec to discuss his dual internship experience.
*This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Alec Sanchez, FIU accounting student and Summer 2016 D.C. intern
