A real audit experience – Zhou Wanting, Audit intern

(Image: Picture of Zhou Wanting, 3rd from the right, with other fellow interns at Mazars in Singapore office)

Hello! I am Wanting, 20, and I’m entering my second year at Nanyang Technological University. Here is my internship experience at Mazars in Singapore.

How Mazars caught my eye

I first heard about Mazars at the Nanyang Business School Audit & Assurance Team’s sharing session last year. I still remember the event vividly, where the firm really stood out to me, among all the others.  

Mark Chew and Iris Goh spoke about the myths of the Audit profession. I could tell that Mark and Iris were easy-going people, a good reflection of the company’s open and young culture.

I recall Mark revealing candidly that Mazars has a rather flat hierarchy, and any opinions or suggestions are heard. At that point in time, my interest was piqued. I made a mental note to apply for an internship at Mazars, in addition to the Big 4 firms.

While I was offered an interview by a Big 4 firm, I’m happy that I went with Mazars. I give myself a pat on the back for having made this smart decision.

A taste of the audit profession

Throughout my 3-month internship, I had the opportunity to truly experience the life of an auditor – except for the long hours.

I covered every single step in the audit process – from acceptance, planning, fieldwork to completion. It was eye-opening to audit a diverse range of companies namely a shoe wholesaler and an investment holding company. I am beyond grateful for the precious opportunities that Mazars has provided me throughout my time here.

Truth be told, this whole journey has exceeded my expectations. Coming in as an intern, I expected to gain first-hand exposure in audit, but I never anticipated that I would be given the chance to try everything. This experience has helped me to see whether a career in audit would be the ideal path for me.

Perks of working at Mazars

Shoutout to the HR team for the “Wellness HIghlights” initiative!  Throughout the month of June, we were able to log off early at 4pm every Friday. And I really enjoyed the Hi-Tea and the firmwide movie night.

I also like that I had the privilege to work from home two days a week. I’m thankful that my manager is flexible about our work arrangement.

It is difficult to describe Mazars in one word, but if I were to do so, I would use “family”. All my seniors are so friendly and caring. They are always there for me, never failing to answer my questions patiently.

A blend of technical skills and industry exposure

Learning to use the intelligent audit platform, DataSnipper has to be the most interesting skill to come out of my internship. It is a very efficient way to perform casting, ensure internal consistency, and cross-reference amounts with prior year figures.

Next, the sampling tool! I was fascinated by the fact that you could obtain the exact number of samples required for the tests of details by simply entering a few parameters. Mastering these tools definitely helped me to focus on high-level tasks that required more critical thinking.

I was also fortunate to partake in a Property Plant and Equipment checks at a client’s office and a stocktake at another client’s restaurant. These on the ground experiences helped me to understand the importance of being flexible and always be prepared for the unexpected - we spent two hours stocktaking due to the sheer amount of inventory to note. I will never forget the heat radiating from the noodles boiling behind me while the outlet in-charge was weighing pork belly!

Words of wisdom for audit interns

First, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Without voicing out your questions, your seniors will just assume you can complete your assignments from the get-go.  You may risk making careless mistakes and end up leaving a bad impression.

Remember, as an intern, you are here to learn. Always have a positive attitude! After completing your assigned work, take the initiative to ask for new tasks. After all, you would want to get the most out of the internship, right?

Finally, the things you learnt in school are different from real industry practice. With an increasing emphasis on soft skills, performing well at work goes beyond theoretical knowledge. It is important to have an open mind and embrace picking up new skills on the job. As audit is largely team-based, you will also need to work well with people from different backgrounds.

Final thoughts

Mazars is indeed an employer of choice. As one of the largest accounting and advisory firms in Singapore, Mazars has the means to groom and train future professionals like you. The firm has been awarded “HR Asia’s Best Companies to Work for” for five consecutive years, which is a remarkable feat! I am positive that Mazars will help you to maximise your potential and reach greater heights.

For internships opportunities at Mazars in Singapore, please refer to this link.