Personal Development Plan for an Accounting Student Internship Program

This assignment presents a personal development plan created by an accounting student, outlining the benefits of internships and setting both short-term and long-term career goals. The student, a level 6 accounting student, aims to gain practical industry experience through internships, focusing on financial matters, business structure preparation, and embracing new technology. The plan details the skills and knowledge gained from the accounting course, including business and accounting skills, and emphasizes the importance of goal setting, self-assessment, and continuous improvement. It also highlights the value of communication, networking, and building a professional resume through internship experiences. The student plans to monitor progress, seek feedback, and participate in seminars to enhance skills and achieve career objectives. The assignment includes references to support the student's approach to career development and internship benefits.

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Management

About the companies
Morgan Hemp is the leading company in South Wales UK that provides accountants and
professional practice across UK. It also provides the necessary forecasting and budgeting
advice across UK that further assist in drawing up business plans. As compare to this, Atkins
& Co is registered member firm found in 2008 by Debbie Atkins. The company has grew
when Sarah Wimmil become co director in 2011. It provides services to small business owner
and tax clients. In addition to two companies, Glamorgan cricket has the objective to use
values that are central to cricket. It helps in increasing the healthy lifestyle, educational
performance as well as encourages people to value and follow cricket.
Benefits of taking internship
I personally believe that employers in the finance industry mostly prefer those students who
have some practical industry experience. From the internship programmes in these
companies, I will be able to look after the financial matters such as wages, book keeping and
raising finance (Karunaratne and Perera, 2019). I will also be able to gain some
understanding regarding preparation of business structures. The ever-changing world of
taxation requires to embrace myself with the latest technology. Therefore, I will get the habit
of keeping myself updated with the latest technology (McKnight and Watson, 2017).
Internships also helps in getting feedback from supervisors of the internship company and
other people who have experience in the field (Madison, Grenci and Bockanic, 2017).
The most significant benefit of internship is the building of initial resume. It also helps in
establishing network during internship (Dommeyer, Gross and Ackerman, 2016). It further
helps in giving the advantage at the time of searching for available position. In addition to
this, communication skill is also developed when a person come in the contact of different
people during internship. Moreover, developing the circle of friends with same field provides
good support at the time of frustration (Gupta, Burns and Schiferl, 2010).
By undertaking the practical experience, it is possible to apply that knowledge in the real
working experience (Brown, 2018). In addition to learning the specific skills, transferrable
skills such as teamwork, proficiency and communication skill is also obtained through
internship (Harrison, 2017). Internship also allows testing the techniques that are learned in
the classroom before going in working world. In addition to this, internship experience makes

a college grade more profitable, which further helps in handle more responsibilities (Bullen,
Kordecki and Capener, 2018).
Qualification audit
I am level 6 student in accounting. Level 6 accounting degree will help in providing the skills
and knowledge required or future working in any organisation. In addition to this, this
qualification also helps in ensuring the development of career that is relevant in level 7
Diplomas. In my future career, I will be eligible to gain the direct entry into several master
degree programmes. At the time of working in any organisation, I will be able to address the
complex problems related to accounting. Level 6 also helps me in gaining the understanding
related to several perspective, and approaches of thought.
Internship offers the chance to work with different clients in the accounting industry by
providing the broader overview of discipline. Working in a practical situation also provides
lots of experience very fast, and give the chance or opportunity to work with exciting and big
brands (Awang, Yusoff, Aziz and Yusof, 2017). In addition to this, I personally believe that it
will also provide the chance to make a recognised person as an expert in accounting field
(Wilson, Mooney and Marrer, 2019).
Personal development plan
Things that are learned from course
From the level 6 course of accounting, I able to gain the skills and knowledge required for
any person in organisation. In addition to this, 6 level accounting has also provided me the
necessary business and accounting skills and knowledge to perform in the workplace as an
accounting technician demonstrating a strong work ethic and professional conduct at all
times.
Goal setting
Firstly, I will set the short term goals so that it will be easy for me to achieve those goals.
Short term goals will be set for specific time limit. I will discuss my doubts as well as
strengths with the person at the time of taking internship (Day and Tosey, 2011). This will
help in increasing my knowledge and skills that will be required in performing the accountant
job (Lejeune et al, 2016). This will also help me in increasing my communication skills. The

interaction with more and more people will help in gaining more knowledge regarding
particular subject (Verney, Holoviak and Winter, 2009).
Reminder for checking actual output with the set goals
After setting the goal, I will set the reminder for every goal which will help me in checking
my performance and bringing necessary improvement (Grit, 2019). This will help in
developing the habit to visit my performance regularly. I will take necessary corrective
actions when I will find any deviation. For example: If I will not be able to understand any
topic, I will discuss it with my fellow friends regarding that problem (Ahmad et al, 2018).
In order to improve my communication skills, I will start participating in seminars and will
work on my weaknesses by taking initiative in class presentation (Gould, 2017). In this way, I
will evaluate my own competencies and strength in the accounting. By knowing the
weaknesses, I will decide the areas of improvement (Scobbie, Dixon and Wyke,
2011).Through the development plan, I will participative in group exercises, as well as
communicate with different people. By matching the skills and exploring options, I will work
on my future goals (Radu, 2017).

References
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Internship Affect Students’ Knowledge, Soft Skills and Personal Quality?. Advanced Science
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Awang, Y., Yusoff, R., Aziz, I.A. and Yusof, Y., 2017. Employers’ Expectations and
Observations on Accounting Interns’ Skills: A Disparity Analysis. Terengganu International
Finance and Economics Journal (TIFEJ), 2(1), pp.36-45.
Brown, H., 2018. The Importance of Pursuing Internship Opportunities. Indigenous
Stewards, 3, pp.18-19.
Bullen, M.L., Kordecki, G.S. and Capener, E.D., 2018. Student Engagement Activities to
Enhance Professional Advancement in Accounting and Business Careers. Journal of
Instructional Pedagogies, 20.
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Day, T. and Tosey, P., 2011. Beyond SMART? A new framework for goal
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Gould, J., 2017. Career development: A plan for action. Nature, 548(7668), pp.489-490.
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Harrison, D., 2017. The Benefits of Constructing an Effective Internship Program. Journal of
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Karunaratne, K. and Perera, N., 2019. Students’ perception on the effectiveness of industrial
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