Jade Le Hugh shares her transformative experience as a corporate accounting intern at Hilltop Holdings, detailing her responsibilities, the skills she developed, and the importance of ethical practices in accounting.
Internships can be daunting, especially for students stepping into the professional world for the first time. Jade Le Hugh, a corporate accounting intern at Hilltop Holdings, reflects on her journey, the challenges she faced, and the skills she acquired during her time at the company.
When Jade first started her internship at Hilltop Holdings, she was filled with anxiety and uncertainty. Despite having completed complex accounting problems in her academic career, she worried about her ability to perform in a real-world setting. However, she made a commitment to herself: to ask questions and strive for excellence.
Hilltop Holdings is a financial holding company based in Dallas, Texas, with subsidiaries including PLS Capital Bank, Hilltop Securities, and Prime Lending. As an intern in the corporate accounting office, Jade was responsible for processing entries from Hilltop Holdings and its subsidiaries, engaging in various business-as-usual (BAU) tasks.
Jade's responsibilities included:
Throughout her internship, Jade became proficient in several accounting platforms, including Oracle, Concur, and FIS. Oracle was particularly crucial for booking journal entries, while Concur was used for managing invoices.
Working with fixed assets allowed Jade to gain a deeper understanding of accounting processes, particularly managerial accounting. She reflected on her academic learning, noting how seeing assets transition from raw materials to retirement provided practical insights that textbooks alone could not offer.
Jade's academic background at the University of Dallas played a significant role in her internship success. As a business undergraduate enrolled in a 4+1 program for a master's in accounting, she had taken various accounting courses that equipped her with essential knowledge and skills. The university's emphasis on critical thinking and problem-solving prepared her to tackle real-world challenges effectively.
One of the key influences on Jade's approach to her internship was Alexander Havard's book, Virtuous Leadership. This book emphasized the importance of self-leadership and setting a personal standard of excellence. Although Jade was not in a formal leadership position, she applied these principles to her work, striving to maintain high standards in her tasks.
Jade's internship exceeded her expectations in many ways. She received an official offer to remain with the Hilltop accounting team, which was a pleasant surprise. Her responsibilities increased, and she began training on more complex tasks, such as month-end close entries and property tax forms.
Jade acknowledged the ethical challenges present in the accounting field, referencing notorious scandals like Enron and Worldcom. She emphasized the importance of internal controls, particularly the segregation of duties, to prevent fraud. At Hilltop, she observed how her team maintained these controls, ensuring that no single individual had unchecked power over financial processes.
Throughout her internship, Jade developed not only technical skills but also interpersonal skills. She became more confident in her communication abilities and learned to approach challenges with a problem-solving mindset rather than frustration.
Jade recognized areas for improvement, particularly in managing her reactions to setbacks. She aimed to view challenges as puzzles to solve rather than sources of irritation.
Jade Le Hugh's internship at Hilltop Holdings was a transformative experience that enhanced her technical knowledge and personal development. She learned the importance of ethical practices in accounting and the value of continuous learning. As she looks forward to her future with Hilltop, she remains committed to excellence in her work, reflecting her belief that one's work is a direct reflection of their character.
