Blaine E. Grimes Summer Grant Recipient

Tibila Belmesaga
Accounting Intern
Ohio Wesleyan University Accounting Department, Delaware, Ohio, USA

From May 20 to August 14, 2009, I worked part-time (8:30 a.m. – noon) in the accounting department at Ohio Wesleyan University. As an intern, I worked mainly under the supervision of the loan officer, but I also work with the employees in charge of accounts payable.

My duties under the loan officer included reconciling student loan accounts, processing loans paid in full and sending letters of notification to former students, and performing general office support work. In addition, I helped Accounts Payable open incoming mail from vendors and process invoices (stamped the date of the day and underlined the main sections of the document). All these duties, including those performed under the supervision of the loan officer, were assigned occasionally. Therefore, I spent most of my time in the job filing documents. I filed student loans paperwork and cash disbursement vouchers. I moved boxes containing files from one storage room to another. I also shredded files that are more than five years old. This aspect of the job was the less desirable part of my internship because I was expecting to put in practice the accounting theories I learned during school years.

Nevertheless, I learned the various steps an invoice goes through before being disbursed. These steps are an effective audit trail and an efficient internal control tool. I also acquired valuable transferable skills; I learn the standard behavior expected in the work place. I enhance my communication and interpersonal skills.

The $200 Blaine E. Grimes Summer Grant I received was very useful. It helped cover my transportation expense and lunch for the period of the internship. I am grateful to have been a recipient.