JAZEHL VALDEZ

The Perfect Blend:

HOW MY PWC INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE AND
COFFEE HELPED ME DEVELOP AS AN ACCOUNTANT

Crafting the perfect blend $12

Discovering the art of blending $13

Building relationships $10

Achieving the perfect balance $17

 1: Crafting the perfect
blend

Applying for an internship at Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC)

was akin to finding the perfect blend of coffee - it required
patience, dedication, and a keen eye for quality. From the
moment I submitted my application on November 23, 2022, I
knew that I was embarking on a journey that would require
perseverance and attention to detail. When I received an
invitation to take an online assessment exam for the internship
position the following day, it was like the aroma of freshly
brewed coffee tantalizing my senses. The thrill of receiving
notification of my passing results on November 25, 2022 was
soon tempered by the news that the Audit and Assurance
department internship positions were unavailable - it was like
discovering that my favorite coffee shop was out of my
preferred roast.

Undeterred, I continued to seek

out other opportunities, much like
a coffee connoisseur exploring

PwC various blends and origins. But as

fate would have it, a good friend
invited me to apply with a group
my dream company - for PwC, and I decided to submit
much like how a coffee another application on December
enthusiast has their
8, 2022. With a stroke of luck, I was
preferred coffee shop
informed on December 13, 2022
that they can't wait to
that there were open slots for the
try out.
Audit and Assurance department -
it was like discovering a new
specialty coffee shop with the
perfect roast and flavor profile.
 1: Crafting the perfect
blend
On January 4, 2023, after a successful
interview, I was offered the position of
External Audit Intern - it was like being
handed a cup of expertly brewed
coffee that exceeded my
expectations.

The day before my official start on January 23, 2023, I had the
chance to meet some of my co-interns, many of whom were my
fellow students from De La Salle University (DLSU). Like different
types of coffee beans, we all had our unique backgrounds and
strengths that we brought to the table. Despite the hybrid, mostly
online work setup due to the pandemic, I was determined to forge
connections and learn as much as possible from the talented
professionals at PwC, much like how different coffee blends can
complement each other and create a harmonious flavor profile.
2: Discovering
2: Discovering the
the
art of
art of blending
blending
My first engagement was with
AG&P Philippines. Atlantic Gulf
and Pacific (AG&P) Philippines is
a subsidiary of AG&P, a global
energy solutions company
headquartered in Singapore.
AG&P Philippines is focused on
providing engineering,
procurement, construction, and
fabrication services to industries
such as oil and gas, power,
mining, and others.

As part of the engagement team

for AG&P, I was excited to
discover the art of blending in
the audit process. It was my first
time being involved in a fieldwork
and witnessing the audit process
firsthand. Working with my co-
interns Maien and Camille, I was
given various tasks that tested
my knowledge and skills in
accounting. I learned that
auditors need to have attention
to detail, focus, and the ability to
manage time effectively,
especially during busy season.
2: Discovering
2: Discovering the
the However, what made this
experience even more

art of
art of blending
blending special was meeting my
managers, who warmly
welcomed us to the
team. Their guidance and
support helped us
navigate the challenges
of auditing and made the
experience even more
enjoyable. We were
under the supervision of
Kuya Tymon and he is
one of the most
remarkable person I met
at PwC. It was inspiring to
see how they handled
difficult situations with
grace and composure,
and it motivated me to
work harder and strive
for excellence.
Overall, my internship experience
with AG&P has been a valuable
experience, allowing me to learn
and grow as an individual and as a
professional. The associates have
been very nuce to us, even giving
us breads and drinking
convenience store coffee with us.
This experience became my
stepping stone as I ventured into
more challenging engagements
later on. Through this journey, I
discovered the art of blending, not
just in auditing but also in building
relationships with my co-interns,
associates and managers. I am
grateful for the opportunity to be
part of a team that values
teamwork, professionalism, and
personal growth.
 3: Building
relationships

Ecossential Foods Corporation is a

leading coffee distributor in the
Philippines. The company is
committed to providing high-
quality coffee products and
services to its customers while
promoting sustainability and social
responsibility. Ecossential Foods
offers a wide range of coffee
products, including single-origin
coffee, blends, and specialty
coffee, sourced from different
parts of the world. The company
also offers coffee machines,
February 22, 2023 marks the start equipment, and accessories to
of my engagement with the client businesses and individuals.
together with my senior associate,
Ate Toni, and associate, Ate Nica.
It was my first time meeting both
of them that day, however, I am
quite familiar with Ate Toni as I
have been assisting her on her
other engagements prior to this
whenever I have free time. I can
say that my time with Kopiko has
been one of the major events that
comprise my internship
experience.

On my first day on the field, Ate

Toni taught me how to use Aura
and Connect, the audit platforms
of PwC. I was also taught how to
properly communicate with the
clients as I will be responsible for
doing most of the onsite works. I
was excited to be part of the team
that will audit Ecossential Foods
Corp., the major distributor of
Kopiko in the Philippines.
 3: Building
relationships
It was my first time learning how to
select samples from different
financial statement line items and
also my first time to perform the
test of details. I learned how to be
independent on my own because
right after my first day, I was the
one responsible for reporting to the
client’s office at least three days a
week. I was able to form bonds with
the office staff and I was able to
manage working without
supervision.

As an example of the things I

did independently was
performing the testing for
employee payroll, selecting
samples for cost of sales, and
vouching a lot of other
financial line items. With the
help of Ate Toni and Ate Nica,
I was able to learn how to
blend in and build
relationships that stand the
test of time. They guided me
on how to communicate
effectively with the client and
how to identify the key risks
that need to be addressed in
the audit engagement. I
learned a lot from them and I
am grateful for their warm
welcome to the team.

Overall, my experience with Ecossential Foods Corp. was not only about
auditing their financial statements but also about building relationships
that last a lifetime. I learned that it is important to work collaboratively
with others, to communicate effectively, and to be independent at the
same time. It was a great learning experience and it made me more
excited about my future career in the field of auditing.
4: Achieving
4: Achieving the
the
perfect balance
perfect balance
During my internship at PwC, I learned a lot
of technical skills related to auditing, such
as using audit software like Aura and
Connect, selecting samples, performing test
of details, and vouching financial statement
line items. I also learned how to be
independent and manage my workload
without constant supervision. Additionally, I
gained insights into the corporate culture of
PwC and the importance of building
relationships with clients and colleagues.
Overall, this internship experience has given
me a better understanding of what it takes
to be a successful auditor, and I believe that
this experience has strengthened my skills
and knowledge in accounting and auditing. I
now have a better appreciation for the
importance of attention to detail,
communication skills, and the ability to
work independently.

Looking ahead, I think that this

experience has helped me to
solidify my future career goals. I
am more motivated to pursue a
career in auditing, and I believe
that the skills and knowledge I
have gained during this
internship will be valuable in
Lastly, I was able to apply what I achieving this goal. I also
learned from school in a practical appreciate the importance of
setting, which was extremely building and maintaining strong
valuable. The internship allowed me relationships with clients and
to see the relevance of my colleagues, and I believe that
academic studies and how they this will be crucial in my future
translate into real-world work. I am success in the industry.
grateful for the opportunity to have
gained such a practical experience,
which I believe will be beneficial for
my future endeavors.