Over the past six months, I have had the valuable opportunity to complete a cross-functional internship, spending four months in the Finance department and two months in Human Resources. This structured programme allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of how different departments operate within a business and helped me build a solid foundation in both financial processes and HR administration.
During my time with the Finance team, I was actively involved in a range of tasks, including assisting with internal audits and reconciling financial records. I worked closely with team members to review and verify transactions, identify discrepancies, and ensure that all documentation met compliance standards. This hands-on experience helped me develop strong attention to detail, improve my Excel skills, and understand the importance of financial accuracy and accountability within a business setting.
After completing the finance placement, I transitioned to the HR team, where I focused primarily on administrative and data management tasks. My responsibilities included consolidating employee records, cleaning and updating spreadsheets, and ensuring that personnel data was accurate and up to date across different systems. I also supported some general HR processes, such as preparing documentation and assisting with internal reports. This part of the internship gave me insight into the importance of maintaining accurate employee data and highlighted the role of efficient recordkeeping in supporting wider HR functions.
Throughout the internship, I received guidance and feedback from experienced professionals, which helped me grow in confidence and adapt quickly to different work environments. The variety of tasks and the exposure to two key business functions provided a well-rounded experience that has equipped me with transferable skills in organisation, data handling, and cross-departmental collaboration.
Overall, this internship has been a highly rewarding experience, giving me practical exposure to both Finance and HR. It has strengthened my understanding of internal business operations and helped me prepare for the next steps in my career.
Vidya Viswanathan
Finance & HR Internship
