Hannah Board

I applied for the TVCA finance internship to deepen my understanding of how large-scale funds are managed, gain valuable real-world insight into public finance, and enhance my analytical abilities in preparation for a future career in finance. As someone who has grown up in Darlington, I am personally invested in the transformation of the Tees Valley area. I was excited to join the organisation that drives investment and creates a positive impact across the region.  

Throughout the internship, I have been entrusted with a variety of tasks that significantly improved my financial data analysis and reporting skills. I supported the finance team by performing tasks such as invoice tracking, bank reconciliations, and matching reversals with invoices. I am particularly proud of the progress I have made in Excel, including the use of pivot tables to consolidate budgets and expenses, track variances, and produce forecasts, to clearly present data to management.  Additionally, I was fortunate to work with the Teesside International Airport Finance team, where I gained experience of private sector financial reporting, processing sales and purchase invoices.  

I have attended numerous meetings, including an audit compliance meeting with EY, the Youth Guarantee Trailblazer programme and ‘The Engine Room’ project. The EY meeting was especially valuable, aligning with my interest in audit, and providing insight into the expectations and regulations from one of the ‘Big Four’ accounting firms. Other meetings highlighted how the TVCA collaborates effectively across departments to deliver successful projects that meet financial goals and cater to a variety of stakeholder needs.  

Advancing into my second year of university, this internship has been invaluable in connecting academic concepts taught at university, like accruals, prepayments and budgeting with practical experience. My time management, teamwork and communication skills have all been strengthened, preparing me to excel in both my studies and future employment.   

After university, I am eager to build a career in finance, potentially within either the public or private sector. I hope to obtain a graduate role and work towards attaining chartership in accounting, granting me various opportunities across the finance sector. This internship has laid a strong foundation for my future and has equipped me with the skills and confidence to thrive in a fast-paced, challenging finance environment.