Mettler Toledo Corporate Finance Internship
By Ivonne Perez ’20
How did you find out about this internship?
I found out about this opportunity after talking to my accounting professor, Ms. Con
rad, in the fall semester, as she worked at Mettler Toledo prior to her time at Wittenberg. I had heard about Mettler Toledo previously due to their size and given that I am from Columbus, but Ms. Conrad was able to get me in contact with the head of the finance internship program.
Was the process of applying for the internship challenging? Were their specific requirements?
The actual application process was not difficult, but it was very time consuming. In September and early October of the fall semester, I dedicated at least three hours every week to applying for as many internships as I could. My parents guided me through the process (they are both in the finance and human resources world, so they knew first-hand the appropriate approach to take) as I updated my resume and wrote tailored cover letters. With little idea of what area of finance I was targeting, I applied to as many internships in Columbus as I could. I went through many phone interviews and in-person interviews, and found out quickly the importance of asking insightful questions and writing personal thank-you emails following the interview. I tried my best to be myself when answering questions, to be honest with the hiring manager regarding where I was at in my career path, and to be confident through the entire process. It was an overwhelming couple of months, but well worth it when the offer came that December.
Did your internship relate to your major and/or field of interest?
Yes, I am a Finance and Political Major with a Justice, Law and Public Policy minor. I wanted to focus last summer on finding an internship catering to my interest in finance. Having a corporate finance opportunity as my first business professional experience shed light on how the textbook world differs from the real world. Mettler Toledo provided a rotational program, which I found incredibly beneficial as I worked for four different departments and was able to contribute to a vast array of projects from many different angles of the organization. After graduation, I would like to find a career in which I can utilize both my understanding of financial analysis and the critical reasoning and logic aspects learned through my political science major.
Describe your internship and duties as an intern.
Throughout my time at MT, I assisted the Treasury, Financial Shared Service Center, Corporate Control and Unit-Level finance divisions with financial analysis and reporting efforts. My rotations were about three weeks with each team, so I was able to work on many different types of projects. I worked with various unit accounts to create general ledger journal entries and complete account reconciliations. During month-end close, I was also able to analyze product line rebate numbers for partnering wholesale agencies and calculate monthly accrual and update currency exposure historical data. My favorite projects were the ones I could “run with” and analyze from start to finish. While this is difficult in a fast-paced setting, I gained so much experience with Excel and various information management systems. I found these projects to be so interesting as everything I had learned in class was applied in a real setting.
At the beginning of my internship, I was assigned a three-month long project in which I executed a study concerning what is most valued and important in a work environment taking into account generational differences. At the end of my internship, I presented my findings to an executive review board which was so nerve-wracking but also so rewarding! I learned so much about the importance of confidence when presenting, and I gained such valuable public speaking experience.
What was your favorite part of the internship? Your least favorite?
I loved my time at Mettler Toledo. Everyone was incredibly welcoming and willing to teach and provide guidance. I was never afraid to ask questions. I also learned so much from individuals who were interns in the past, and I look up to them immensely. With such a collaborative and friendly culture of individuals, Mettler not only made me feel comfortable but also gave me the platform to learn as much as I could in a mere three months.
One of my favorite parts of the internship was the global setting. Mettler has units all over the world, and when I worked in the Corporate Control division I was responsible for directly contacting unit controllers from different countries. In a given day, I would correspond with controllers from Japan, France, Taiwan, Australia, and the UK (just as examples). As someone who has only traveled outside the United States once, this was so fascinating.
The only difficult part of the internship was if I had down-time as I waited for feedback. Every intern will probably experience this at some point, and I found that it was important for me to take initiative and find a way to learn more despite that lull. I tried to research more about aspects of the business that I did not fully understand, and I would read over company materials simply as a refresher during that time.
My time at Mettler Toledo provided invaluable business professional and financial reporting experience that I will always cherish.
Would you recommend having an internship during the semester or over the summer?
Absolutely! It is essential that you at least have some idea of what you will be getting into after graduation. Having an internship is just as much about finding what you do like as what you do not like. Having experience applying to jobs, networking, and working in your respective field prepares you even further for the future.
Did your internship supervisor happen to be a Wittenberg alumni?
Yes. I had two supervisors throughout my time, and one of them was a Wittenberg grad (Mitch Cohagan – Consolidation Manager – Graduated in 2011 and played lacrosse). I completed the application and phone interview through him, so it was nice to have a connection and shared experience throughout the process.
in the door and put what I had learned in the classroom to use in the real world.
out of state where I knew no one. I checked the job posting websites for the Cleveland Cavs, Browns, and Indians often, hoping one of them would have an internship available that interested me. One day, I dedicated the day to applying to as many internships as I could and I happened to stumble upon a job with the Indians for their Retail College Partnership Associate.
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