Richard “RJ” Swanson ’24, an Economics major with a Communications and Political Science double-minor served as a finance and accounting intern in Pittsburgh with PNC Bank.
We asked RJ….
How did you find your summer internship?
I originally applied through their external application site, but I was also referred to the program. I was able to connect with alumna Jennifer Daurora ’99, and she helped me organize my application, and prepare for my interviews.
What were your duties?
This summer, I worked under the Management Accounting team. On a daily basis, I was responsible for running validations that ensured the cubes with the bank’s forecasting and budgeting data were operating correctly. I also was involved with some testing efforts that looked at new data storage systems.
A good portion of the internship also involved program events with our intern class. We participated in a speaker series that gave us face time with executives from the bank. There were also professional development training events to help us to refine our Excel, networking, and other skills.
I was also responsible for working on a team with three other interns to present a research project to members of the finance department. We conducted research with the help of PNC’s Investor Relations team and consultants from EY and PWC.
Our project looked at instant payment networks, and the emergence of the Federal Reserve’s FedNow.
Would you recommend this experience to other students?
I would absolutely recommend this internship to other students. PNC’s internship program was just ranked in the top 100 internship experiences in the United States this year. It is the perfect opportunity to challenge yourself and utilize materials from coursework. Even if you don’t end up interested in the department that you interned with, there are almost limitless job opportunities within the bank to try.
What other activities are you involved in on campus?
Besides working as a Fellow at the CBE, I am the president of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity on campus. Additionally, I am the president of both the Golf Club and Wealth Management Club.
The Bruce R. Thompson Center for Business and Economics (CBE) prepares Allegheny College students to succeed in a diverse, global economy.