INTERN INSIGHTS: A LOOK INTO THE ACCOUNTING INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE

At Colliers | Columbus, our internship program provides hands-on experience across the commercial real estate industry, from brokerage and property management to accounting. To learn more about the program and the opportunities it provides for professional growth, the research team spoke with former accounting intern Kayla Zetwick, a senior at The Ohio State University studying Accounting. During her time with the accounting team, Kayla explored different financial processes, gained experience with accounting software and developed a greater appreciation for the work that supports commercial real estate operations.

What was your favorite project to work on during your time at Colliers?

Kayla highlighted learning how to use Power Automate to help create a flow for an accounts payable (AP) email process. The project introduced her to a tool that connects technology with everyday accounting responsibilities and gave her an opportunity to explore how automation can support an existing workflow. Working on the flow offered a different perspective on accounting, showing how the field involves both completing financial tasks and considering how those tasks can be organized and managed.

She also enjoyed gaining hands-on experience with bank reconciliations, depositing checks and other accounts payable work. These responsibilities allowed her to become familiar with several parts of the accounting process and see how they fit together. The variety was an especially valuable part of her experience, giving her opportunities to learn through both a technology-focused project and the day-to-day financial work that supported the properties.

What was the biggest learning lesson you took away from this internship?

For Kayla, the biggest takeaway was the importance of asking questions and learning from the people around her. Accounting and commercial real estate involve a wide range of processes and software, and becoming comfortable with unfamiliar responsibilities requires a willingness to seek guidance. Her experience reinforced that questions are an important part of building knowledge and developing confidence in a professional setting.

Adaptability, organization and openness to learning also emerged as important lessons. Moving between different accounting responsibilities gave Kayla opportunities to become familiar with new procedures while recognizing the value of an organized approach. Whether learning software or working through an accounting task, she appreciated the opportunity to continue building her skills each day. These lessons extended beyond any individual assignment and provided a foundation she could carry into her accounting career.

What areas of commercial real estate did you become more interested in through this internship?

The internship strengthened Kayla’s interest in the accounting and financial side of commercial real estate. She particularly enjoyed seeing how her work connected to different properties and gaining a better understanding of the activity that took place behind the scenes. Her experience made the relationship between individual accounting responsibilities and broader property operations more tangible.

Through exposure to accounts payable, bank reconciliations and check deposits, Kayla gained a wider view of the financial work involved in keeping properties running smoothly. Seeing those connections helped her explore accounting within a specific industry while developing a greater appreciation for the role financial teams play in commercial real estate.

What does Colliers offer its interns?

Colliers | Columbus provides interns with opportunities to contribute to practical assignments, learn from experienced professionals and explore how different parts of commercial real estate work together. Across brokerage, property management and accounting, exposure to daily responsibilities helps students connect their academic interests with potential career paths and develop a clearer understanding of the industry.