So I am on my 4th day of internship and things are pretty chill. I have become
friends with basically everyone in the office, and the dog and I are like best
friends in the whole world. There have been a few things I've gone through that
can relate to school. The first being communication with my fellow employees.
Since we go through a BUNCH of paperwork each day, I have to communicate with
other people so that we don't lose stuff and mess things up. Secondly,
organization is key. High Tech has always taught me to be organized in my work
and papers, and I can kind of see that paying off with my current levels of
organization at my internship. So far so good, only 2 weeks left from here on
out.

What questions do you have about your internship?
How many properties do you employ at the moment? Answer: 26 
How long has this company been together? Answer: 6 years

Has anything funny/crazy happened?
It was a quiet and slow Friday afternoon. Everyone was getting ready to leave for the day, and then someone screamed. Apparently, a snake had gotten into the office and was wreaking havoc throughout the building. While everyone was yelling and running around; I sat in my chair watching this circus unfold as I laughed at the whole situation for about 10 minutes. It was a pretty awesome way to end the week.

What new skills have you developed?
I have gotten a lot more organized over the past week with my paperwork. I have
also mastered the use of 3 programs that I have been using to mail out letters
and fill in spreadsheets for the company. I have had to mail out about 30
letters so far, so my ability to stamp and write addresses has greatly improved.

What is your job title?
My Job Title is Comptroller. This is not the same as a Controller.  Although we perform some of the same tasks or functions. Here is a little synopsis to explain my role in the business: Comptroller - A Comptroller is a person who supervises the quality of accounting and financial reporting of an organization.  Referring to very ancient and senior government official titles (e.g. Comptroller of the Exchequer), the orthograph (and more and more the pronunciation) Comptroller carries an idea of solemnity and seniority, which is absent from the word Controller although Controller is an equally old word. In a company, a Comptroller is typically a senior position, and conversely if you appoint a Controller in a project team, you will not appoint him Comptroller.

2.) Why did you choose to work there?
 I chose to work here for a variety of reasons:
      A.  I had the degree and experience to be qualified to do the job well
      B.  Although I had a higher annual income in the past, my current employer was filing for bankruptcy.
      C.  In 2010, at the time I was looking, unemployment in San Diego county was at 11% (see attached chart)
.     D.  Although the company was a "start-up," in its second year of doing business, I felt that the benefits and "corporate culture" made it worth taking a chance.
           (Note: on average, it takes three years to ascertain whether or not a new business will survive in its industry)
           I was able to make my own schedule and work from home.  I was offered some benefits and perks to offset a slightly lower income than industry standards.

3.) What are your duties?
-"My main duties and responsibilities for 25 Non-Profit Corporations (Homeowner's Associations) are basically as follows: As a Comptroller, I have the duties of a Chief Audit Executive and have, in essence, an internal audit role .  It is a senior position within the company, as opposed to the company's external audit. But the title also comes with extraneous responsibilities as well. I oversee a financial portfolio of over $1 million dollars in Homeowner Association Assets for 25 Boards of Directors and their Non-Profit Associations. I oversee and approve all aspects of accounting such as Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, General Ledger Journal Entries, Bank Reconciliations, and month/year end reconciliations for all associations. I monitor internal controls (checks and balances) in accordance with industry standards and statutory requirements and recommendations, in order  to avoid the appearance of, or actual fraud and embezzlement from occurring within an association. I oversee/produce required Monthly Financial Reports and Annual Financial Reports I oversee/produce yearly pro-forma budgets. I prepare all financial records for tax returns and audits. I make recommendations with regards to banking issues. I recommend actions to ensure each Association conforms to state and federal laws, with regards to anything financial. I supervise two part time employees. I interact with each Association's  Board of Directors,  Property Managers, Auditors and Legal Advisory well as Vendors, to ensure understanding and resolution to all financial issues.