Jonathan Frajman

McGill University

Department talks

The department talks were one of the most interesting part of my summer at PSB BOISJOLI. Having the opportunity to hear from partners and senior managers about their career journeys that led them to where they are now was a valuable experience. It was very encouraging to know that even a partner was once in my shoes as an intern and was able to grow to where they are now.

I asked questions about the different types of work done in these departments and understood what a typical day is like while working in them. The department talks allowed me to envision what kind of work I may be doing in the coming years and opened my eyes to the many opportunities at PSBB. All partners and managers are extremely approachable and emphasized that joining a new department that aligns with an employee's goals is always possible. I felt valued as an employee that partners would take time out of their busy day to truly make the interns feel like they are an important part of the team.

Cédrick Jérome

HEC Montréal

Onboarding and training week (First week)

All kinds of emotions can arise in the morning or even during the whole day on the first day of internship. To my surprise, all the anxiety, fear, and stress evaporated before I even started the internship because I had the opportunity to meet my future summer colleagues and several partners, managers and employees of PSBB a few months before.

When you walk through the firm's elevators for the very first time, all that remains is the excitement and motivation to meet familiar faces on your first day! Our integration continued with the introduction of our "buddies" through a dinner at a restaurant. Each intern had a "buddy" to whom you can refer to for any question during the summer. In addition to the help that everyone is ready to offer, we no longer had any concerns at this level.

We proceeded to collect our computer equipment and to training on the various softwares used in the firm. This training was given by two extremely patient IT specialists and there was an individual simulation in order to put into practice everything we learnt throughout the week. We all come out of school, and we have no technical experience. The training really allowed us to work together, and to develop a friendship with the colleagues we will work for the next 12 weeks of the summer. In short, PSBB staff did everything to deliver the right tools for us to excel during our internship and make it an unforgettable summer.

Nérmine
Mokhallalati

HEC Montréal

Summer Student Project

Each year, interns work on a summer project. This year we wanted to work on something that will bring together all PSBB employees and raise funds for a charity. We thought that a futsal (indoor soccer) tournament was a great opportunity for everyone to come together and enjoy an afternoon with our colleagues. It was a great activity for team building and to decompress after a long day of work! Also, a friendly competition between colleagues does not hurt ;)

An entry price was set for the tournament. Everyone could also donate an amount of their choice. All the profits went to AMI-Quebec. This organization is very close to our hearts because it aims to help and support people with mental illnesses. Employees who were not interested in participating in the futsal tournament attended and cheered for their colleagues!

Our goal was to bring PSBB employees together for a fun evening and contributing towards a good cause. The result was way beyond our expectations.

James Zhen

Concordia University

Technical Training

PSB BOISJOLI offers a great variety of training sessions which are very useful throughout our summer internship. They are very complete and easy to understand which is perfect for students of any level. Most of the trainings that we do include real life scenarios and navigating through different software. I found that method perfect because it gives us the opportunity to link the theory that we learned in school with the actual job that we will be doing.

Another nice aspect about the trainings is that the trainers are super accessible for questions during and after the training. Whenever I had a problem on a software or on a mandate, it was very easy to reach out directly in person or online to the trainer to get some help.

Reana Yan

McGill University

Buddy System

From the first day of our internship, we were assigned a buddy who welcomed us to the firm and made sure we knew they were there to answer all our questions. They were proactive in introducing themselves and making sure they reached out first. It was super comforting to know that there was someone with experience to guide us through the summer.

Moreover, many of our buddies were recently summer interns themselves, meaning they knew exactly what to expect. We also had the chance to get to know our buddies through a welcome lunch and a mini 5 a 7. It has been great to know our buddies not only on a professional level, but on a personal level as well. It's nice to see a familiar face in the office, and to hear about their weekends and summer adventures in Montreal. They check in on us to make sure that we are doing okay, and are always willing to help us with work questions.

The buddy system has made our start at PSB BOISJOLI a great experience, and I'm very glad that we were paired up.

Jean-Christophe
Bouchard

HEC Montréal

Activities at PSBB

It is not a surprise that PSBB received the prestigious award for Canada and Montreal’s top employer. The firm has and continues to prove itself in terms of the professional life of its employees and everything that surrounds it. The summer internship position is no exception! During the summer, my fellow interns and I had the chance to participate in many activities that had the impact of bringing us closer both inside and outside the walls of the office.

As soon as we join the organization, dinners and cocktails are organized on our famous "terrace", which greatly facilitates our integration and quickly makes us feel comfortable in our new working environment.

Speaking of integration, the audit department's 5@7 is the unmissable event of the summer to meet and make friends with as many people as possible! This festive evening plunges us head first into the culture of the organization in a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere!

Summer passed in a blink of an eye with activities like karting, climbing, summer Fridays, client visit, shadow a partner, cooking activity and spontaneous outings to the gelato shop, and so on.

Oh yes! We must not forget the “Fun Day”, a day organized for all members of the firm at the Beach club to have fun all day and get together.

In short, PSBB offered us much more than a simple internship, but a complete and diversified experience, where activities and work intertwined in order to make the experience of each of the internee unique and allow us to start on solid bases. I can't wait to see what the future holds for me in the organization!

Manon Dupont

UQAM

Shadowing a Partner

During our internship, PSB BOISJOLI gave us the opportunity to shadow a partner for a whole day which allowed us to have a better understanding of the work they do within the firm. It turned out to be a rewarding experience, since the tasks that a partner performs are different from what I imagined. I realized that a Partner was the person in contact with the client, an aspect that I did not suspect.

In addition, I discovered that the word family, anchored in the culture of PSB BOISJOLI is reflected up to the level of the partners. Indeed, they maintain a relationship of mutual help, support and trust.

During this day, we had lunch together accompanied by another partner and an intern. This allowed us to spend time with them and ask questions regarding the tasks they had to perform as a partner in the firm. We also discussed their journey to become a partner, which was very interesting. I realized that each partner has their own background and therefore brings something specific to them to the firm and its dynamics.

I came to PSB BOISJOLI not knowing what to expect, and I am leaving with a lot of experiences and learning.

The prospect of becoming a partner at PSB BOISJOLI is very exciting after the partner shadowing experience.

Charlhenry Pierre

UQAM

People and Culture

To begin, everyone at PSBB is very welcoming and they are always willing to help. Every time I had questions or didn't understand something, there was always somebody to guide me. No one at PSBB made me feel like a stranger in the office. Every morning when you come to work, you have the feeling of belonging to a family and that you know there will be someone to talk to, to relieve the stress of the day. In addition, despite the fact that they are busy and have deadlines, they still take the time to fully explain to the interns the work to be done and to answer any questions they have. The people at PSB BOISJOLI, really represent its culture. Whether it's seniors, managers or partners, we always feel comfortable talking to anyone about anything. The family culture and the prioritization of the individual is what represents PSB BOISJOLI. The firm invest in the progression and professional development of its employees, which makes us feel really appreciated here at PSBB.

Matthew Mazzanti

McGill University

Rotation

PSB BOISJOLI is a great place for Summer Interns for a number of reasons; amazing coworkers, flexibility, social activities, and a great summer rotational program.

It offers a unique opportunity and helps young aspiring accountants to experience various areas of the profession. Many people talk about how dynamic and unique the world of a CPA can be, and this internship illustrates that perfectly, promoting diverse work situations. It allowed me to experience and understand different areas of accountancy and how they all fit together. I’ve had the opportunity to meet a lot of people and to be part of a great team. I’ve learned a lot more about being an accountant than ever before, yet I can also tell that this is just the tip of the iceberg and I have much more to learn and look forward to.