Intern Stories: Madison Pool

Seeking to maximize her undergraduate experience, Madison applied to the Internship Program at Heartland Bank to gain hands on work experience, collaborate with colleagues, and break into the banking industry!

Outside of the internship and academics, Madison enjoys yoga, painting, and staying involved on campus with her business fraternity, Pi Sigma Epsilon. She also works part time as a barista at The Yoga Lab.

The Financial Reporting & Accounting Internship

While getting oriented to Heartland, Madison has leaned on her coworkers at all levels to ask questions, audit processes, and collaborate.

Specifically, the mentorship Madison receives from Alex Lippert, Senior Financial Reporting & Accounting Manager, and Zach Falasz, Financial Reporting & Accounting Analyst, has included training on software platforms such as Cognos and Workiva, and hands-on experiences working as a team.

When asked about their time working together, Alex said:

“We have been very fortunate to have Madison join our Internship Program. Her enthusiasm and eagerness to learn have made her a great addition to the Finance Team!”

Zach added:

“Madison has set high standards for future interns! Her transition into the role has gone very smoothly. She approaches each day with a great attitude, and it has been a pleasure having her in our department!”

Madison continues to develop personal relationships with her coworkers by collaborating to solve problems and meet quarter-end deadlines.

Madison’s Perspective

Here is what Madison has to say about Heartland Bank.

Why did you choose to apply to Heartland Bank?

I applied here because I wanted to maximize my learning experience while attending ISU and develop soft skills, such as problem solving, critical thinking, and collaborating on teams.

After conducting initial research on LinkedIn about the role, I discovered a mutual connection through my business fraternity and inquired about the opening. Once I learned it was a good fit for me because the role includes both accounting and data analytics, I contacted Leah Sanders, Talent Acquisition Sourcing Specialist, to complete the application.

The onboarding process only reassured that I made the right decision! Working with Leah was a positive experience overall. When I visited for the interview, I was impressed and delighted to meet Pete Chapman, Chief Financial Officer, who was down-to-Earth and kind and set the bar for a positive and healthy work environment.

What are your responsibilities in your role?

I am building professional reports for the Financial Reporting & Accounting Department to use in the future. To refine reports, I identify the problem or gaps, ask the right questions, and offer software and accounting solutions to the team.

How does the internship align with your career goals?

My career goals include upskilling to be the best professional I can be! I am new to the banking industry and learning a lot about it along the way all while growing my network. The skills I am practicing here are invaluable: growing my communication skills to ask better questions and contributing to a team to complete projects have been as challenging as they are satisfying!

What advice would you give to intern candidates or future interns?

For those interested in applying, I might say that it is a good fit for someone looking for reasonable work-life balance and a positive work environment. Everyone here is extremely helpful! Even before I started in my role, Alex, Leah, and others were willing to answer my questions. I was able to meet the other Interns at Orientation too, growing my network!

If I were going to give a new intern advice, I would say, “Do your best to go outside of your comfort zone.” For example, I introduced myself and sat with some colleagues at lunch and now I have two new connections in the Marketing Department!

What else would you like to tell Heartland Bank employees about your experience?

I am so grateful to be a part of what is happening at Heartland Bank and can’t wait to keep learning more! My experience so far has been awesome, and I am looking forward to continuing to build relationships here.