Intern Spotlight: Alexandra Jensen
Name: Alexandra Jensen
Majors: Economics/Business
Class: Alpha Zeta
Internship: Financial Management Scholar in the Division of Risk Management Supervision
Company: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Location: San Francisco, CA
Describe your internship in one sentence.
A travel-intensive internship with the risk management branch of the FDIC analyzing operations, business planning, and risk management strategies of banks within the greater San Francisco Bay Area region.
What does your day-to-day look like?
I would typically go into the bank I was scheduled to examine, check my email, then start analyzing various documents (e.g. strategic plans, balance sheets) related to the component of risk management I was assigned to analyze for the week. Throughout the duration of my internship these components consisted of capital, earnings, liquidity, securities, internal routine and controls, and audit functions. What I found most interesting in my 11-week internship was that the nature of the analysis required each day really differed depending on the component I was reviewing, as well as the complexities of the individual bank I had been assigned to. Throughout the day, I would typically document my findings in the form of a conclusions memo to support my rating of the component I had been assigned to, which was then incorporated in the FDIC's overall risk rating for the bank. Additionally, I would form questions related to my findings which I would later pose to the CFO of the bank during a fact-finding meeting.
What is your favorite part of the company culture?
I would have to say that my favorite part of the company culture is how willing people are to share their knowledge with you and how much they want you to succeed. It wasn’t uncommon to be called over from a task I was working on by someone who wanted to share an interesting finding or piece of knowledge they thought I could benefit from being exposed to. Additionally, from day one, I was paired up with a financial institution examiner who helped train me in the component I would be analyzing during my first bank examination. Although I wasn’t with her on every exam, she still took the time to check in with me throughout the summer and even after my internship came to a close!
How has Delta Sigma Pi prepared you for your internship?
Delta Sigma Pi helped me to recognize the value in networking and making long-lasting connections. Even if someone specializes in a different field than you, learning about their career path and experiences can be incredibly valuable.
What is the most valuable takeaway you’ve gained from your internship? Always be hungry to learn! What you get out of an internship will be proportional to the quality and quantity of the effort you put in. That being said, don’t be shy about asking questions because you stand to learn a lot more if you take the initiative to show your interest in a specific topic.
Do you have any advice for people who want to get into the field of investment banking?
Take advantage of any opportunities presented to you that might provide some experience, ask questions of people who are willing to help you learn, and stay up-to-date on what is happening in the field.
