Hello! My name is Ava Holmes, and I am currently a penultimate year and rising fourth-year Management student at the University of St Andrews.
I first discovered the Saltire Scholars Programme through the university's Careers Fair. I became interested in the programme by hearing how participants spoke about its transformative impact on their personal and professional growth. Another appealing aspect which made me apply was the structure of the programme itself. Rather than completing separate assessment centres for each company, we were able to undergo one central process. This made the application journey straightforward and provided access to a wide range of internship opportunities through a single route.
After applying through the programme, I was extremely fortunate to be offered the role as a Corporate Finance intern at KPMG in their Toronto office. The prospect of starting my role at such a renowned firm, gaining experience in the financial services sector, and having the chance to work abroad was incredibly exciting!
My role as a Corporate Finance intern involved working across various stages of the Mergers & Acquisitions process, with a particular focus on mid-market deals. During my internship, I contributed to financial analysis, supported due diligence, and assisted in preparing client presentations. I found it especially rewarding to contribute to projects that had a tangible impact, while learning directly from experienced professionals who were always willing to share their knowledge. I particularly enjoyed working in M&A due to the nature of deal advisory, combining both analytical work with creative problem-solving. This allowed me to work on projects that applied and built on the areas of study I have enjoyed throughout my degree. Beyond strengthening my technical skills, this experience gave me valuable insight into how transactions are managed in a professional setting, which increased my confidence in applying my knowledge in a fast-paced environment.
Moving abroad is a big step; however, KPMG provided an incredible work environment that helped me feel settled in Toronto straight away. Everyone was extremely welcoming, and I was especially grateful to the campus recruitment and intern social committee for organising such a wide range of events for the interns! These included a dedicated intern week with activities such as a sports day and an amusement park trip, as well as other highlights such as a therapy dog visit and attending a baseball game. These experiences created a real sense of community and made it easy to build friendships, not only within my department but across the wider office. Many of these connections have grown into close friendships, and I am excited to visit them in the future! On a personal level, the experience of living and working abroad has also increased my confidence, both in myself and in my ability to adapt to new environments.
My internship role was related to my degree; however, finance is not the sole focus of my studies, as I also cover a broader range of management topics. At first, this felt a little daunting, but the finance classes I had taken as part of my degree programme gave me a strong foundation to build on during my placement. The internship experience allowed me to apply my knowledge in new ways while also developing skills in more complex areas of financial accounting and analysis. I am especially grateful to the staff for their support and to my buddy, who provided excellent guidance on financial modelling and tools. These are skills I am excited to continue building on and apply in my upcoming studies and potential future work.
Based on my experience, I would strongly encourage others to apply to the programme and for internship roles that genuinely interest them, even if not directly aligned with their degree. Not only does the programme provide the chance to develop valuable new skills, but it also helps to clarify which aspects of a career or industry are most enjoyable and rewarding. Experiencing the practical side of financial services, rather than only focusing on theory in my studies, gave me a much clearer understanding of my interests and encouraged me to think more confidently about the career path that I would like to pursue!
I am extremely grateful to the Saltire Scholars Programme for making this experience possible! I would never have imagined having the opportunity to work abroad at a leading global firm, gain such valuable professional experience, and build close friendships along the way. This internship has been an incredibly rewarding chapter in my personal and professional development, and I am excited to utilise the skills, insights, and confidence I have gained in the next stage of my career.
