Blog
Summer Intern Spotlight: Life at PINE
Megan Dobransky | 11 August 2026
PINE recently welcomed a group of interns eager to get their first real taste of the financial services industry. They rotated through different teams, dug into real client work, and picked up skills no classroom could teach.
We sat down with them to hear how it went: what surprised them, what they're most proud of, and what advice they'd pass along to future interns. Their answers had a lot in common — a steep learning curve, a newfound appreciation for the judgment calls behind compliance and finance work, and (unsurprisingly) a shared love for the snack room. But each also walked away with something a little different. Here's what stood out to them.
1. What interested you about interning at PINE?
Honestly, I was drawn to PINE because the role sat right at the intersection of finance and regulation, and I was especially interested in learning directly from a Fund Chief Compliance Officer, getting to see not just what the rules are, but the reasoning and judgment behind them.
2. What surprised you most?
What surprised me most was how much judgment is involved in compliance work. I expected it to be mostly about following a checklist of rules, but it's a lot of interpretation. There wasn't always a clear yes/no answer; mostly, I had to think about how an advisor might interpret the language.
3. What project are you most proud of?
The projects I'm most proud of are the Vendor Due Diligence reports and the Fund CCO reports I worked on. Both required digging into a lot of detail cross-referencing SOC reports, testing results, and disclosures and figuring out how they all fit together to support the bigger compliance picture.
4. What skill did you develop the most?
I developed my ability to read and understand regulatory documents. Reviewing SOC reports and checking marketing materials against SEC rules helped me learn how to identify what information was important and what was not. I also learned how useful AI tools can be in this type of work. Writing clear prompts helped me organize information faster, and using project features in tools such as Claude helped me improve and speed up parts of my process, such as reviewing documents and drafting reports.
5. How has the experience influenced your career goals?
This experience showed me how compliance connects to different business lines within a company. It gave me a stronger interest in pursuing a career in compliance or regulatory risk.
6. What advice would you give for future interns?
I would advise future interns to ask questions, even simple ones, to understand the reasoning behind each rule or process. I also encourage them to take their work seriously, since even small tasks can become important, standard processes for the team.
7. What's one thing you'll always remember about PINE?
I will remember that the work assigned to me was meaningful and important, not like typical intern tasks. The people were approachable and always willing to answer my questions, which made a difference. Lastly, I'll always remember the snack room. 😂
1. What interested you about interning at PINE?
I'm currently pursuing my MBA as part of a pretty drastic career pivot, and I knew I wanted to move into the finance industry. PINE was the perfect opportunity to see a wide range of financial vehicles and different sides of the industry. The internship program's three rotations across different teams was also a huge draw, it let me really explore what I liked and where I excelled.
2. What surprised you most?
The sheer amount of background work that goes into everyday funds and into the financial markets in general.
3. What project are you most proud of?
I really enjoyed working on N-PORTs for multiple clients, since my deliverables were used directly by the PFO team and helped other employees work more efficiently. But the coolest project was helping launch a new ETF for a client.
4. What skill did you develop the most?
I'd never worked in a "typical" office environment before, so developing my soft office skills was probably the most noticeable growth area for me.
6. What advice would you give future interns?
Come in asking lots of questions, and use your intern/student status to really get to know people. Ask people to grab coffee or lunch, it's the best way to understand the culture, the people, and the work.
7. What's one thing you'll always remember about PINE?
Honestly, the people. PINE has so many talented, friendly people who are always willing to help.
What interested you about interning at PINE?
PINE's industry and the work it does align closely with the experience I gained in my previous roles.
What surprised you most?
How approachable and friendly everyone here is despite how busy they are.
What project are you most proud of?
Working on my first-ever Board CCO Report.
What skill did you develop the most?
Since this was my first corporate job in the U.S., I learned about new regulations and the different types of funds that exist in this industry. I also developed the skill of utilizing AI in the context of compliance, including identifying hallucinations, which was new to me.
How has the experience influenced your career goals?
I feel much more confident about pursuing a career in the financial services industry in the U.S. now that I've been able to build a bigger network through the internship at PINE.
What advice would you give for future interns?
Take your time to understand the concepts you learn at PINE, and don't worry about getting everything right the first time. People here are quite open to questions, and everybody is willing to help, so don't hesitate to reach out.
What's one thing you'll always remember about PINE?
Two things, actually: how much people at PINE feel like family, which is lovely, and the assortment of snacks in the snack room.
1. What interested you about interning at PINE?
It was important to me to seek out a team with a people-first ethic, which PINE undeniably has. Being on a smaller and rapidly growing team is also exciting because there are so many opportunities to raise your hand for a project and learn from incredibly experienced people. Lastly, the alternative investments industry is undergoing a lot of change right now. It is something I read about often and a discussion we frequently have in finance classrooms. I wanted to intern with PINE to gain first-hand exposure and understand how people in the industry are thinking.
2. What surprised you most?
The team at PINE is incredibly experienced and knowledgeable. Sometimes, especially as a junior person at a firm, it is easy to think that experience means that everything is familiar. With the sheer amount of innovative and creative things happening in the finance industry, the team at PINE continues to learn and adapt every day.
3. What project are you most proud of?
While working with the trade operations team, I took on a project to update a forensic testing process. I enjoyed digging into an Excel model and chasing down discrepancies. Ultimately, I’m proud of how my work modernizing and automating the document will allow the team at PINE and our client to access up-to-date information and make informed investing decisions.
4. What skill did you develop the most?
I did sincerely enjoy the technical skills I built while working at PINE. That being said, I believe that the skills I developed the most were observation and adaptability: being able to quickly integrate into a team, understand objectives and pain points, and take initiative from day one.
5. How has the experience influenced your career goals?
Working with PINE has revealed to me the incredibly wide array of paths available in finance. When I consider these options, my work at PINE has helped me recognize that one of my most important goals is working with and learning from people who are experienced, empathetic leaders, and excellent problem-solvers.
6. What advice would you give future interns?
Take a moment to learn about the team at PINE and recognize the extensive industry expertise that exists in this office. Then, get ready to jump in and always raise your hand for any opportunity to learn more.
7. What's one thing you'll always remember about PINE?
I am so grateful to have learned the technical details of what this team does. I am equally, if not more, grateful to have gotten to know this team and to be completing this internship with meaningful personal relationships. From inside jokes with an associate to the willingness of senior leadership to be mentors, PINE has made a lasting impact on me as I enter an industry built on relationships.
We sat down with them to hear how it went: what surprised them, what they're most proud of, and what advice they'd pass along to future interns. Their answers had a lot in common — a steep learning curve, a newfound appreciation for the judgment calls behind compliance and finance work, and (unsurprisingly) a shared love for the snack room. But each also walked away with something a little different. Here's what stood out to them.
Saranya Tirumalareddy
1. What interested you about interning at PINE?
Honestly, I was drawn to PINE because the role sat right at the intersection of finance and regulation, and I was especially interested in learning directly from a Fund Chief Compliance Officer, getting to see not just what the rules are, but the reasoning and judgment behind them.
2. What surprised you most?
What surprised me most was how much judgment is involved in compliance work. I expected it to be mostly about following a checklist of rules, but it's a lot of interpretation. There wasn't always a clear yes/no answer; mostly, I had to think about how an advisor might interpret the language.
3. What project are you most proud of?
The projects I'm most proud of are the Vendor Due Diligence reports and the Fund CCO reports I worked on. Both required digging into a lot of detail cross-referencing SOC reports, testing results, and disclosures and figuring out how they all fit together to support the bigger compliance picture.
4. What skill did you develop the most?
I developed my ability to read and understand regulatory documents. Reviewing SOC reports and checking marketing materials against SEC rules helped me learn how to identify what information was important and what was not. I also learned how useful AI tools can be in this type of work. Writing clear prompts helped me organize information faster, and using project features in tools such as Claude helped me improve and speed up parts of my process, such as reviewing documents and drafting reports.
5. How has the experience influenced your career goals?
This experience showed me how compliance connects to different business lines within a company. It gave me a stronger interest in pursuing a career in compliance or regulatory risk.
6. What advice would you give for future interns?
I would advise future interns to ask questions, even simple ones, to understand the reasoning behind each rule or process. I also encourage them to take their work seriously, since even small tasks can become important, standard processes for the team.
7. What's one thing you'll always remember about PINE?
I will remember that the work assigned to me was meaningful and important, not like typical intern tasks. The people were approachable and always willing to answer my questions, which made a difference. Lastly, I'll always remember the snack room. 😂
Nick Helleen
1. What interested you about interning at PINE?
I'm currently pursuing my MBA as part of a pretty drastic career pivot, and I knew I wanted to move into the finance industry. PINE was the perfect opportunity to see a wide range of financial vehicles and different sides of the industry. The internship program's three rotations across different teams was also a huge draw, it let me really explore what I liked and where I excelled.
2. What surprised you most?
The sheer amount of background work that goes into everyday funds and into the financial markets in general.
3. What project are you most proud of?
I really enjoyed working on N-PORTs for multiple clients, since my deliverables were used directly by the PFO team and helped other employees work more efficiently. But the coolest project was helping launch a new ETF for a client.
4. What skill did you develop the most?
I'd never worked in a "typical" office environment before, so developing my soft office skills was probably the most noticeable growth area for me.
6. What advice would you give future interns?
Come in asking lots of questions, and use your intern/student status to really get to know people. Ask people to grab coffee or lunch, it's the best way to understand the culture, the people, and the work.
7. What's one thing you'll always remember about PINE?
Honestly, the people. PINE has so many talented, friendly people who are always willing to help.
Namrata Paul Susana
What interested you about interning at PINE?
PINE's industry and the work it does align closely with the experience I gained in my previous roles.
What surprised you most?
How approachable and friendly everyone here is despite how busy they are.
What project are you most proud of?
Working on my first-ever Board CCO Report.
What skill did you develop the most?
Since this was my first corporate job in the U.S., I learned about new regulations and the different types of funds that exist in this industry. I also developed the skill of utilizing AI in the context of compliance, including identifying hallucinations, which was new to me.
How has the experience influenced your career goals?
I feel much more confident about pursuing a career in the financial services industry in the U.S. now that I've been able to build a bigger network through the internship at PINE.
What advice would you give for future interns?
Take your time to understand the concepts you learn at PINE, and don't worry about getting everything right the first time. People here are quite open to questions, and everybody is willing to help, so don't hesitate to reach out.
What's one thing you'll always remember about PINE?
Two things, actually: how much people at PINE feel like family, which is lovely, and the assortment of snacks in the snack room.
Madigan St. George
1. What interested you about interning at PINE?
It was important to me to seek out a team with a people-first ethic, which PINE undeniably has. Being on a smaller and rapidly growing team is also exciting because there are so many opportunities to raise your hand for a project and learn from incredibly experienced people. Lastly, the alternative investments industry is undergoing a lot of change right now. It is something I read about often and a discussion we frequently have in finance classrooms. I wanted to intern with PINE to gain first-hand exposure and understand how people in the industry are thinking.
2. What surprised you most?
The team at PINE is incredibly experienced and knowledgeable. Sometimes, especially as a junior person at a firm, it is easy to think that experience means that everything is familiar. With the sheer amount of innovative and creative things happening in the finance industry, the team at PINE continues to learn and adapt every day.
3. What project are you most proud of?
While working with the trade operations team, I took on a project to update a forensic testing process. I enjoyed digging into an Excel model and chasing down discrepancies. Ultimately, I’m proud of how my work modernizing and automating the document will allow the team at PINE and our client to access up-to-date information and make informed investing decisions.
4. What skill did you develop the most?
I did sincerely enjoy the technical skills I built while working at PINE. That being said, I believe that the skills I developed the most were observation and adaptability: being able to quickly integrate into a team, understand objectives and pain points, and take initiative from day one.
5. How has the experience influenced your career goals?
Working with PINE has revealed to me the incredibly wide array of paths available in finance. When I consider these options, my work at PINE has helped me recognize that one of my most important goals is working with and learning from people who are experienced, empathetic leaders, and excellent problem-solvers.
6. What advice would you give future interns?
Take a moment to learn about the team at PINE and recognize the extensive industry expertise that exists in this office. Then, get ready to jump in and always raise your hand for any opportunity to learn more.
7. What's one thing you'll always remember about PINE?
I am so grateful to have learned the technical details of what this team does. I am equally, if not more, grateful to have gotten to know this team and to be completing this internship with meaningful personal relationships. From inside jokes with an associate to the willingness of senior leadership to be mentors, PINE has made a lasting impact on me as I enter an industry built on relationships.