How My Internship at PGCIL Shaped My Career in Finance
Internships typically are the practice that precedes theory, and my internship with PowerGrid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) was no exception to this idea in any way. In a span of weeks, I gained first-hand experience of learning about the nuts and bolts of how one of India's biggest public sector undertakings operates and contributes to the country's infrastructure backbone. This experience also sharpened my technical and analytical skills individually, but much more profound at the core, it instilled in me a profound understanding of the scale, discipline, and accountability involved in handling country-level operations.
PowerGrid is a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise and India's largest electric power transmission utility.
It is also responsible for providing grid stability and inter-state power transmission in the country.
Having worked in the program, which was so highly influential and government-controlled, I had the rare opportunity of observing the working of the public sector and the importance of strongly established, rule-based regimes.
My department particularly worked with finance and accounting, with particular focus on bank reconciliation and SAP-based transaction processing.
I spent my initial days learning the function of operating transmission assets and the role of financial operations towards the development and execution of a project. My key work was preparing six transmission units' Bank Reconciliation Statement (BRS).
The process was downloading bank statements and reconciling them against company postings in SAP. Shortages, i.e., lost postings and failed transactions, had to be accounted for, updated, and identified. My most interesting assignment was with SAP (Systems, Applications & Products) — the firm software used to post and settle transactions. I was nervous at first, especially acquiring various modules, transaction codes, and authorization processes. However, through ongoing learning and guidance by my mentors, I was confident enough to handle the SAP system. I also helped create Excel templates for FD (Fixed Deposit) transactions so that fixed deposit creation and redemption would be systematically recorded. Like any successful experience, my internship had some challenges as well.
The greatest challenge was reading between the lines of the technical terminology of SAP and connecting the dots with the class learnings. Real-world accounting is much more complex and case-specific than from classroom cases. In addition, data accuracy and availability were of the highest priority — a single discrepancy between the SAP ledger and the bank statement would send the whole reconciliation off course. Careful attention to detail, patience, and analytical thinking skills were essential. PSU cultures are similarly formalized processes, and I was taught how to convey effectively, work independently, and exhibit leadership all by myself even without my supervisor each time. Management of time was also difficult, particularly when several plant accounts needed to be reconciled under tight timescales. Over technical skills, this internship taught me. It shaped my understanding of financial stewardship needed in large companies and left me with the desire to have systems-based accounting.
SAP exposure gave me the cutting edge in my life that will definitely come in handy as I proceed with my life, especially if I were to pursue a career in finance, consulting, or audit. I learned much about corporate governance in PSUs, openness, and how every common financial transaction contributes to better strategic objectives like budgeting, regulatory compliance, and investors' trust. The experience also taught me how to live in a disciplined working environment — from typing professional emails to hand-writing down every task in minute details myself. All such soft skills, much as they are discussed less often, are highly crucial in workplace life. PowerGrid work also made me love India's public sector institutions even more. Tough as the circumstances were, these organizations are very dedicated to national service and run with sheer scale and speed.
People that I was working with were not only well-consulted but also courteous enough with time and consultancy, so I felt cared for while at the facility. This internship reaffirmed my interest in finance and gave me an understanding of what kind of career I want to pursue in the future. Whether corporate finance, taxation, or financial consulting, now I realize how essential real-life experience is and how good it is to learn from classrooms and real-life experience. PowerGrid internship was an excellent, eye-opening experience that helped me professionally and personally develop. It provided me with a feeling of additional responsibility, work attitude, and seriousness — all of which I will carry forward in my future tasks. I would also like to take this chance to express gratitude to my college, JIMS Rohini, Best B-School in Delhi for offering the opportunity and motivating students like me to pursue experiential learning. This experience has brought incalculable value to my academic life and development, and I owe this a lifetime.
Sobhanjeet Panda
PGDM, Batch 2024-26