Ashland University Finance Student Leslie Johnson Interned at Smucker

2014 Nov 5

Thornville resident Leslie Johnson, a senior finance major at Ashland University, served at an intern in Orrville this summer for The J.M. Smucker Company.

Alongside her supervisor and the Accounts Payable Manager, Andrew James, she was responsible for audit compliance around invoice processing and organization. During her internship, she also completed back-end auditing twice a month, contacted vendors to aid in invoice processing and organized corporate credit card forms.

Johnson said, "Smucker is a world-class company that focuses on bringing quality products to families; but it is the culture at the company that makes Smucker truly unique and special. The atmosphere is what helped make my internship successful, as it is a place that encourages questions to be asked and quality work to be produced."

When asked how AU classes prepared her for the internship, she said, "Having a general understanding of different aspects of business was helpful to apply my specific work to the overall goals of the company. It also allowed me to learn and apply new skills quickly."

Johnson said the internship will allow her to bring this real world experience into the classroom and it will help her learn certain materials. She said the internship enhanced her problem solving skills as well as her presentation skills.

After she graduates, Johnson wants to find a job in finance as a financial analyst.

Johnson is the daughter of Jay and Kris Johnson from Thornville. She is a 2011 graduate of Hilliard Bradley High School.

She is very involved on the Ashland University campus, serving as president of Eagle Investment Group as well as a member of the AU Honors Program. She also serves in the marching and concert band, and volunteers at the Ashland Cat House Feline Sanctuary.

Ashland University, which has been ranked in the top 200 colleges and universities in U.S. News and World Report's National Universities category, is a mid-sized, private university conveniently located a short distance from Akron, Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio. Ashland University (www.ashland.edu) values the individual student and offers a unique educational experience that combines the challenge of strong, applied academic programs with a faculty and staff who build nurturing relationships with their students.