Blog

August 8, 2025 - HighGround was pleased to have four interns with us this summer. We recently sat down to learn more about our Accounting Intern, Andrew Fetters, and his experience working at HighGround.

Where are you from? What school do you attend, and what are you studying?

I am from Aubrey, Texas. I attended Tarleton State for the previous two years and will attend Texas Tech starting this fall. I am studying accounting.

What brought you to HighGround?

I attended the Tarleton State Career Fair in the fall of 2024 and spring of 2025 where I met [HR Director Carol Nichols] and had good conversations with her about accounting due to her experiences as a CPA. After interviewing for the position, I knew right away HighGround was where I wanted to be. I am extremely grateful for an opportunity this early in my studies.

What all did you do in your time here?

Anything and everything under [SVP and CFO Kari McGregor] plus some investment projects. I shadowed everyone at least once in the Accounting, Operations, Account Managers and Records teams. This allowed me to understand the company very well. I worked on many projects including updating an Expense Ratio excel project, updating AROTA workbooks, putting together client audit packages and completing journal entries.

What have you learned in your time here? What’s been your biggest takeaway?

I’ve learned a lot at HighGround, especially some things I didn’t learn at school. I’m the accounting intern, but I worked with a bunch of different teams. I learned Excel skills such as look-ups and pivot tables as well as different accounting software. During my time with Operations, I learned how to process checks and ACHs and the importance of a 10-key. Sitting with the account managers I learned how to communicate with clients and understand their needs. With Records, I learned about the organization of the records room and building workflows on Laserfiche. Lastly, with Kari I learned about the responsibilities of a CFO, managing a large team and her interactions with the Board.

My biggest takeaway from HighGround is how much a good work culture can affect your job. I’ve really appreciated and enjoyed my time at HighGround. I’ve had jobs in the past where it’s miserable to go in, but seeing how happy and welcoming everyone is here makes the job fun.

What is a favorite moment from your time at HighGround?

My favorite moment at HighGround was the Board dinner at the Dallas Petroleum Club. I got to meet all of the board members and talk about the different career paths that led them to where they are today.

My favorite work experience was the expense ratio workbook and reallocating the expenses due to the change in funds. It was something really important that they needed done in a few days, and I enjoyed helping achieve something so needed.

We focus on strengths at HighGround and utilize the CliftonStrengths assessment. What are your top five strengths?

Achiever, Competition, Learner, Analytical and Focus.

I think knowing your strengths is important because you can use your strengths to your advantage, and knowing what you’re good at can help you grow in your career. Knowing others’ strengths can help you all work together better. You can communicate better, especially when you’re new to a company and don’t necessarily know people very well yet.

Which of the HighGround core values resonates most deeply with you and why?

Professional Excellence is very important to me. It resonates with me the most because it is the most important value in auditing, which is the field I want to go into. Client trust is the most important thing for both HighGround’s work and for auditing work, and that trust is built through professional excellence.

How do you like to spend your time? What are your hobbies or passions?

Being home this summer has allowed me to spend a lot of time with family, which has been amazing. I have spent a lot of time driving this summer, which has gotten me into podcasts and audiobooks. My hobbies include bird hunting, fishing and going to concerts.

What does the future hold for you?

I will attend Texas Tech for the next three years. I’ll spend two of those years finishing my bachelor’s degree, and then I’ll get my master’s in accounting in the third year. After school I will begin studying to take the CPA exam and then go into public auditing.