As part of an initiative launched by the Association of Internal Auditors in Hungary (BEMSZ), students at Budapesti Gazdaságtudományi Egyetem (BGE) had the opportunity to deepen their understanding of internal audit through a series of practical and theoretical sessions.
Dr. Erika Bán, Associate Professor at the Department of Accounting and course leader for Foundations of Auditing and Control, emphasized the importance of introducing students to the professional world of internal auditing. As a former board member of the Management and Controlling Association, she has long supported student engagement through university controlling circles and hands-on programmes. “As a member of BEMSZ, I firmly support the mission of promoting awareness of the internal audit profession,” she noted.
As part of this initiative, Mr. Dénes Szanyi, Director of Internal Audit at MOL, delivered a guest lecture at the end of March. During the same event, Stella Fülöp and Artúr Puskás, both young internal audit professionals from Magyar Telekom, contributed with insights from real-world audit practices.
The event attracted significant interest from students, many of whom described the sessions as insightful and inspiring. The day allowed participants to explore internal auditing up close and to better understand potential career paths in the field. “The efforts in organizing and attending this event were absolutely worthwhile,” commented one attendee.
To make the experience more engaging, Mr. Szanyi hosted a quiz, and the top five fastest and most accurate participants were invited for an exclusive visit to MOL’s headquarters in May. Among them was Barbara Viktória Glasza, a third-year student specializing in Accounting, who shared her impressions.
“The MOL building is breathtaking both inside and out, filled with greenery and cutting-edge technology. We had a coffee at the Fresh Corner where Mr. Szanyi shared information about the company and introduced a one-year program tailored for recent graduates,” Barbara wrote.
She also learned that most new hires at MOL’s internal audit department typically have three years of experience and often come from one of the Big Four firms. Though MOL currently offers no internship opportunities in this field, Mr. Szanyi encouraged students to reach out with future professional questions.
An unexpected highlight of the visit was discovering that MOL’s building is pet-friendly—dogs not only accompany their owners but even have their own access cards.
The visit concluded with a guided tour to the 29th floor SkyDeck, offering a panoramic view of Budapest and a memorable end to a unique educational experience.
The combination of the on-campus guest lectures and off-campus corporate visit provided students with valuable knowledge, networking opportunities, and practical insights into the internal audit profession.
Source: Budapesti Gazdaságtudományi Egyetem
About the Author
