The Best Accounting Internships for College Students

Odds are if you’re planning to become an accountant or auditing professional, you’re working on a degree in business, finance, information technology, and sometimes social sciences. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2020 median pay for accountants and auditors is $73,560 per year. Accountant and auditor jobs are also expected to grow by 4% in the next 10 years. Before you graduate college with your degree in accounting or auditing, you’ll want to ensure you have real-world experience under your belt. This will set you apart from other applicants, as it’s a competitive field. Some businesses are offering internships that are paid and/or remote. Below we’ve listed the best accounting internships for students:

Paid Accounting Internships

Accounting Intern - Financial Analysis Team Available to: College Freshmen through Seniors
Finance Intern Available to:College Freshmen through Seniors

Remote Accounting Internships

Finance Intern - Remote Available to:College Freshmen through Graduate Students, Years 1-5
Accounting Intern (Accounts Payable Department) - REMOTE Available to:College Freshmen through Graduate Students, Years 1-5
Financial Planning & Analysis Intern (Summer) - Remote Available to: College Juniors through Graduate Students, Years 1-5

Other Accounting Internships

Financial Analyst Internship Available to: College Freshmen through Graduate Students, Years 1-5
American Marketing Association Internship Available to: College Freshmen through Seniors
Cardinal Health Finance/Accounting Intern Available to: College Sophomores through Seniors
MBA Finance Internship Available to: College Sophomores through Seniors

When Should I Get an Accounting Internship?

Start researching internships in your sophomore year of college. Begin applying for accounting internships in your junior year. But don’t pass up an opportunity to intern earlier, if possible. Many corporate summer internships exist. Make it a goal to have at least two internship experiences before you graduate college. To enhance your resume further, consider a variety of accounting internships. Doing this will help you narrow down the best career fit for you in the future. It will also highlight a diverse background in the accounting finance field.

What Does an Accounting Intern Do?

As an intern, you’ll work to help out with financial prep projects, help organize information, look for errors on financial reports, double-check calculations, use the business accounting software, and more. Don’t expect to dive right into bigger projects. Any work experience you get from accounting firms or an accounting department provides you with an inside look into the day-to-day tasks as an auditor or accountant.

About Accounting and Auditing Jobs

Working as an accountant, your job focus will be to prepare and inspect financial records. This includes calculating taxes and being aware and current on all U.S. tax policies. Tax knowledge is important as accountants must ensure financial statements follow state and federal laws and regulations. You’ll look at financial statements to ensure accuracy and find ways to improve company performance via cost savings. Your finance research and investigation will often require you to create official reports and share your recommendations to C-level management teams. Becoming a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA), will also enhance your job prospects. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics states there are three types of accountants and auditor types: Types of Accountants

Government

Management

Public

Types of Auditors

External

Information Technology (IT)

Internal

Accounting Scholarships

In addition to securing an internship, you should also check out these scholarships that will help you pay for school. Scholarships for Accounting and Business Management Majors Finance and Financial Management Services International Business Create a free Fastweb profile to be matched to even more scholarships that fit YOU.