Accounting internships for college students
Accounting internships put you inside audit, tax or corporate accounting teams, usually at public accounting firms or in a company's finance department. Most are paid, and many turn into full-time offers.
Recent accounting internship listings
- Claims Audit Extern
- Data Analyst Intern - IT / Accounting (Rotational)
- Assurance Intern - Data and Intelligence Delivery
- 2027 Assurance Internship
- Tax Information Reporting Intern
- Internal Audit Analytics Intern
- Internship, Information Assurance Services
- Accounting Intern- Spring 2027
A sample of recent postings from employer job boards and public feeds. Search by ZIP code to see the ones near you.
Common accounting internships
- Audit intern — Tests a client's financial records and controls alongside an audit team.
- Tax intern — Prepares returns and researches tax questions for individuals or businesses.
- Corporate accounting intern — Helps with month-end close, reconciliations and reporting inside a company.
- Advisory or risk intern — Reviews internal controls, processes or IT systems for clients.
Skills employers look for
- Excel (lookups, pivot tables)
- Journal entries and the three financial statements
- Attention to detail
- Reconciliations
- Clear written communication
- QuickBooks or an ERP such as SAP
When accounting internships recruit
- Freshman–sophomore yearBig Four and regional firms run sophomore leadership and discovery programs, with applications from late summer into the fall. Go to Meet the Firms and Beta Alpha Psi events.
- Junior fall (Aug–Oct)The main recruiting window, for internships the following winter (busy season) or summer. Most offers go to students the firms met at fall events.
- Junior winter or summerThe internship itself. Strong interns usually receive a full-time offer before senior year begins.
- From day onePlan the 150 credit hours the CPA requires — it shapes your course load, not just your final year.
For every major side by side, see when to apply for business internships.
Certifications that strengthen a accounting application
- Accounting Fundamentals — Corporate Finance Institute. Free Free.
- Introduction to Financial Accounting — Wharton · Coursera. Free to audit Free to audit; certificate ~$49.
- AICPA student resources and the 150-hour rule — AICPA. Reference Free; student membership is free.
- Excel training paths — Microsoft Learn. Free Free.
- CPA — Certified Public Accountant — AICPA / NASBA. Paid ~$1,400 in exam and application fees (varies by state), plus a review course ($1,500–$3,000). Most states require 150 credit hours to be licensed.
Resume keywords for accounting internships
Questions students ask
When should accounting majors apply for internships?
Most large firms recruit in the fall of junior year for internships the following winter or summer, and many run sophomore programs a year earlier. Smaller firms hire later and on a rolling basis.
Do I need to be on the CPA track to get an accounting internship?
No, but firms like to see you planning for it. Knowing how you will reach 150 credit hours shows you have thought about the career.
Are winter accounting internships a thing?
Yes. Audit and tax are busiest from January to April, so many public accounting internships run during that season.
Guides for your applications
Search accounting internships by ZIP code →
Other majors
Finance internships · Business Analytics internships · Marketing internships · Management internships · Supply Chain & Operations internships · Human Resources internships · Management Information Systems internships · Economics internships · Entrepreneurship internships · International Business internships · Risk Management & Insurance internships · Hospitality & Tourism Management internships · Real Estate internships