How to hire an accountant internship

How to hire an accountant internship, step by step

Here's a step-by-step accountant internship hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an accountant internship job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new accountant internship
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an accountant internship do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The accountant internship hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An accountant internship's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, accountant interns from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of accountant interns and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Accountant Internship	Description	Hourly rate
   Accountant Internship	Accountants and auditors prepare and examine financial records. They ensure that financial records are accurate and that taxes are paid properly and on time... Show more	$11-21
   Certified Public Accountant	A certified public accountant (CPA) acts as an advisor to small businesses and chief financial officers to Fortune 500 companies. They typically work for both small and large public accounting firms... Show more	$23-57
   Finance Analyst/Accountant	In a company setting, a finance analyst/accountant is in charge of handling and monitoring financial activities, ensuring efficiency and accuracy. Their responsibilities revolve around preparing financial reports, performing audits and risk assessments, and identifying any errors and inconsistencies, resolving them promptly and efficiently... Show more	$22-40

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • R
   • Account Management
   • PowerPoint
   • Renewable Energy
   • Journal Entries
   • Payroll
   • Individual Tax Returns
   • General Ledger Accounts
   • CPA
   • Market Research
   • Data Analysis
   • Account Executives
   • Press Releases
   • Competitive Analysis

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Develop and manage CRM system to identify cross sell and up sell opportunities.
   • Create RFP responses for IDHN's to achieve a more compliant, long term agreement.
   • Work with manage care, medical reimbursement and Medicaid issues/challenges.
   • Perform market research, creating a client PowerPoint presentation with competitive intelligence.
   • Leverage senior role to train and mentor associates with day-to-day performance.
   • Support sales team to deliver presentations, premise visits and RFP preparations.

   More accountant internship duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your accountant internship job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An accountant internship salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, accountant interns' average salary in louisiana is 49% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level accountant interns earn 47% less than senior-level accountant interns.
   • Certifications. An accountant internship with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an accountant internship's salary.

   Average accountant internship salary

   $16.10hourly

   $33,484 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level accountant internship salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

   Average accountant internship salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$42,088	$20
   2	California	$40,701	$20
   3	Massachusetts	$37,375	$18
   4	Colorado	$36,534	$18
   5	Nevada	$36,036	$17
   6	New York	$35,213	$17
   7	Texas	$34,434	$17
   8	Connecticut	$34,194	$16
   9	Virginia	$32,269	$16
   10	Illinois	$32,115	$15
   11	Utah	$32,078	$15
   12	Pennsylvania	$32,076	$15
   13	Indiana	$31,958	$15
   14	Ohio	$31,204	$15
   15	Montana	$30,811	$15
   16	Arizona	$30,779	$15
   17	Nebraska	$30,439	$15
   18	Maryland	$30,417	$15
   19	North Dakota	$28,481	$14
   20	North Carolina	$28,403	$14

   Average accountant internship salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Novogradac	$45,782	$22.01	21
   2	Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising Worldwide Inc	$45,128	$21.70
   3	Intuitive Surgical	$44,282	$21.29	1
   4	Equinix	$43,738	$21.03	4
   5	Allianz Life	$42,553	$20.46	4
   6	Univ Of Colorado-Colorado Spgs	$41,551	$19.98
   7	Bosch USA	$41,279	$19.85	7
   8	T-Mobile	$38,849	$18.68	5
   9	Engine Shop	$38,155	$18.34
   10	Columbus McKinnon	$37,945	$18.24	1
   11	SpawGlass Holding LP	$37,563	$18.06	1
   12	FleetCor Technologies	$37,561	$18.06
   13	Accounting Service	$36,889	$17.74
   14	Madison High School	$35,919	$17.27
   15	Gates	$35,564	$17.10	1
   16	University of Colorado Boulder	$35,563	$17.10
   17	Wasserman	$35,322	$16.98	1
   18	Imre	$35,269	$16.96
   19	Aptar	$34,951	$16.80
   20	PulsePoint	$34,892	$16.77

4. Writing an accountant internship job description

   A good accountant internship job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of an accountant internship job description:

   Accountant internship job description example

   At SpartanNash, we deliver the ingredients for a better life through customer-focused innovation. We do this for our supply chain customers and U.S. military commissaries, retail store guests and, most importantly, our Associates. In fact, we see a day when each will say, “I can't live without them.”
   
   Our SpartanNash family of Associates is 17,500 strong, ranging from bakery managers to order selectors; from IT developers to vice presidents of finance; from HR Business Partners to export specialists. Each of them plays an integral role in SpartanNash's People First culture, Operational Excellence and Insights that Drive Solutions. Ready to contribute to the success of our food solutions company? Apply now!
   Job Description:
   
   A day in the life of National Accounts Internship, an in-person or hybrid role at SpartanNash, is never the same. In this role, you will gain experience across many functions of the company.
   
   What You'll Do
   New business opportunities as well as key projects for process improvement & service level improvements for our top 2 customers.Responsible to complete or participate in at least one strategic project during the internship and give a short presentation to the executive team that showcases the project. Participate in learning opportunities that may include tours of our warehouses and retail stores, a community service event (such as SpartanNash Expo, Helping Hands, or Special Olympics) Attend workshops for developing skills, team building, etc.
   
   Sound Like You? Here's what you'll need:
   High School Diploma or equivalent (GED) GPA of 3.0 (Preferred) Some College Degree (Required to be an active student going into the summer) MS Office ProficiencyGood written and verbal communication skills. Good organizational, prioritization and detail-oriented skills. Ability to take initiatives and seek opportunities to learn in a fast-paced environment. Live near Goodlettsville, TN to work in office occasionally as this is an in-person and or a hybrid role.
   
   SpartanNash is a certified Veteran-Friendly Employer. We value the perspectives, backgrounds, skills, work ethic and leadership that those who are military connected bring to the workforce.
   
   As part of our People First culture, SpartanNash is proud to offer a robust and competitive Total Rewards benefits package.
   
   SpartanNash is an Equal Opportunity Employer that celebrates diversity and believes employing a diverse workforce is key to our success. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all individuals.
   
   We are not able to sponsor work visas for this position.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find accountant interns for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any accountant interns they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level accountant interns with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your accountant internship job on Zippia to find and recruit accountant internship candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit accountant interns, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new accountant internship

   Once you've selected the best accountant internship candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new accountant internship. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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