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Accountant internship skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Dr. Jennifer Thayer,

Dr. Jennifer Thayer

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical accountant internship skills. We ranked the top skills for accountant interns based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 8.6% of accountant internship resumes contained r as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills an accountant internship needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 accountant internship skills for your resume and career

1. R

R is a free software environment and a language used by programmers for statistical computing. The R programming language is famously used for data analysis by data scientists.

Here's how accountant interns use r:

Utilized tools such as Oracle, R, and Tableau and presented to senior management.

2. Account Management

The process of strengthening the relationship between a company and client is called account management. Effective account management has two key objectives, one is to retain loyal customers and the second one is to help the company grow by creating connections with new customers.

Here's how accountant interns use account management:

Supported integrated marketing campaigns by providing daily support to the account management team and ensuring organized and efficient delivery of projects.
Supported the Account Management and Strategy departments in developing new business proposals by preparing market research decks and monitoring existing campaigns

3. PowerPoint

Here's how accountant interns use powerpoint:

Researched client competition Created competition analysis PowerPoint presentations Participated in weekly client meetings Served as company liaison for the Marketing Resource Center
Created PowerPoint presentations summarizing annual client activity for Directors of Business Development.

4. Renewable Energy

Here's how accountant interns use renewable energy:

Attended 5 DTE Energy GreenCurrent events, signing up over 300 customers for voluntary home renewable energy programs.
Attended and promoted five DTE Energy GreenCurrent Events signing up over 200 people for voluntary home renewable energy.

5. Journal Entries

Journal entries can be defined as an act of keeping or making records of any transactions either economic or non-economic. The journal entries are made in the accounting systems of an organization. The entries are filled with two main fields; debit and credit. The debit and credit must be equal at the end of a journal entry else it is not considered correct. The journal entries also keep the date of transactions and the names of the accounts that were affected by the transactions.

Here's how accountant interns use journal entries:

Assisted general accounting department with daily operations, including entering journal entries, preparing payments and substantiations by auditing documents.
Prepared journal entries and reconciled accounts; prepared financial reports and presented financial analysis to managers.

6. Payroll

Payroll is the sum of all the compensation that an organization has to pay to employees at a specified time. Payroll is managed by the finance or HR department while small business owners may handle it themselves. Payroll isn't fixed as it varies every month due to sick leaves, overtime, etc.

Here's how accountant interns use payroll:

Assisted in the preparation and distribution of federal payroll certifications required by federally funded grants.
Process Payments*Entered Customer information into Excel spreadsheet* Calculated and reported payroll information*Greeted guests and visitors

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7. Individual Tax Returns

Here's how accountant interns use individual tax returns:

Provided tax preparation services for individual tax returns, including returns for small businesses
Prepared corporate and individual tax returns from inception to completion.

8. General Ledger Accounts

A general ledger account is a practice to keep a record of a company's total financial accounts. The accounts included in a general ledger lists the assets, liabilities, owners' equity, expenses, and income or revenue. It forms the basis of reporting a business's financial statements.

Here's how accountant interns use general ledger accounts:

Assisted with general ledger accounts analysis regarding reversals on accounts as well as follow-ups regarding deposits not yet received.
Maintain financial records for subsidiary companies by analyzing balance sheets and general ledger accounts.

9. CPA

Here's how accountant interns use cpa:

Assisted Forensic CPA in Business Interruption Loss and Fraud/Fidelity valuations for Insurance clients
Worked as staff accountant after internship and prepared tax returns and assisted CPA's on various engagements.

10. Market Research

Market research is a collective effort to collect information related to a consumer's needs and wants. It is a systematic approach that involves recording and analysis of both qualitative and quantitative data. Market research helps a business to identify a target market correctly and identify the gaps in potential consumer's expectations.

Here's how accountant interns use market research:

Performed market research on competitors and emerging opportunities to help align company strategy to current and future market conditions
Conducted market research to gather business intelligence and propose effective integrated marketing campaigns.

11. Data Analysis

Here's how accountant interns use data analysis:

Generated comprehensive retail trends report and competitive analysis through thorough industry research and data analysis.
Produced comparative data analysis for each campaign !

12. Account Executives

Account executives help build good relationships with new and existing clients. They interact with brand teams and clients, making them the point of contact. A sales development representative responsibilities entail facilitating sales, generating potential leads, and referring customers to the best salesperson. To succeed in this job post, you need to have the best customer service, math, analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills. A bachelor's degree in business marketing, sales, or a similar field fits this role.

Here's how accountant interns use account executives:

Trained with Account Executives to learn product knowledge, credit/billing policies and procedures, general retail advertising office operations and expectations
Partnered with account executives and supervisors to design and steer revitalized marketing materials for sales presentations and client meetings.

13. Press Releases

Here's how accountant interns use press releases:

Pitched media advisories and press releases to secure media attendance for press conferences, product launches, and community events.
Utilized strong written and language skills to compile pitch letters and press releases for clients to service to media.

14. Competitive Analysis

Competitive analysis is the process of assessing your competitors to determine their strengths and weaknesses, It is a part of strategic management that enables one to identify the opportunities and threats a business can face in the market.

Here's how accountant interns use competitive analysis:

Handled competitive analysis by gathering political advertisement invoices from competition, resulting in understanding spending habits and enabling better planning.
Conducted cross-platform competitive analysis for Simply Orange, identifying strategic insights to further define brand identity and social content development.

15. Balance Sheet

Here's how accountant interns use balance sheet:

Ensured all income statement and balance sheet accounts were accurately valued and effectively controlled.
Prepared monthly/quarterly Profit & Loss statements and monthly/quarterly balance sheets.

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What skills help Accountant Interns find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on accountant internship resumes?

Dr. Jennifer Thayer

Assistant Professor of Accounting, Socrates Award for Excellence in Teaching Recipient, Clarksville Chamber of Commerce APSU Distinguished Faculty Award for Community Service Recipient, Accounting Society at Austin Peay Advisor, Austin Peay State University

Several skills help applicants stand out when submitting their resumes, which goes beyond just the normal "accounting knowledge." Individuals should include any type of practical application via internships, volunteer work, or work experience. When including these experiences, be sure to highlight the type of work that was completed, such as preparing tax returns, analyzing transactions for audits, preparing financial reports, etc. In addition, including skills such as proficiency or certifications in specific software is also helpful. For example, Microsoft Excel or QuickBooks knowledge/certifications. Also, including any experience with data analytics and using programs such as Power BI or Tableau would be very beneficial.

What soft skills should all accountant internships possess?

Dr. Jennifer Thayer

From speaking with employers in the industry, the number one soft skill seems to be written and spoken communication. Many current students need to hone their written communication skills to avoid "text speak" when communicating with potential employers and/or clients. Other important soft skills include problem-solving, collaboration, adaptability, and willingness to deal with failure and/or criticism. Especially in the world of COVID and ever-changing work environments, the importance of adaptability and problem-solving have only been highlighted. Since most work environments involve people working in teams, effectively collaborating with others and accepting criticism are vital skills.

What hard/technical skills are most important for accountant internships?

Dr. Jennifer Thayer

In addition to general accounting knowledge, critical thinking, data analytics, and advanced Microsoft Excel abilities are some of the most important skills. Clearly, having a solid foundation in general accounting knowledge is necessary to be a candidate for a job in the accounting field. However, possessing the ability to critically think and analyze data and use Microsoft Excel beyond the basics, such as pivot tables, will only improve a candidate's chances.

What accountant internship skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Stephen Moehrle Ph.D.

Professor and Chairman of Accounting, University of Missouri - St. Louis

In the spirit of continuing education I would recommend the following: First and foremost, successfully complete the cpa exam. This is a huge difference-maker in the marketplace. If the young professional has already accomplished that, I would consider developing expertise consistent with their long-term career goals. Potential areas of expertise include data analytics, information systems controls and security, taxation, SEC reporting, or management accounting. There are certificate programs in each of these skills at universities across the country. The internet is also replete with free or relatively inexpensive materials for self-starters.

What type of skills will young accountant internships need?

Jeff Bogan

Adjunct Professor, California State University - Fullerton

The skills required for young accounting and tax graduates are evolving. Young accounting professionals must be more skilled in working with various types of technologies and applications. Young graduates should have experiences working with data integration tools, such as Microsoft getting & Transform, Alteryx, data visualization tools, cloud-based platforms such as Microsoft Azure, and robotic processes automation applications such as UiPath and Blue Prism.

Over the last decade, we have seen global transparency initiatives such as OECD's BEPS initiative, complex tax law, and numerous complex accounting guidance. Also, the business has become much more complicated with global footprints and digital platforms. These changes now require accounting professionals to have the well-developed critical thinking, analytical and problem-solving skills. Accounting professionals must now also have a "continuous learning" mindset. Technology is changing rapidly, and accounting professionals will need to adapt and learn new technologies.

Do you want to know more?

List of accountant internship skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for an accountant internship resume and required skills for an accountant internship to have include:

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
Balance Sheet
Financial Reports
Administrative Tasks

QuickBooks
Income Statement
Facebook
Salesforce
Account Reconciliations
Creative Briefs
Fixed Assets
GAAP
Bank Statements
Instagram
Status Reports
Client Accounts
Twitter
Google Analytics
Client Relations
Accounts Receivables
Competitive Research

SEO
Financial Data
Expense Reports
Customer Accounts
Cold Calls
Event Planning
YouTube
A/P
Financial Analysis
Bank Accounts
Client Projects
Cash Application
Financial Transactions
Media Planning
Brand Development

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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