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An accounting internship is an opportunity for a student training to become an accountant to learn from a professional. Accounting interns usually work under the supervision of a CPA or other accounting professional. They assist certified accountants with their duties, such as preparing reports, analyzing financial data, and completing tax returns. Interns also handle clerical tasks such as entering data into software management systems. Usually, interns are expected to have some familiarity with common accounting software such as QuickBooks and some mathematical ability, but not too much professional experience. An accounting internship offers a valuable opportunity for a future accountant to gain hands-on experience and make professional connections that could lead to a full-time position.
Most accounting interns are recent graduates from a bachelor's or master's program in accounting. Many others are current students in those programs. They usually don't need much professional experience to get hired as an intern.
Accounting internships usually pay an average salary of $28,001 a year. However, this varies widely between businesses. Many internships are unpaid and only for college credit, while others are paid quite generously.
Associate Professor, Finance, University of Michigan Dearborn
Avg. Salary $30,642
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate -5%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.63%
Asian 6.50%
Black or African American 6.69%
Hispanic or Latino 14.25%
Unknown 3.96%
White 67.98%
Genderfemale 46.70%
male 53.30%
Age - 53American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 53Stress level is manageable
7.1 - high
Complexity level is intermediate
7 - challenging
Work life balance is good
6.4 - fair
| Skills | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Reconciliations | 14.25% |
| Data Entry | 7.31% |
| Payroll | 6.48% |
| First Hand | 6.02% |
| Work Ethic | 5.79% |
Accounting internship certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific accounting internship certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for accounting interns include Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Management Accountant (CMA).
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your accounting internship resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an accounting internship resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Now it's time to start searching for an accounting internship job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

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The average accounting internship salary in the United States is $30,642 per year or $15 per hour. Accounting internship salaries range between $24,000 and $38,000 per year.
What am I worth?
Business owners that do not know or understand compliance and GAAP, or the patience to follow the rules... generally common in small companies.