10 Accounting Internships for High School Students
If you are a high-schooler interested in accounting, finance or business, you don’t want to miss out on this list. Just like a number of other fields, practical experience in accounting and finance can be quite valuable – especially if you plan to pursue a career in it. Moreover, getting that experience while in high school can give you a solid head start, and help you figure out if this field is the right fit for you!
A career in accounting or finance is not just about balancing spreadsheets and crunching numbers; it's about developing critical problem-solving skills, gaining insights into the intricacies of financial management, and building a strong foundation for a future in the industry.
In this blog, we’ve listed 10 of the best accounting internships for high school students. An internship will give you that experience, a platform to hone your skills, while also enhancing your resumes and college applications! College admissions officers seek students who demonstrate a passion for their subject, who have gone the extra mile to explore their interests, by engaging in opportunities such as internships. These internships also give you the opportunity to build connections with industry professionals, creating a network that will be useful in the future.
1. Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Location: The program is held all across the country – you will be assigned a local non-profit organization to work with in your region/area. The Leadership Summit will be held in Washington DC.
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors are eligible to apply. See all eligibility criteria here.
Program dates: 8-week summer internship, including an all expenses-covered week-long Student Leadership Summit in Washington, DC. Dates vary by location, but the internship usually begins shortly after the school year ends.
Application deadline: Applications open in October and typically close in January.
Stipend: It is a paid internship, but no information is available on the exact amount. The trip to Washington DC is covered by the bank!
The Bank of America Student Leaders Program selects about 300 driven, community-minded high schoolers for their program. Interns will get to work with startups and nonprofits in their area, including organizations such as Boys and Girls Clubs of America and Habitat for Humanity, and experience community service through this paid 8-week internship. Throughout the program, you can expect to gain a well-rounded education in various financial and accounting principles, including budgeting, financial analysis, and financial planning. The program will provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary to understand the intricacies of financial management and accounting.
You will also attend a week-long Student Leadership Summit held in Washington, DC. The travel, food and stay for the same will be covered by the bank. During the summit, you will get to understand how stakeholders like nonprofits, governments, and businesses collaborate and interact to meet local needs. This experience enables you to create change and improve more lives with inspiring stories of enthusiasm and commitment.
Location: Virtual! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Eligibility: Open to all high school students, who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. These internships are also open to undergraduates and gap year students!
Application deadline: February 18, 2024 (Spring cohort) | February 18, 2024 (Summer cohort, early application deadline) | April 14, 2024 (Summer cohort, regular application deadline). The program also runs in the fall and winter.
Program dates: 8-week programs with multiple cohorts throughout the year.
Cost: Starting at $1,990. Financial assistance is available.
Ladder Internships, a program founded by Harvard alumni, offers high school students the chance to intern with start-ups and non-profit organizations around the world. The internships are spread across a range of industries, from tech to healthcare and more, with a number of intern positions in business, finance, growth and marketing. You can choose the field you wish to work in! As an intern, you will work on a real-world project and present your work at the end of their internship. You will receive guidance and mentorship from your manager and a Ladder Coach. This internship program is structured with a thorough combination of hands-on experiences and theoretical knowledge-building. You will engage in a coaching/work-based model – a component that sets it apart from most internships. In the past, student interns have worked on projects that covered: financial analysis, tax preparation, audit procedures and more.
3. KP Launch High School Internship at Kaiser Permanente
Location: You can intern at a Kaiser Permanente Medical Center or business office closest to where you are. Find a location near you.
Eligibility: Students who are aged 16-19 by June 1, 2024, and are current high school students and/or graduating seniors of the Class of 2024, can apply. Priority is given to juniors and senior-level students. Those applying must have the right to work in the US.
Application deadline: Applications typically close December-end.
Program dates: June 17, 2024 – August 2, 2024
Stipend: $15.50 - 18 per hour
Kaiser Permanente, one of the top healthcare and insurance providers globally, offers summer internships that allow high school students to get practical experience and insight into the healthcare industry, with a specific focus on professional development. The program offers tracks in a number of industries adjacent to or relevant to healthcare, such as accounting, sales and marketing, communications, product development and more. Students keen on accounting or business roles can choose accordingly! You will engage in hands-on activities, shadowing experiences, and educational workshops that enhance your understanding of the business end of healthcare. The program is focused on mentorship, teamwork, and personal development, and can encourage you to explore your career interest in a number of fields.
4. CLA High School Internship Program
Location: Various locations across the US. See all available locations here.
Eligibility: High school students aged 16-18 years can apply.
Application deadline: Applications typically close in January.
Program dates: 8 weeks, typically from mid-June to August.
Stipend: It is a paid opportunity, but information on the exact amount is not available.
The CLA High School Internship Program offers an extensive and practical understanding of accounting, covering areas such as tax preparation, financial analysis, and audit procedures. As an intern, you will actively engage in real-world projects, working alongside experienced professionals to apply theoretical knowledge to actual scenarios, honing your problem-solving skills and analytical thinking. The program also focused on networking and professional development. Students will connect with seasoned professionals, mentors, and peers, building valuable relationships that may be useful in the future, while getting first-hand experience of the industry.
5. KPMG U.S. Empower High School Experience
Location: New York City
Eligibility: Rising juniors or seniors in high school, who live in commutable proximity to a KPMG local office and can participate in-person during normal business hours, are eligible.
Application deadline: There is no information available on this at the moment.
Program dates: 3 weeks in July
Stipend: $25 per hour.
Students who wish to explore the world of accounting, finance and professional services can consider this program! It offers a comprehensive, practical introduction to fundamental accounting principles, auditing procedures, tax concepts, and advisory services. You can expect to go beyond classroom knowledge, as you will participate in interactive workshops, collaborate on real-world case studies, and interact with KPMG professionals. During the program, you will be mentored by professionals at KPMG, while you work collaboratively, develop problem-solving skills, and enhance your understanding of this field. You will also attend guest lectures and workshops led by industry experts, which can help you make informed choices for your future career.
6. Fidelity Investments Asset Management High School Summer Intern
Location: Boston, MA
Eligibility: All high school students can apply
Application deadline: Students can expect registration information to be announced by February-end.
Program dates: 5 weeks across July and August.
Stipend: While students will receive a stipend, there is no information on the exact amount.
During this 5-week program at Fidelity, you will get a holistic understanding of investment strategies, financial analysis, risk management, portfolio management, and further. This immersive program will engage you in real-world tasks and projects that will help you hone your skills in finance, communication, and resource management. You will have the advantage of working with seasoned professionals who will guide you through projects and tasks, and you’ll also receive career advice from them! At the end of the internship, you will receive a certificate of your time at the firm as well as the option for a future career at Fidelity.
7. Thomas G. Labrecque Smart Start Program at JP Morgan & Chase
Location: New York City
Eligibility: High School students in NYC can apply.
Application deadline: There is no information available on this at the moment.
Program dates: Typically, students work part-time during the school year and full-time during summer.
Cost: No cost. A stipend and scholarship will be provided.
This 20-day internship program is for NYC high school students who wish to explore the possibility of a career in finance. The internship offers real-world experience working in JPMC’s industry-leading businesses, while attending university on a full four-year scholarship. Students will work on developing skills required for a career in financial services. Every year, you’ll intern in another area of the firm as you expand your knowledge and learn about the variety of roles in the industry. You’ll work in one of JPMC’s businesses or corporate functions, where you’ll be assigned meaningful projects, attend meetings and interact with managers. You’ll gain insights into the industry, while developing your technical and soft skills. More than 300 students who participated in this program continue to work at JPMC!
8. KPMG Future Leaders Program
Location: Varies, interns are placed in a location dependent on KPMG’s decisions on hosting the internship in a particular location.
Eligibility: High school seniors are eligible to apply.
Application deadline: February 1, 2024
Program dates: The program takes place over the summer before college. Exact dates can vary.
Cost: No cost, annual scholarships to college offered ($10,000 per year)
The KPMG Future Leaders Scholarship, while not a traditional internship, is a unique, prestigious work-learn program, where you work on real-world projects while honing your skills. It is designed to encourage more women to pursue business and STEM fields. A highly selective program, it only accepts 22 high school seniors out of hundreds of applications it receives every year.
As a KPMG scholar, you will be paired with an executive mentor who you will work with, while picking up accounting principles and concepts. These mentors are also senior business leaders who have attended the KPMG Women’s Leadership Summit, so it poses unique networking opportunities. You will receive training and career development, annual scholarships for college, and continual support through their college education.
9. Today’s Interns, Tomorrow’s Professionals (TIP) internship program
Location: Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Eligibility: High school students who have completed their sophomore year in any Boston public school
Application deadline: No information is available at the moment.
Program dates: July - August
Stipend: Paid. Information on the exact amount is not available.
The TIP internship offers youth who are underrepresented in finance an opportunity to build their skills and gain some experience working in the world of finance and accounting. You will participate in job coaching and skill-building workshops. During this program, you will learn the foundations of counting principles, financial analysis, tax preparation, and audit procedures. TIP emphasizes networking and professional development, so you will work on real-world projects and tasks under the expert guidance of mentors and professionals.
After you complete their summer program and based on individual interest and availability, a select number of students will be selected for a year-round internship program that can last up to 3 years. This will ensure that as an intern, you will receive a well-rounded skill-building summer as well as an opportunity to launch your career in finance!
10. Headquarters Student Internship Program, U.S. Treasury
Location: Washington, D.C.
Eligibility: High school students in the US who are enrolled or accepted at an accredited institution can apply.
Application deadline: Varies for all three Internship periods. You can apply in October for the Spring Internship period, in December for the Summer Internship, and in June for the Fall Internship.
Program dates: Treasury typically offers internship opportunities in the spring, summer, and fall:
- Spring internships run from January to May
- Summer internships run from May to August
- Fall internships run from September to December
Stipend: None
The Treasury’s Departmental Offices (headquarters) internship is an unpaid opportunity for high school students. As an intern, you will collect, analyze, and present policy data, while also conducting research and summarizing academic literature and news relevant to the department’s work. Additionally, you will attend and report on Congressional hearings, meetings, and conferences. This is a good program for students to build the foundation for a career in public service, while picking up some basic accounting concepts and understanding the taxation system from the inside. Through the internship, you can hone your research and analytical skills and build management and organizational skills through interactions with Treasury colleagues and other U.S. government agencies. You can choose to intern at any one of the several offices that make up the Treasury Departmental Offices (headquarters), such as the Domestic Finance, Tax Policy, and Economic Policy.
Looking for an immersive internship experience?
Check out Ladder Internships!
Ladder Internships is a selective, virtual internship program where students work with startups and nonprofits from around the world! The startups range across a variety of industries, with a large number of them in tech. As part of their internship, each student will work on a real-world project that is of genuine need to the startup they are working with, and present their work at the end of their internship. In addition to working closely with their manager from the startup, each intern will also work with a Ladder Coach throughout their internship. Apply now!
Stephen is one of the founders of Ladder Internships and a Harvard College graduate.