OPT Accounting Intern Jobs
Accounting Intern roles are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with a finance or accounting degree. Most positions involve bookkeeping, reconciliations, and financial reporting, which align directly with OPT's requirement that your work relate to your field of study. STEM OPT extensions are not available for this role.
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Get Access To All JobsMORNINGSTAR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Bookkeeper
Location: Washington, DC
About Morningstar
Morningstar Community Development is a real estate development and ownership company based in Washington, DC. Our work includes multifamily housing, commercial properties, renovation projects, and new development.
Position Overview
We are seeking a detail-oriented Bookkeeper to maintain accurate financial records across multiple properties, development projects, and affiliated entities. This position will work closely with ownership, property management, and external accountants to manage daily accounting, track cash needs, and support timely financial reporting. The ideal candidate has hands-on bookkeeping experience, understands real estate accounting, and can independently manage competing deadlines while keeping records organized and current.
Key Responsibilities
Daily Accounting and Reconciliations
- Maintain accurate general ledgers for multiple entities, properties, and projects.
- Record and properly classify income, expenses, transfers, deposits, and other transactions.
- Reconcile bank accounts, credit cards, loans, and intercompany balances monthly.
- Investigate discrepancies and resolve missing or incorrectly recorded transactions.
- Maintain supporting documentation and an organized digital accounting system.
Accounts Payable and Receivable
- Review vendor invoices for accuracy, proper entity allocation, supporting documentation, and required approvals.
- Prepare payment schedules and process approved payments.
- Track unpaid invoices, vendor balances, reimbursements, and outstanding receivables.
- Prepare invoices for management fees, development fees, and reimbursable expenses.
- Maintain vendor records, collect W-9 forms, and assist with annual 1099 preparation.
Property and Development Accounting
- Coordinate with property management to reconcile rent collections, tenant balances, security deposits, and operating expenses.
- Track project costs by property, cost category, and approved budget.
- Maintain records of contractor payments, retainage, change orders, and construction-related invoices.
- Assemble accounting support for lender draw requests and track funding received.
- Record owner contributions, distributions, and intercompany advances with appropriate documentation.
- Track recurring obligations, including debt service, insurance, utilities, and property taxes.
Cash Flow and Financial Reporting
- Update weekly cash balances, expected receipts, upcoming payments, and short-term cash-flow forecasts.
- Flag anticipated cash shortages, overdue receivables, and unusual expenses.
- Prepare monthly financial reports, including profit-and-loss statements, balance sheets, and accounts payable and receivable aging.
- Support month-end and year-end closing and provide organized schedules to external accountants.
- Follow approval procedures and maintain clear records of financial activity.
Required Qualifications
- At least three years of bookkeeping or accounting experience.
- Experience maintaining books for multiple entities or business locations.
- Strong understanding of double-entry bookkeeping, account reconciliation, accounts payable, and accounts receivable.
- Proficiency with accounting software and Microsoft Excel, including formulas, sorting, filtering, and reconciliation schedules.
- Ability to identify discrepancies, investigate their causes, and follow through to resolution.
- Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to meet recurring deadlines.
- Clear communication skills and discretion when handling confidential financial information.
- Experience in real estate development, property management, or construction accounting.
- Experience with AppFolio and QuickBooks.
- Familiarity with job costing, construction draws, retainage, and intercompany accounting.
- Experience supporting cash-flow forecasts and budget-to-actual reporting.
- Associate's or bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field; equivalent practical experience will be considered.
MORNINGSTAR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Bookkeeper
Location: Washington, DC
About Morningstar
Morningstar Community Development is a real estate development and ownership company based in Washington, DC. Our work includes multifamily housing, commercial properties, renovation projects, and new development.
Position Overview
We are seeking a detail-oriented Bookkeeper to maintain accurate financial records across multiple properties, development projects, and affiliated entities. This position will work closely with ownership, property management, and external accountants to manage daily accounting, track cash needs, and support timely financial reporting. The ideal candidate has hands-on bookkeeping experience, understands real estate accounting, and can independently manage competing deadlines while keeping records organized and current.
Key Responsibilities
Daily Accounting and Reconciliations
- Maintain accurate general ledgers for multiple entities, properties, and projects.
- Record and properly classify income, expenses, transfers, deposits, and other transactions.
- Reconcile bank accounts, credit cards, loans, and intercompany balances monthly.
- Investigate discrepancies and resolve missing or incorrectly recorded transactions.
- Maintain supporting documentation and an organized digital accounting system.
Accounts Payable and Receivable
- Review vendor invoices for accuracy, proper entity allocation, supporting documentation, and required approvals.
- Prepare payment schedules and process approved payments.
- Track unpaid invoices, vendor balances, reimbursements, and outstanding receivables.
- Prepare invoices for management fees, development fees, and reimbursable expenses.
- Maintain vendor records, collect W-9 forms, and assist with annual 1099 preparation.
Property and Development Accounting
- Coordinate with property management to reconcile rent collections, tenant balances, security deposits, and operating expenses.
- Track project costs by property, cost category, and approved budget.
- Maintain records of contractor payments, retainage, change orders, and construction-related invoices.
- Assemble accounting support for lender draw requests and track funding received.
- Record owner contributions, distributions, and intercompany advances with appropriate documentation.
- Track recurring obligations, including debt service, insurance, utilities, and property taxes.
Cash Flow and Financial Reporting
- Update weekly cash balances, expected receipts, upcoming payments, and short-term cash-flow forecasts.
- Flag anticipated cash shortages, overdue receivables, and unusual expenses.
- Prepare monthly financial reports, including profit-and-loss statements, balance sheets, and accounts payable and receivable aging.
- Support month-end and year-end closing and provide organized schedules to external accountants.
- Follow approval procedures and maintain clear records of financial activity.
Required Qualifications
- At least three years of bookkeeping or accounting experience.
- Experience maintaining books for multiple entities or business locations.
- Strong understanding of double-entry bookkeeping, account reconciliation, accounts payable, and accounts receivable.
- Proficiency with accounting software and Microsoft Excel, including formulas, sorting, filtering, and reconciliation schedules.
- Ability to identify discrepancies, investigate their causes, and follow through to resolution.
- Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to meet recurring deadlines.
- Clear communication skills and discretion when handling confidential financial information.
- Experience in real estate development, property management, or construction accounting.
- Experience with AppFolio and QuickBooks.
- Familiarity with job costing, construction draws, retainage, and intercompany accounting.
- Experience supporting cash-flow forecasts and budget-to-actual reporting.
- Associate's or bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field; equivalent practical experience will be considered.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as an Accounting Intern
Lead with your OPT authorization upfront
Include a clear line in your resume header or cover letter stating you have OPT work authorization and your current end date. Accounting teams move fast during busy seasons, and removing ambiguity early keeps your application in contention.
Target firms that regularly hire international students
Regional CPA firms and Big Four affiliates have established processes for onboarding OPT students. Mid-size firms with active campus recruiting programs are often more flexible on authorization status than smaller boutique practices with no prior experience.
Align your degree field to the job description explicitly
OPT requires your work to be directly related to your degree. If your degree is in finance, accounting, or business administration, call that connection out clearly in your cover letter. Vague applications raise questions that cost you the interview.
Apply well before your OPT start date
Many accounting internships run on semester or busy-season cycles. Apply at least six to eight weeks before your OPT authorization begins so onboarding paperwork can be completed without delays tied to your work authorization start date.
Prepare your I-20 and EAD card for onboarding
When you receive an offer, employers will complete Form I-9 and verify your work authorization. Have your EAD card and current I-20 ready. Some HR teams are unfamiliar with OPT, so being organized and calm makes the process smoother.
Highlight software skills relevant to accounting roles
Proficiency in QuickBooks, Excel, or SAP significantly strengthens applications for accounting internships. These technical skills demonstrate immediate value and shift the conversation away from your visa status toward your qualifications and readiness to contribute.
Accounting Intern OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as an Accounting Intern on F-1 OPT?
Yes, as long as the role is directly related to your field of study. If your degree is in accounting, finance, or a related business discipline, an Accounting Intern position satisfies OPT's practical training requirement. Your DSO at your university's international student office can confirm your specific degree qualifies before you accept an offer.
Do Accounting Intern positions qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
No. Accounting and finance are not on the STEM Designated Degree Program list, so standard OPT lasts 12 months. If you're approaching the end of that window, your employer would need to sponsor an H-1B visa or another visa type to continue employment. Plan your job search timeline accordingly and monitor your OPT end date closely.
How do I find Accounting Intern roles that are open to OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters roles by sponsorship and authorization type. Rather than applying broadly and finding out late in the process that a company won't hire OPT students, Migrate Mate lets you browse accounting internships where employers are already open to your work authorization status.
Will an accounting firm need to do anything special to hire me on OPT?
No petition or government filing is required. Your employer completes Form I-9 and records your EAD card details, the same process used for any employee. There is no sponsorship cost or USCIS involvement for OPT hires. Some HR departments are unfamiliar with EAD cards, so bring your card and your I-20 to your first day to make verification straightforward.
What happens if my Accounting Intern role ends before my OPT expires?
You enter a 60-day unemployment grace period, during which you can search for a new position. OPT rules allow up to 90 cumulative days of unemployment. If you find a new role that relates to your degree field, you can start working without any additional paperwork beyond updating your record with your DSO.