Tax Accountant Internships
Tax accountant internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience in tax preparation, compliance, and financial analysis, mentorship from working tax accountants, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings cover Healthcare & Medical Services and Technology & Software, with Encompass Health, Deltek, and Eide Bailly among the employers posting roles now.
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Position: Tax & Accounting Associate Intern
Amesi & Associates is a women-owned accounting and business consulting firm based in Los Angeles. We support small businesses, creatives, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs through tax preparation, bookkeeping, compliance, and advisory services.
Amesi & Associates is seeking a Tax & Accounting Associate Intern to support our growing tax, bookkeeping, accounting, and client-service operations. This is a hands-on internship designed for a current student, recent graduate, or early-career professional who already has some practical exposure to bookkeeping, accounting, and/or tax preparation and is ready to apply those skills in a professional client-service environment.
This is not a learn-everything-from-scratch internship. While training, mentorship, and professional development will be provided, we are looking for someone who has a working foundation in accounting and tax concepts, is comfortable working with financial information, and can take initiative while continuing to grow professionally.
The Associate Intern will work directly with the Amesi & Associates team and support real client accounts across tax preparation, bookkeeping, accounting operations, client communication, and administrative functions.
This position is in-office and requires residency in Los Angeles County.
Key Responsibilities
Tax Preparation & Compliance
- Assist with preparation of federal and state individual and business tax returns.
- Support preparation of Form 1040, sole proprietor/LLC, partnership, S-Corporation and C-Corporation returns.
- Review and organize client tax documentation for completeness.
- Enter tax information into professional tax software.
- Assist with extensions, amended returns and supporting schedules.
- Track filing deadlines, missing documents and e-file confirmations.
- Communicate with clients regarding outstanding tax information and next steps.
Accounting & Bookkeeping
- Perform day-to-day bookkeeping using QuickBooks Online.
- Complete bank and credit-card reconciliations.
- Categorize transactions and maintain general ledger records.
- Assist with accounts payable and accounts receivable.
- Process and track invoices and expenses.
- Assist with month-end close and financial reporting.
- Review financial records for discrepancies and missing information.
- Maintain organized client accounting documentation.
Client Service & Administrative Support
- Answer and respond to client phone calls and emails professionally.
- Follow up with clients regarding documents, deadlines, appointments and outstanding requests.
- Schedule client consultations and meetings.
- Assist with client onboarding and document collection.
- Maintain client portals, files and internal tracking systems.
- Assist with preparing documents and information for client meetings.
- Support the CEO and accounting team with administrative and client-service needs.
- Help ensure client projects continue moving forward through consistent follow-up.
- Handle confidential financial and client information with discretion.
Qualifications & Requirements
Required
- Must currently reside in Los Angeles County.
- Current student, recent graduate or early-career professional in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or a related field.
- Previous hands-on bookkeeping, accounting and/or tax preparation experience through employment, internship, freelance work or another professional setting.
- Working knowledge of QuickBooks Online.
- Previous exposure to tax preparation and/or professional tax software.
- Understanding of basic accounting principles and financial statements.
- Proficiency with Excel or Google Sheets.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Comfortable communicating directly with clients by phone and email.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to work with confidential financial information.
- Ability to manage multiple client deadlines and priorities.
- Ability to work independently, take initiative and ask appropriate questions when needed.
Preferred
- 1–3 years of combined tax, bookkeeping or accounting support experience.
- Experience preparing or assisting with individual and/or business tax returns.
- Experience with Lacerte, ProSeries, Drake, UltraTax, TurboTax or similar tax software.
- Experience working within an accounting, tax, bookkeeping or professional-services firm.
- Experience with client onboarding, document collection and follow-up.
Compensation & Incentives
- This is a paid internship
- Performance-based commissions and bonuses will be offered for:
- New tax clients personally referred or brought into the firm
- Commission and bonus structure will be clearly outlined during onboarding and is designed to reward initiative, outreach, and client engagement
- Additional opportunities for increased hours or extended work may be available based on performance during tax season
Other Information:
Physical Demands and Work Environment
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.
The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers; handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and / or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.
EOE Statement : We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.
About the Organization:
At Amesi & Associates, our mission is to foster community economic development by delivering financial, educational, and advisory services to underserved small business owners and communities. We offer a broad range of services, including accounting and bookkeeping, business formation, capital funding, tax preparation, start-up business development, business planning and strategy, financial education, and consulting.
Our team of experts is committed to providing customized solutions that address the unique needs of each client. Whether you're an individual, a small business owner, or a large corporation, Amesi & Associates has the expertise and experience to support your success.
Join a growing organization dedicated to promoting economic development through comprehensive financial, educational, and consulting programs tailored for the small business community. Amesi & Associates is proud to be a Certified Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) and to partner with organizations such as CAMEO Network and CALOSBA.
Job Types: Part-time, Internship, Contract
Pay: $17.50 - $20.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Flexible schedule
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Gardena, CA 90248
Tax Accountant Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Technology & Software
Tips for Your Tax Accountant Internship Search
Apply in the fall for summer tax internships
Large public accounting firms and corporate tax departments open summer intern recruiting the preceding fall, often closing offers before December. Smaller firms and co-op programs post closer to start dates. Check listings throughout the year rather than waiting for a single window, the cycle varies by employer size.
Build tax project evidence before you apply
At the intern level, documented projects carry more weight than work history. For tax accountant candidates, that means a completed sample tax return, a reconciliation or cost analysis exercise, or a financial modeling project with the software tools named. Recruiters want something concrete to assess, so create it before applications open.
Work your campus network and apply directly at the same time
Campus career fairs surface structured programs tied to your university, and recruiters there often move faster for students they meet in person. Your professors and career center staff frequently know which employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Applying directly to smaller firms running their own cohorts alongside campus activity widens the pool you can reach.
Practice the tax internship interview before you apply
Tax accountant intern screens typically include technical questions on accounting principles, tax code basics, and software like Excel or tax-preparation platforms, plus a behavioral component. Practice out loud, walking through your reasoning step by step, interviewers weigh how you work through a problem as much as whether you land on the right answer.
Target structured tax internship programs at larger employers
Many large accounting firms and corporate tax departments run cohort programs built to train candidates new to professional tax work, Big Four internships are the most visible example, but regional firms and Fortune 500 finance teams run similar pipelines. These programs recruit early and fill fast, so identify the ones that fit your background and apply in the first wave.
Set your work-type filter before you start
On-site roles are 86% of the tax accountant internships listed here. Decide what you can realistically commit to, on-site, hybrid, or remote, before you start sorting through listings. Filtering by work type and location up front saves time and keeps your application energy focused on roles you can actually accept.
Tax Accountant Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a tax accountant internship?
Lead with coursework and projects rather than work history, hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. For tax accountant candidates, the concrete artifact recruiters want to assess is a sample tax return, a reconciliation exercise, or a documented accounting project showing the tools you used. Combine direct applications with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a tax accountant internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. For tax accountant interns, what actually drives it is performance on real client work, available headcount on the team at the end of the season, and how early you signal interest. Position yourself well without counting on it, treat the internship as an extended interview and ask about return-offer timelines mid-way through.
When should I apply for tax accountant internships?
Earlier than most expect. Large public accounting firms and corporate tax departments recruit summer interns the preceding fall, often wrapping offers before the new year. Smaller companies, regional firms, and co-op programs post closer to start dates, so openings appear year-round. Check listings regularly rather than waiting for a single recruiting season to begin.
Are tax accountant internships paid?
Most professional tax accountant internships in the U.S. are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, a large public accounting firm in a major city typically pays more than a small regional firm or nonprofit. Listings show pay where the employer discloses it, so you can compare directly without guessing.
What should a tax accountant internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Include two or three documented projects showing the tax software, accounting tools, or spreadsheet models you used, a sample tax return, a cost analysis, or a reconciliation exercise gives recruiters something concrete to assess. Add relevant coursework like taxation, auditing, and financial accounting. Keep it to one page.
Are there remote tax accountant internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 14% of the tax accountant internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill quickly because they draw applicants from across the country, so apply early and filter by work type to see those openings before they close.
What is a Big Four tax internship?
Big Four tax internships at Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG are structured cohort programs that place students in client-facing tax work across multiple service lines. They target penultimate-year undergraduates and graduate students new to professional accounting, recruit heavily in the fall for the following summer, and are among the most competitive internship pipelines in the field, apply in the first wave.
Can international students get tax accountant internships?
Yes. F-1 students can intern through CPT while enrolled or through OPT work authorization after finishing a degree, and the employer does not have to file anything for either, so many companies are open to international interns. Confirm your eligibility and timing with your university's international student office before accepting an offer.
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