Updated October 2026
TL;DR
These 10 accounting internships let high school students explore audit, tax, public-sector budgeting, government financial reporting, and insurance accounting. Depending on the program, you might reconcile ledgers, prepare audit documents, enter billing data, or shadow working professionals. The UK placements last two to five days, while most US options run for several weeks. Ladder Internships adds an eight-week, fully virtual option where you complete a real project for a startup, with finance among its listed fields.
How does anyone know whether a company's or a school district's financial statements are trustworthy? According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, accountants and auditors examine financial statements to make sure they are accurate and comply with laws and regulations. Seeing that work up close in high school can show you whether you enjoy the careful checking and problem-solving behind every set of accounts.
We chose these programs for their accounting-related work, their openness to high school students, and the mix of settings and formats they cover.
If you enjoy working with numbers and want to see how they shape investment and money decisions, these finance internships for high school students are a natural next step. You can also widen your search with business internships for high school students or economics internships for high school students.
Why should you do an accounting internship?
Accounting classes teach the rules, but an internship shows how they apply to real invoices, budgets, and audits. Working alongside professionals helps you test whether you enjoy the field’s detail and responsibility before choosing a college major. If you’d like to explore finance-related projects remotely, Ladder Internships offers an eight-week virtual program built around real startup work.
What skills can you pick up in accounting internships?
You can sharpen your attention to detail by reconciling records, spotting discrepancies, and checking that figures match their supporting documents. Spreadsheet skills and careful data entry also matter, since a single misplaced figure can throw off an entire report. Explaining your findings to colleagues and supervisors builds professional communication, which accountants rely on when presenting results.
How do you choose the right option?
Consider several factors before applying, including your grade level, location, academic background, schedule, and budget. Also check requirements related to citizenship, residency, coursework, or GPA, as these can vary significantly!
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Program type |
Top programs |
Cost/Stipend |
Best for |
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US Public-Sector Accounting |
Free; stipends $16.67/hr - 16.90/hr or unpaid |
Students curious about how school systems, utilities, and federal agencies handle budgets, audits, and public money |
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US Firm and Corporate Accounting |
Free; stipend $17/hr |
Students who want paid, in-person experience with everyday accounting inside a firm or corporate office |
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UK Audit and Accountancy Work Experience |
Free; stipend £25,089-£28,506 pro rata |
Year 12 and 13 students weighing audit, tax, and accountancy careers in the UK |
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Virtual Programs |
Fee-based (financial aid available) |
Students who want to explore finance-related startup work from anywhere |
1. Fairfax County Public Schools – Summer Internship Program
Location: Falls Church, Virginia
Stipend: $16.67 per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 40 interns
Dates: TBA; Usually July 6–August 14
Application Deadline: TBA; Usually April 10
Eligibility: At least 16 years old as of July 6; legally authorized to work in the United States; be a current FCPS high school student, or an FCPS graduate enrolled in a post-secondary program; document a negative TB test or screening if hired
In the Financial Accounting and Reporting placement, you see how the post-year-end close and year-end audit work for a governmental organization, with exposure to journal entries, accruals, and the year-end tasks needed to close the financial statements. You will also gain exposure to preparing the school system's Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) and preparing for the external audit. This paid, in-person placement runs for six weeks at 20 hours per week at FCPS's Gatehouse Administration Building.
Who is it best for: Students who want a close look at government accounting, from year-end journal entries and accruals to annual financial reporting and audit preparation.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Online (fully virtual)
Cost/Stipend: Cost varies depending on the program type; financial aid is available / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10% acceptance; 70 interns
Dates: Winter: begins December 7, 2026, running 8 weeks; Summer: TBA; Usually begins June 1; Spring and Fall cohorts also offered
Application Deadline: Winter: November 15; Spring: TBA; Usually February 8; Summer: TBA; Usually April 13 ; Fall: usually September
Eligibility: High school student for the startup internship programs; be a university student for the University Internship Program
You work remotely for eight weeks on a real project for a startup, with eight sessions with your host company, a first deliverable in week four, and a final presentation in week eight. Ladder's team suggests your project based on your interests and interview, and past finance-related projects include building an AI model to predict financial fluctuations in underreported economies and a go-to-market strategy for a personal finance app. Host companies include the private investment firm A-Game Equity Partners, and the CEO Internship track lets you work directly with a startup's CEO.
Who is it best for: Students who want to explore finance-related business work, such as investing, fintech, or personal finance products, through a remote project with a real startup.
3. Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority – Fall: VVWRA Accounting Technician
Location: Victorville, California
Stipend: $16.90 per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not disclosed
Dates: Fall: September 21–November 13; Summer: TBA; Usually June 1 – July 23
Application Deadline: Positions posted individually on Tomorrow’s Talent job board
Eligibility: Fall: Students currently enrolled in a High Desert charter school; be 16 years old; have Right to Work documents; be able to obtain a work permit; Summer: High school students; be able to obtain a work permit
You rotate through four areas of a public wastewater agency’s accounting work: audit and financial statements, budget book preparation, grant reimbursement, and accounts payable. With staff guidance, you help with general ledger reconciliations, prepare audit support documents, fill in budget worksheets in budget meetings, identify grant-eligible invoices, and practice three-way matching of invoices, purchase orders, and confirmations. You can also earn academic credit for the fall internship through a Victor Valley College Work Experience course.
Who is it best for: Students who want hands-on exposure to public-sector accounting, such as reconciliations, budgeting, grant reimbursement, and accounts payable, at a local utility agency.
4. CLA High School Internship Program
Location: Select CLA offices across the U.S.
Stipend: Paid, amount not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; ~69 interns
Dates: TBA; Usually June 15 – July 16, Monday to Thursday with June 29 – July 3 off
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: At least 16 at the program start; submit required working papers if under 18; be authorized to work in the U.S. without employment-based visa sponsorship
You spend four paid weeks in person at a CLA office, learning how accounting and professional services work while shadowing professionals at different levels. You also work through an interactive case study built around serving varied clients and industries, plus team projects that introduce you to CLA's culture and community. Earlier cohorts covered accounting, audit, tax, and wealth management work through mentorship and project-based learning.
Who is it best for: Students who want a paid, firsthand look at everyday accounting and professional services work by shadowing practitioners inside a national accounting firm.
5. Grant Thornton UK LLP – Ignite Work Experience
Location: 12 UK offices, including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow
Stipend: Travel and lunch expenses covered
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; ~200 students
Dates: TBA; Usually Glasgow: August 3–6; England (11 offices): August 17–20
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Year 12 or Year 13 students in England/Wales, or S5/S6 students in Scotland
You spend four days in person at one of Grant Thornton's UK offices, gaining practical work experience in the business. You also attend professional development sessions, take part in group activities on teamwork and problem-solving, and network with colleagues across the firm. On the final day, you have a careers conversation with the team, and strong performers may be fast-tracked onto one of the firm's school leaver programs.
Who is it best for: Students who want a first look at accountancy work inside a professional services firm and are thinking about a school leaver route into the profession.
6. USLI – High School Student Program
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Stipend: $17 per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not disclosed
Dates: Summer; typically June–August
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Current high school juniors; plan to enter the workforce directly after graduating high school
You enter premium amounts, customer commissions, and reporting data for policy endorsements, audits, cancellations, and reinstatements within five days of receipt in USLI's Accounting department. You also look into discrepancies such as incorrect premiums or missing information, enter endorsement changes to policy and billing details, and make data corrections requested by Accounts Receivable or the Controller. As you gain proficiency, you may help train new college students or take on data entry projects outside the normal endorsement workflow.
Who is it best for: Students who want hands-on experience with insurance premium accounting, billing data, and accounts receivable support in a corporate office.
7. UK National Audit Office – Access Accountancy Work Experience
Location: London and Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Stipend: Paid at £28,506 pro rata (London) or £25,089 pro rata (Newcastle)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size not disclosed
Dates: October 26–30
Application Deadline: TBA; Usually September 9 for London and September 22 for Newcastle
Eligibility: Be in Year 13 in the next academic year; have at least grade C/4 in both GCSE Maths and English; come from a lower socio-economic background, assessed by the occupation of your household's main income earner when you were 14
You spend a week at the National Audit Office, the independent public body that supports Parliament in holding government to account, focusing on its Financial Audit and Value for Money work. You spend time with audit and/or value for money teams as they plan and carry out real work programs. You also shadow senior leaders and meet current NAO trainees to hear about their experiences and career paths.
Who is it best for: Students who want a first look at public-sector auditing and at how government spending is checked for value for money.
If you live outside London and Newcastle or don’t want to commute every day, consider Ladder Internships, which pair you with startups to work on real projects in a fully virtual format.
8. RSM UK – Audit Experience Program
Location: Multiple UK offices, including London, Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow, Hull
Stipend: Paid, amount not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size not disclosed
Dates: February 10–11: Edinburgh. February 17–18: London, Birmingham, Manchester; October 13–14: Glasgow; October 27–28: Birmingham, Bristol, Chelmsford, Hull, Leeds, Manchester
Application Deadline: Office-specific listings posted individually
Eligibility: Students in Year 12 or 13 (S5 or S6 in Scotland); have predicted grades of at least 112 UCAS points from three A levels or an equivalent Level 3 qualification
Over two days in person at an RSM UK office, you attend insight sessions across the firm's audit work and complete group exercises focused on communication and teamwork. You also join networking, personal branding, wellbeing and employability sessions, and hear current RSM students describe their career journeys in audit. You receive a certificate of achievement on completion and may be able to fast-track your application for RSM's audit apprenticeship.
Who is it best for: Students who want an inside look at audit work at an accountancy firm and want to explore the apprenticeship route into a chartered accountancy career.
9. U.S. Treasury – Headquarters Student Internship Program
Location: Washington, D.C.
Stipend: Unpaid; relocation and housing at student's expense
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 10–12%; cohort size not disclosed
Dates: Spring: January start, at least 10 consecutive weeks; Summer: TBA; Usually May start, at least 10 consecutive weeks; Fall: TBA; Usually September start, at least 10 consecutive weeks
Application Deadline: Spring: October; Summer: December; Fall: June
Eligibility: U.S. citizens; enrolled at least part-time, or accepted, at an accredited high school, college, or graduate institution; maintain student status throughout the internship; have a GPA of 2.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale; pass a background investigation; certify Selective Service registration or exemption if male and born after December 31, 1959
You work in one of Treasury's Departmental Offices at its Washington, D.C., headquarters, collecting, analyzing, and presenting data on policy priorities, drafting talking points and briefing materials, and attending Congressional hearings and official meetings. You choose three areas of interest to guide your placement, and the offices include the Office of Management, which oversees the Department's budget, financial management, and accounting. The listed intern duties also include helping with management functions such as budget formulation.
Who is it best for: Students who want to see how federal budgeting and financial management work inside a cabinet-level agency while researching and briefing on economic policy.
10. MHA – Leading with Ambition Work Experience Program
Location: 12 UK offices, including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size not stated
Dates: TBA; Usually July 6–10
Application Deadline: TBA; Usually May 1
Eligibility: Students in Year 12, studying towards A levels or equivalent; have consent from your school or college; meet at least one of these criteria: attend a state school or college, be or have been eligible for free school meals, or be the first in your immediate family to attend university
Over five days at an MHA office, you shadow professionals in the audit, tax and accounts departments and work on group projects with other students. You also learn about the route to becoming a chartered accountant and attend employability sessions on applications and selection processes. You receive a certificate and digital badge on completion, and strong performers may be able to fast-track a future MHA apprenticeship application.
Who is it best for: Students who want a first look at audit, tax and accounts work inside an accountancy firm and are considering an apprenticeship route into chartered accountancy.
Can an accounting internship help with your college applications?
An internship gives you concrete moments to write about, like tracing a discrepancy to its source or helping prepare figures for an audit. Reflecting on what you did and what you learned shows admissions readers how you handle responsibility and real problems. It can also help explain why you want to study accounting or business in college.
How do you apply for an accounting internship?
Start with each program’s official instructions, since eligibility rules, required materials, and deadlines vary from one program to the next. Prepare a few specific examples of your interest in accounting, such as a business class project or a role as a club treasurer. Then leave enough time to gather documents, such as work permits, and review everything before you submit.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Will I do actual accounting work, or mostly watch others?
Many of these placements give you real tasks, though how many depends on the setting and length. Longer US placements tend to involve hands-on work such as matching invoices to purchase orders, correcting billing records, or filling in budget worksheets. At the same time, the short UK programs lean more on shadowing, insight sessions, and group exercises. A few firm-based options combine time with professionals with case studies or team projects.
2. Do I need accounting coursework before I apply?
None of these programs list a prior accounting course as a requirement. Where academic requirements appear, they are broader, such as minimum grades in maths and English, predicted A level points, or a minimum GPA. Most of the others focus on age, school year, or the school you attend.
3. Do I need to live near the program to take part?
For most of these programs, yes, since nearly all placements take place in person at a specific office, school system, or agency. Some are also limited to students from a particular school district or local school network, while the UK programs run across several office locations. If commuting isn’t practical, Ladder Internships lets you work on a startup project fully online.
4. Could one of these internships lead to a job later?
Some could open a door, though none guarantees one. Several UK firms say strong performers may be able to fast-track an application to a school leaver or apprenticeship program, and one US program is designed for juniors who plan to enter the workforce right after high school. The others focus on exposure and career insight rather than a direct hiring route.