Updated October 2026
TL;DR
This article brings together finance internships, work-study, and volunteer experiences for high school students in New York, plus remote and broader U.S. options. Depending on the placement, students may explore investment research, financial administration, or credit-union operations through practical work and professional shadowing. Ladder Internships offers fully remote startup internships where high school students work on real projects with guidance from company managers.
How do businesses turn financial information into growth decisions? Companies can issue stock to fund new products, expansion, or debt repayment. Practical experience helps you connect financial concepts with real decisions and responsibilities. That exploration can span investing, accounting, or the way organizations manage money.
The selection emphasizes high school eligibility, finance-related exposure, and a mix of New York, remote, and wider U.S. opportunities.
If you’d like to explore the business side of finance, explore these business internships for high school students in New York. For a wider geographic perspective, browse the 2025 finance internship guide for high school students.
Why should you do a finance internship?
A finance internship can help you test your interests by seeing how organizations use financial information. Working alongside professionals can help you build accuracy, responsibility, and workplace communication skills. For guided startup project work, explore the virtual opportunities offered by Ladder Internships.
What skills can you pick up in finance internships?
Finance-related internships can build your ability to organize information, interpret numbers, and explain findings clearly. Depending on the role, that practice may involve budgeting, investment research, or checking financial records. Accuracy and clear communication matter because colleagues need information they can understand and use when making decisions.
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!
|
Program type |
Top programs |
Cost / Stipend |
Best For |
|
Virtual Programs |
Ladder Internship Program (fully remote), Futures and Options Internship Program (in-person workshops required), Industry Scholars Program (Business & Finance pathway) (virtual access depends on placement) |
Cost |
Students interested in startup strategy or workplace finance who prefer remote access or can meet placement-specific in-person commitments |
|
Corporate Placements & School Work Study |
Genesys Works, Ladders for Leaders, Cristo Rey New York High School – Corporate Work Study Program |
Cost |
Students interested in broader corporate careers or financial administration through a school-based work-study education |
|
Banking, Accounting & Investments |
CLA High School Internship Program, Invest in Girls with Brown Advisory – Summer Internship, Capital One – Student Café Ambassador (Intern) – Fordham Road, Hudson Valley Credit Union – High School Summer Internship |
Cost |
Students exploring accounting, investment, retail banking, or credit-union careers before deciding which area of finance interests them |
|
Finance in Arts Organizations |
Apollo Theater – Apollo Theater Academy Arts Administration Internship, ArtsWestchester – ArtsWestchester Finance/Human Resources Internship |
Cost |
Students who want to connect an interest in the arts with budgeting, fundraising, or organizational finance |
|
Financial Education & Community Service |
Visions Federal Credit Union – Visions Business Academy, NYC Free Tax Prep Volunteer Program, Junior Achievement of New York – JA High School Heroes |
Cost |
Students motivated to make financial information easier to understand and access in schools or their local community. |
1. Futures and Options Internship Program
Location: New York City, NY; internship placements may be in person, hybrid, or remote, while required program workshops take place in person in Manhattan
Stipend: At least $17/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not stated
Dates: School year: September – June; Summer: six weeks in July – August
Application Deadline: School year: applications reviewed as received until full; Summer: January 23
Eligibility: Juniors and seniors enrolled in NYC high schools; lawful U.S. work eligibility; work card before interview if under 18; required orientations and workshops
You work in a paid, mentored placement matched to your interests and attend career-readiness workshops and employer field trips. Your financial-literacy workshop covers reading a paycheck, budgeting, saving, and an interactive group budgeting activity. A finance placement depends on available employers, while coordinator support can help you develop workplace communication and money-management skills.
Who is it best for: Students who want mentored workplace experience and practical financial literacy while exploring business careers.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Cost varies depending on the program type; financial aid is available / No stipend
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the cohort; Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can work for 10–20 hours/week for 8–12 weeks
Your work may include tracking key metrics, evaluating competitors, or supporting operational decisions that influence company growth. Throughout the internship, you receive guidance from your manager and a dedicated Ladder Coach who helps refine your problem-solving and communication. The experience concludes with a formal presentation of your work.
Who is it best for: Students who want to explore startup finance and business strategy through mentored project work.
3. CLA High School Internship Program
Location: U.S. offices, including Timonium, Maryland, and Sacramento, California
Stipend: Paid; $18/hour reported for Timonium
Acceptance rate/cohort size: About 13.8%; over 80 students
Dates: June 15 – July 16; break June 29 – July 3
Application Deadline: Typically, March
Eligibility: High school juniors/seniors; age 16+ at start; reliable transportation, including external visits; working papers if under 18; U.S. work authorization without employment-based visa sponsorship; accounting curiosity; Microsoft Office proficiency
You receive a laptop for a four-week, paid, in-person experience built around an interactive case study, professional shadowing, and team projects. You explore accounting and professional services across varied clients and industries, helping you understand how financial information supports businesses and build teamwork and workplace communication.
Who is it best for: Students who want to explore accounting and the business side of finance through case studies, professional shadowing, and collaborative projects.
4. Invest in Girls with Brown Advisory – Summer Internship
Location: Baltimore, Maryland; Boston, Massachusetts; New York City, New York
Stipend: $625 upon completion
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 12 students
Dates: July 6 – July 9; July 13 – July 16; July 20 – July 23
Application Deadline: Priority: April 26; final: May 3
Eligibility: Rising 11th or 12th graders; current or past Invest in Girls participant, or past National Personal Finance Challenge or National Economics Challenge competitor
You explore Brown Advisory’s investment work by shadowing professionals and completing a project connecting investments with current events. Learning from the firm’s staff and leaders can help you understand finance careers and practice professional networking.
Who is it best for: Students who want to explore investment careers through professional shadowing, research, and workplace networking.
5. Genesys Works
Location: Nine U.S. regions, including New York City, New York
Stipend: Paid hourly; hourly rates and total earnings vary by site and hours worked
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size not specified
Dates: Summer skills training followed by a year-long senior-year internship; exact dates vary by site
Application Deadline: Varies as per region
Eligibility: High school juniors attending partner schools; on track to graduate; U.S. work authorization; summer skills training; own transportation to training and internship
You train in business technology, workplace communication, resumes, and interviews before seeking an entry-level corporate placement. You can earn a paid, year-long internship during your senior year, with college and career coaching and continued alum support. Finance-related roles are documented, including a past global finance billing analyst placement at AT&T, although your assigned role depends on company needs and your strengths.
Who is it best for: Students who want sustained corporate work experience and exposure to business technology or finance-related operations while developing workplace communication and career plans.
6. Ladders for Leaders
Location: New York City, NY
Stipend: New York State minimum wage or higher; pre-employment workshops unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; citywide cohort size not stated
Dates: July 6 – August 15 or July 13 – August 22; employer-paid placements follow separate school-calendar-dependent schedules
Application Deadline: January 16
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors or college students; ages 16–24; NYC residents; legally eligible to work in the U.S.; prior paid or volunteer work; pre-employment events and employer interviews
You complete pre-employment training in résumé writing, interviews, business etiquette, and workplace communication before interviewing with participating employers. The program offers paid placements in business and financial operations, with dedicated supervisors and defined learning goals. Your specific finance duties depend on the employer and available role, and the experience can help you explore corporate work while developing professional habits.
Who is it best for: Students who want supervised business or finance experience and structured preparation for professional interviews.
7. Capital One – Student Café Ambassador (Intern) – Fordham Road
Location: Bronx, NY; New York City, NY
Stipend: $52,416 full-time annualized salary; prorated for agreed part-time hours
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not stated
Dates: Two-week August training followed by part-time work during senior year
Application Deadline:
Eligibility: Theodore Roosevelt Campus enrolment with anticipated June graduation; age 16 by August 1; work permit
You help Café visitors navigate mobile and online banking, explain available products and services, and support customers’ financial goals. This paid student role combines customer-facing banking experience with training in business, investments, and financial literacy during summer and senior year. The work can help you develop service, presentation, and communication skills while exploring retail banking.
Who is it best for: Students who want customer-facing banking experience and enjoy explaining financial products and digital tools.
8. Cristo Rey New York High School – Corporate Work Study Program
Location: New York, New York
Cost/Stipend: Work-study payments offset tuition; optional paid break work; annual family tuition contribution: $800–$2,000; $45 FACTS fee; financial aid available / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not stated
Dates: School-year work-study; summer training; optional holiday and summer employment
Application Deadline: Priority: December 10; rolling thereafter until capacity
Eligibility: CRNY enrollment; incoming grade 9 or beginning-year grade 10–11 transfers; age 14 by October 31; demonstrated financial need; solid academics, consistent attendance, maturity and work ethic; U.S. work authorization by first workday; mandatory work-study participation
Depending on your placement, you may file trade confirmations, check credit files and account-opening documents, enter invoices into spreadsheets, or help process expense reports. You work one day each week as part of your school education, with corporate partner payments applied toward your tuition. Summer training and weekly professional skills classes can help you develop workplace communication and accuracy in financial administration.
Who is it best for: Students who want sustained exposure to financial administration through a school-based work-study education, with placements assigned by the school.
If you live outside NYC 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.
9. Visions Federal Credit Union – Visions Business Academy
Location: Southern Tier, NY; New Jersey; Reading, PA
Stipend: $16/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; ~50 interns
Dates: Summer training followed by school-year work
Application Deadline: Applications/openings are handled by individual participating schools and Visions
Eligibility: Students attending the assigned participating high school; age 16 or older; Maine-Endwell applicants age 16 by July 1
You help your school’s Financial Wellness Officer prepare financial education materials, present money topics to classmates, and support an in-school Financial Wellness Center. Visions’ summer training leads into school-year work teaching financial literacy and supporting school events. Networking with Finance, Data Analytics, and other Visions teams can help you explore credit-union careers while practicing public speaking and professional communication.
Who is it best for: Students who enjoy teaching peers about money and want to explore financial wellness and credit-union services.
10. Apollo Theater – Apollo Theater Academy Arts Administration Internship
Location: New York, New York
Stipend: $17/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; cohort size not stated
Dates: April 21 – May 21; orientation April 14 – April 16
Application Deadline: March 27
Eligibility: Current 12th graders; New York City residents; interest in arts/entertainment careers and collaborative work; New York State working papers if under 18
You explore budgeting, fundraising, grant writing, and contract negotiation through event development across Apollo departments. You help develop the concept for Teen Takeover and receive an official production credit.
Who is it best for: Students who want to explore how budgeting and fundraising support performing arts events while developing broader arts administration skills.
11. NYC Dept. of Consumer and Worker Protection – NYC Free Tax Prep Volunteer Program
Location: New York City, NY
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not stated
Dates: January 19 – April 16; training begins in fall
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Over age 16; parental consent if under 18; lawful U.S. residence; comfort working with people; IRS training and certification for tax-preparer roles
You learn to prepare basic tax returns, use tax software, and help clients access financial-health resources while protecting confidential information. You must pass IRS certification exams before serving as a VITA/TCE volunteer tax preparer. This volunteer service can help you develop tax knowledge, financial literacy, and client-service skills.
Who is it best for: Students who want practical tax-preparation experience and enjoy helping community members understand their finances.
12. NYC Public Schools' Industry Scholars Program – Industry Scholars Program (Business & Finance pathway)
Location: New York City, New York; virtual or in-person placements are offered in selected industries, with the format of a Business & Finance placement depending on the available opportunity
Stipend: $15/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not stated
Dates: Spring, Summer, and Fall; six-week cohorts; exact pathway dates not disclosed
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Ages 16–18; NYC CTE or FutureReadyNYC high school enrolment; I-9 employment verification
You undertake a paid internship aligned with your Business & Finance studies, supported by work-readiness training and ongoing program assistance. You complete employer-assigned tasks, attend meetings, and learn from staff while applying what you learn in class. This can help you develop workplace communication and explore how finance studies translate into professional practice.
Who is it best for: Students who want to apply business and finance coursework in a workplace and explore careers through paid, supervised experience.
13. Hudson Valley Credit Union – High School Summer Internship
Location: Poughkeepsie, New York
Stipend: $17/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 10 interns
Dates: Six weeks beginning in early July
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students within HVCU’s field of membership; entering senior year in fall; good academic standing; U.S. work authorization and working papers; reliable transportation
You explore credit union operations through a paid summer internship. You shadow departments including Accounting & Finance and Lending and have the opportunity to create a capstone presentation sharing what you learned with senior staff and friends or family. These activities can help you understand financial services and develop professional communication skills.
Who is it best for: Students who want to explore accounting, lending, and credit union operations through department shadowing and a capstone presentation.
14. ArtsWestchester – ArtsWestchester Finance/Human Resources Internship
Location: White Plains, New York
Stipend: Typically unpaid; travel stipend may be available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not stated
Dates: Summer, Fall, and Winter/Spring cohorts are available
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school juniors/seniors, college students/recent graduates, and mature professionals seeking arts experience; availability for virtual orientation; interest in arts administration; Microsoft Office and basic office administration experience; Finance/Human Resources role seeks Excel proficiency and excellent writing skills
You work with administration staff on analytics, budgeting, and updates to human resources or finance policies. You also participate in professional development activities and learn how an arts nonprofit operates, which can help you develop financial analysis and workplace communication skills.
Who is it best for: Students who want to explore budgeting and financial operations within an arts nonprofit while developing business administration skills.
15. Junior Achievement of New York – JA High School Heroes
Location: NYC, Long Island and Lower Hudson Valley, New York
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not stated
Dates: School-arranged teaching days; two preparation sessions and one classroom teaching day
Application Deadline: No universal application deadline; students participate through their high school and event timing is coordinated with the school/JA representative.
Eligibility: High school students at partner schools in NYC, Long Island, and Lower Hudson Valley; required preparation sessions
You teach five or six interactive elementary-school lessons in a team of two or three, including activities reinforcing financial literacy. JA staff provide teaching kits and support for lesson delivery and classroom management, which can help you explain money concepts and build presentation skills.
Who is it best for: Students who enjoy teaching younger children about money and want community service experience that develops public speaking and teamwork.
Can a finance internship help with your college applications?
A finance internship can give you concrete material for explaining an academic interest in business, economics, or accounting. Reflecting on investment research, budgeting, or financial records can show how you connected classroom ideas with practical responsibilities. Describe your contribution and what the experience taught you, using the application’s actual questions as your guide.
How do you apply for a finance internship?
Start with the official application instructions, including eligibility, deadlines, and required materials. Prepare examples of your interest in finance, such as relevant coursework, a school project, or budget management experience. Allow time for any requested documents or interviews, since application requirements and stages vary.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Do the finance administration roles expect spreadsheet experience?
Some do: a finance and human resources role seeks Excel proficiency, while an accounting-focused internship lists Microsoft Office proficiency. Other options involve different preparation, including IRS certification for tax preparation or required training before financial-literacy teaching.
2. Could I help other students learn about money?
Yes, school-based options include preparing financial education materials for classmates and teaching interactive financial-literacy lessons to younger children. These experiences involve different audiences: one focuses on high school peers, while another uses small teaching teams in elementary classrooms.
3. Can I earn money directly, or does it go toward tuition?
The list includes both: paid placements provide earnings, while school-based work-study applies employer payments toward tuition. Some opportunities charge fees, and travel support may be separate from wages. For a fee-based remote startup option, Ladder Internships offers financial aid.
4. Will I have something to present or show at the end?
Some entries include a formal presentation or a completed investment-related project, while a credit-union internship may include a capstone presentation. An arts administration experience provides a production credit, so the result you can share depends on the program and your participation.