What to Expect on a Finance and Accounting Internship

You may be a graduate looking to stand out in today’s competitive job market.

Or you’re simply planning ahead by setting out your career in detail; and you know that the best way to get ahead is a world-class internship with a fantastic company.

Whatever your background, you’re looking for a financial internship. Among other things, this covers tax, insurance, accounting, investments and pensions, and banking.

Major firms in this sector include Deloitte, KPMG, and PwC – as well as countless banks and insurance firms. It’s a varied industry with plenty of room for movement and growth. Whether you want to work in venture capital, SMEs, or established firms. This vast industry can cater to your preferences.

Finance and accounting is an exciting, engaging sector in which to begin your career. With high earning potential, job security, and opportunity for career progression and personal growth. In fact, there are plenty of reasons why the financial sector is right for you.

First, it certainly isn’t an easy industry. You’ll work hard and exercise every brain cell as you make high-stakes decisions at pace – even more so the further you move up the career ladder.

And of course, it takes a mathematical mind adept at problem-solving to flourish here. Finance firms also look for the ability to work under pressure and to remain self-confident – as well as attention to detail and accuracy skills.

For the right person, this is a thrilling and rewarding industry. Watching your hard work quite literally pay dividends is worth it; and the remuneration and perks of the job are always welcome.  

But without having had the experience, it’s difficult to know just what it’s like to undertake a financial internship. Before applying, it’s a good idea to get a sense of just what will await you!

You’ll want to know the ins and outs; from what it’s like working day-to-day, to what you can expect from living in a brand new city.

That’s why we’ve put together the definitive guide to internships in finance and accounting.

Read on to get a taster of just what it’s like to work in this busy, rewarding sector.

The first thing to look forward to is having a fantastic team of equals around you as you work. From day one of your finance internship, you’ll be treated like one of the team.

You won’t be spending a lazy afternoon hanging around with nothing to do; instead, after a short introductory period, you’ll be as hands-on and involved as any of your colleagues.

Looking after you will be your manager. You’ll have their support every step of the way; from guidance in your early days, to regular progress reviews and pastoral care.

After work, you’ll be able to relax and unwind at regular drinks or dinner sessions. These relaxed and light-hearted affairs are a fantastic way to get to know your colleagues in an informal setting. Here, you’ll build fast bonds that will enable you to work effectively throughout your internship.

The meat of your internship experience will be the work itself.

Expect to exercise your spreadsheet software skills as you get into the weeds of finance. Depending on your firm and sector, you might be checking invoices and matching them against the accounts system. Or you’ll be getting to grips with ratings criteria and methodology, a key component of banking all around the world.

You’ll be wrestling with statistics and international comparisons – finance, after all, is a global enterprise – as you assist management in navigating client liaison. After a few weeks, you may even be trusted enough to lead client meetings yourself.

Or you might dive deeply into research material. Investment data, satisfaction ratings, new and emerging trends will all help guide your firm’s policy. You’ll be trusted to compile data from a range of disciplines and sources and present it in one coherent package.

You’ll leave your internship with a set of industry-specific skills and knowledge that will stand you in excellent stead when it comes to applying for future roles.

Beyond Academy offers fourteen different international destinations for our fantastic financial internships. Between New York, Berlin, and Tokyo, we cover the globe so you can work in some of the biggest financial hubs in the world.

Because your financial internship isn’t just about amazing, hands-on work experience – although you will get that! It’s an international experience too, which means soaking up the atmosphere of a global city.

While in your city of choice, you’ll immerse yourself in culture and history. Museums, galleries and tours will help you understand your city’s past. And cultural hotspots like theatres, cafes and restaurants will give you a sense of the city’s present and future.

Wherever you choose, you’ll have a fantastic experience. But employers sometimes wonder about the effectiveness of an international internship. Is it a genuine job or a glorified holiday?

There are a lot of ways to combat this. But when it comes to finance, the easiest way to communicate the effectiveness of your experience is to pick the right city.

You want to break into the financial world, so this means picking a financial hub! Amsterdam, home to the world’s first stock exchange, is an offbeat and interesting choice. Otherwise, London, Tokyo, New York, or Berlin are all sensible cities to choose.

By matching your city to your chosen sector, you’ll be selling the value of your experience to prospective employers before even sitting down for an interview.

You won’t be alone during your finance internship. Alongside you will be your Beyond Community, a group of interns navigating a busy foreign experience just like you. It’s the best support network you could possibly ask for.

When you arrive, you’ll start with a welcome dinner. This is where you’ll meet your community for the first time. Over some sumptuous international cuisine, you’ll introduce yourselves and soon get to know each other.

Throughout your internship, you’ll also be able to attend plenty of social events, dinners, and trips. These are a great way of catching up with your community, all while forming ever-closer ties.

And before you leave, you’ll have the chance to celebrate your achievements at your farewell dinner. This will be your last social event, so pull out all the stops! Congratulate your friends on a job well done as you relax over some delicious food.

Many interns report that they make life-long friends on our courses. You’ll certainly never forget your Beyond Community!

Working in the financial sector is a challenging experience. No two days will ever be the same, and you’ll need every ounce of hard work and intelligence to make it. But on the other end are the feelings of satisfaction at a job well done. When it comes to finance, what you put in is what you get out.

You’ll emerge from your internship with the skills and industry expertise to make you stand out to future employers. Finance firms are increasingly identifying a skills gap as one of the biggest impediments to hiring new employees. But with an internship experience on your CV, you’ll demonstrate that you can hit the ground running.

Of course, it’s not all about work. During your internship you’ll be living and working in a foreign city – meeting new people and experiencing a new culture for the first time. Cultural awareness, as well as an ability to adapt to any environment, are skills highly valued by prospective employers.

Additionally, you’ll build a community of friends and professional contacts while you work. And you’ll take these benefits with you as you enter the financial world.

At Beyond Academy, we offer a range of financial internships across an array of international destinations.

We’ll carefully factor in your skills, experiences, and background when designing your internship program. This tailored approach gives you the best opportunity to kickstart your financial career.

So if you’d like to find out more, please check out our financial internship opportunities here!