Accounting Interns

Job Description

Accounting Internship 2027 | Principal Financial Group

The Tone:
This is an Accounting Internship for 2027 at Principal Financial Group, located in Des Moines, Iowa, with hybrid work arrangements available. Principal builds essential financial tools that empower customers to lead better lives, operating at the critical intersection of financial services and technology. This role is a key opportunity for interns to apply and enhance their accounting skills and develop professionally within a purpose-led firm, driven by its mission to make financial security universally accessible. Principal has been a trusted leader for over 140 years, taking pride in its mission, integrity, and customer focus.

The TL;DR
• Role: Internship
• Type: Full-time (May-August for Summer/Extended; January-August or May-December for Co-ops), Part-time (15-20 hours/week during academic year for Extended Internships)
• Location: Hybrid, Des Moines, IA
• Pay: $24 hourly
• Mission: This role helps Principal build financial tools that aid customers in achieving financial security.
• Tech Stack: Excel, query language (SQL, SAS), Power BI

What You’ll Actually Do
• Reporting: Prepare internal or external financial reports and/or tax returns.
• Close Process: Participate in the financial statement close process.
• Compliance: Test and document internal controls for SOX compliance.
• Analysis: Perform variance and trend analysis.
• Project Support: Assist with various projects as needed.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Candidates must be actively working towards or have completed a bachelor’s or graduate level degree in Accounting or Finance.
• Experience: A minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA is required for all internships. For Extended Internships, candidates need a minimum of 12 or more hours of accounting major coursework completed by the start of the internship. For Co-ops, a minimum of 6 or more hours of accounting or finance major coursework must be completed by the start of the internship.
• Skills: Strong ability to solve problems using technology is essential, including proficiency with tools such as Excel, query languages like SQL or SAS, and data visualization platforms like Power BI.
• Bonus: Meaningful involvement with community or school organizations, and/or relevant work experience, will help applicants stand out.