Finance Internship – Controllership

Job Description

Campus Undergraduate Summer Internship Program – 2027 Finance Controllership, Finance – Phoenix, AZ | American Express

The Tone:
This is a full-time summer internship at American Express, located in Phoenix, AZ. American Express is a global financial services company built on a 175-year history of innovation, shared values, and an unwavering commitment to back its customers, communities, and colleagues. The Finance Organization is a strategic partner, driving business value in every company decision by combining financial expertise, complex analytics, and a thorough knowledge of the risk environment. This internship specifically within the Controllership function provides an opportunity to contribute directly to upholding the highest standards of financial integrity and solving real business challenges, making a tangible impact on the company’s success.

The TL;DR
• Role: Internship
• Type: Seasonal (Summer)
• Location: In-person, Phoenix, AZ

• Team: Finance Organization, specifically within the Controllership function
• Mission: Solve real business challenges and contribute to financial integrity within the Controllership function of the Finance Organization.

What You’ll Actually Do
• Project Management: Complete a project that addresses a real business challenge for the organization.
• Financial Closing: Assist with monthly general ledger close activities, including journal entries and account reconciliations.
• Reporting & Analysis: Support the production and review of monthly and quarterly financial reports.
• Data Analysis: Perform variance analysis and analytical procedures for assigned general ledger accounts.
• Collaboration: Establish relationships and partner with subject matter experts on key Controllership accounting activities.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Entry-level undergraduate student currently enrolled in a full-time bachelor’s degree program, with a graduation date between December 2027 and June 2028, ideally with a focus on Finance or Accounting.
• Experience: No specific prior work experience is required beyond academic studies.
• Skills: The ability to manipulate large amounts of data and generate significant insights, strong communication skills to synthesize data into an easy-to-understand story for multiple audiences, and practical skills in performing monthly general ledger close activities including journal entries and account reconciliations, producing and reviewing financial reports, and conducting variance analysis and analytical procedures.
• Bonus: Candidates should ideally possess an agile mentality, demonstrating a positive, can-do attitude, adaptability to change, and being a highly motivated self-starter. Strong leadership qualities are also preferred, including acting and leading with courage, establishing relationships, making quick decisions, and influencing change.