Intern – Public Accounting

Job Description

Accounting Intern – Summer 2027 | Fenner, Melstrom & Dooling, PLC

The Tone:
This is an internship at Fenner, Melstrom & Dooling, PLC, located in downtown Birmingham, Michigan. Fenner, Melstrom & Dooling is an independent CPA and advisory firm that has provided accounting, tax, audit, and advisory services to privately held businesses, high-net-worth individuals, and employee benefit plan clients since 1952. The firm recruits professionals who combine technical ability with curiosity, sound judgment, teamwork, and the ability to think like a business owner. Interns contribute to real client work, learn from experienced professionals, and build practical skills across public accounting. The internship is designed to help students connect classroom knowledge to client service while developing technical ability, professional judgment, communication skills, and confidence, while also providing exposure to different areas of public accounting to discover individual interests and strengths.

The TL;DR
• Role: Internship
• Type: Seasonal
• Location: In-person Birmingham, MI
• Team: Interns are members of the team, receiving one-on-one guidance from senior managers and partners.
• Mission: To contribute to client work, develop practical public accounting skills, and connect classroom knowledge to client service.
• Tech Stack: Tax tools, accounting tools, audit tools, workflow tools, research tools, A.I. tools

What You’ll Actually Do
• Tax Services: Assist with preparing individual, business, partnership, trust, estate, and other tax returns along with related workpapers, as assigned.
• Accounting and Audit Services: Compile and analyze financial information, test and document transactions, prepare workpapers, and assist with compilations, reviews, audits, financial statements, and footnotes under U.S. GAAP and applicable standards.
• Advisory Support: Support research, financial analysis, projections, budgeting and forecasting, or other advisory projects based on client needs and experience level.
• Client Communication: Prepare routine correspondence, organize client-provided information, identify open questions, and communicate professionally with team members and clients.
• Quality and Deadlines: Complete assignments accurately and efficiently, maintain organized documentation, manage competing priorities, and meet client and firm deadlines.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in accounting or a closely related field. This is an Entry-Level position.
• Experience: Genuine interest in public accounting and continued learning; ability to take ownership of development.
• Skills: Effective written and verbal communication, strong work ethic with dependable follow-through, and ability to prioritize assignments and manage time.
• Bonus: Introductory accounting coursework completed; interest in CPA eligibility and licensure.