Accounting Intern

Job Description

About Company

At Wipfli, people are at the core of everything they do, serving as the catalyst for their ability to create exceptional impact and extraordinary results. The company emphasizes a culture of flexibility, focusing on building strong relationships, and encouraging each individual to follow their own path. They believe that people truly matter and strive to ensure their associates feel valued, offering a career-defining opportunity for those looking to make a difference and find a professional home.

Wipfli is committed to fair, transparent, and competitive compensation, with an estimated base pay rate for this role at $28.50/hr. The actual hourly rate offered is determined by business-related factors such as location, skills, experience, training/education, licensure, certifications, business needs, current associate pay, and relevant employment laws.

Wipfli cares about its associates’ well-being, offering benefits that include paid sick leave and access to free, confidential counseling through their Employee Assistance Program. While this specific role is Wipfli notes that it offers flexibility for many positions to be performed remotely, encouraging applicants to discuss their work preferences with their recruiter.

As an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, Wipfli ensures that all candidates receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected characteristics. The company is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities during the application, interview, or recruiting process, and can be contacted via email at hr@wipfli.com for such requests.

Job Description

This is an Intern position at Wipfli, designed for individuals pursuing a career in accounting.

Work Arrangement:
This role requires an in-person work arrangement. Interns are expected to work regularly 5 days a week (for full-time interns) or during their working hours (for part-time interns) in a Wipfli office or at client sites. Client sites can vary locally, regionally, or nationally depending on the industry alignment. Scheduled meetings at client locations and in the office require in-person attendance.

General Responsibilities (Applicable to all Interns):
• Responding to client and firm associate requests in a timely, accurate, positive, and professional manner.
• Responding to client inquiries and working with clients to gather necessary information for document completion.
• Utilizing data analysis skills to discover useful information and patterns to support recommendations.
• Proactively identifying improvement opportunities in processes to enhance efficiency.
• NOTE: Interns can gain experience in only Tax or in both Tax AND Audit.

Tax Specific Responsibilities:
• Preparing individual, business, and fiduciary tax returns and projections in accordance with firm and professional standards, as directed by engagement leaders.
• Understanding and effectively using current tax and accounting software applications.
• Researching tax-related issues and other related financial reports.
• Performing a limited number of tax return interviews as needed.

Audit Specific Responsibilities:
• Performing audit, review, and compliance testing procedures in accordance with firm and professional standards, as directed by engagement leaders.
• Communicating with engagement leaders regarding open items, testing problems, or other important matters in a timely manner.
• Preparing (or reviewing client prepared) financial statements and footnotes, management reports, and other engagement outputs.
• Developing technical competency with GAAP, especially related to the assigned product line.

What You Will Gain:
• First-hand experience of the “Wipfli Way” while working alongside professionals from all levels of the firm.
• Development of experience and skills to become a trusted business advisor for clients and associates.
• Hands-on experience in tax and/or audit work and related software applications.
• Opportunity to work as an individual contributor and as part of a team to support client engagements.
• Exposure to a variety of clients and industries, ranging from small businesses to large corporations.
• Development of administrative, professional, and interpersonal skills, enabling effective organization, analysis, and communication with others in a productive and efficient manner.

Qualifications:
• Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Accounting.
• Completion of a corporate or individual taxation class is required.
• Demonstrated above-average competency in accounting, as shown by college GPA; a preferred GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Working towards eligibility to sit for the CPA exam upon graduation (150 credits).
• Preferred coursework in Data Analytics or Big Data.
• Ability to think independently and make good decisions based on education and experience.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills to effectively interact with clients and staff.
• Ability to prioritize work, follow through on requests, take initiative, and meet deadlines.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis upon hire. Wipfli will not consider candidates who require sponsorship for employment visa status now or in the future (e.g., H-1B status).

Recruiting Contact: Geri Otto, from the Wipfli recruiting team, will guide candidates through this process. You can connect with her on LinkedIn.

Additional Information:
For those not fully prepared to apply or unsure where to start, Wipfli encourages joining their Talent Community to stay connected and explore future opportunities.