Entry-Level Accountant

Job Description

Finance Intern | First Student

The Tone:
This is an internship at First Student, an on-site position (city not specified in the job description). First Student is a large organization with over 60,000 employees dedicated to safely transporting more than 5 million students and passengers daily. This role is crucial for maintaining the accuracy and completeness of the company’s financial records. As a Finance Intern, you will directly contribute to preparing essential financial reports and ensuring the integrity of the general ledger, which underpins sound financial management for the entire operation. This position offers a practical opportunity to apply accounting principles in a real-world setting.

The TL;DR
• Role: Internship
• Location: In-person (city not specified in description)
• Mission: Assist in the day-to-day maintenance of a complete and accurate general ledger and prepare basic financial reports.
• Tech Stack: MS Office products, accounting software

What You’ll Actually Do
• Journal Entry Management: Prepare, review, and make necessary adjustments to journal entries, ensuring all financial transactions are accurately and completely recorded in the general ledger.
• Balance Sheet Reconciliation: Systematically perform reconciliations of various balance sheet accounts, meticulously verifying figures and investigating any discrepancies to maintain financial accuracy.
• Process Efficiency Participation: Actively contribute to Department Efficiency Teams, engaging in projects aimed at re-engineering and automating current accounting processes to enhance overall operational effectiveness and data flow.
• Financial Information Quality: Conduct detailed analytics on financial information with the primary objective of ensuring data quality, reliability, and consistency for accurate reporting and analysis.
• Fixed Asset Maintenance: Manage the lifecycle of fixed assets by maintaining precise records of property additions and disposals, encompassing personal, real estate, and right-of-use assets.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Candidates should be actively pursuing either a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Accounting, providing a foundational understanding of core financial principles and practices.
• Experience: Demonstrated familiarity with both US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (US GAAP) and the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Codification is essential for accurate financial reporting.
• Skills: Strong foundational skills in general ledger accounting, precise account reconciliation techniques, analytical abilities for financial data, and experience with fixed asset management procedures.
• Bonus: Prior experience utilizing Microsoft Office products, particularly Excel, and familiarity with general accounting software platforms is preferred.