Tax and Accounting Spring 2027 Internship

Waggoner Financial; Lansing (MI); Hybrid; USD 21,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mentorship from CPA professionals

Hands-on tax experience

Exposure to tax software

Flexible scheduling around classes

Small-firm environment

Potential future opportunities

Job summary

Waggoner Financial in Michigan is seeking an accounting student intern to assist with income tax returns for individuals and small businesses, gather client data, and support engagement functions.

You will work under CPA mentors, gain hands-on experience with QuickBooks, tax planning, and client deliverables, with flexible scheduling around classes in a small-firm environment. This internship offers exposure to real client work during tax season and potential future opportunities within the firm.

Qualifications

• Enrolled in a bachelor's or master's degree program in accounting.
• Actively pursuing CPA eligibility.
• Strong interest in accounting, taxation, and financial planning.

Responsibilities

• Assist in preparing income tax returns for individuals and small business entities.
• Research specific tax-related technical issues.
• Gather and organize financial data for clients and prospects to support key engagement functions.
• Record transactions in ledgers and generate financial statements using QuickBooks.
• Review balance sheets and profit and loss statements for accuracy and reasonableness.
• Client relationship support and preparing client deliverables.
• Assist with new business entities setup in QuickBooks and tax planning.

Skills

Deadline-driven

Resource coordination

Tax knowledge

Detail-oriented

Client-focused

Team player

Communication skills

QuickBooks familiarity

Education

Accounting degree student

Pursuing CPA eligibility

Interest in taxation and financial planning

Tools

QuickBooks

Job description

• Assist in preparing income tax returns for individuals and small business entities.
• Research specific tax-related technical issues.
• Gather and organize financial data for clients and prospects to support key engagement functions.
• Record transactions in ledgers and generate financial statements using QuickBooks.
• Review balance sheets and profit and loss statements for accuracy and reasonableness.

This role also involves client relationship support and general practice assistance, including preparing client deliverables, helping set up new business entities in QuickBooks, following up on outstanding client items, assisting with tax planning, and other duties as assigned.

Minimum Education Qualifications

• Enrolled in a bachelor's or master's degree program in accounting from an accredited university.
• Actively pursuing CPA eligibility.
• Strong interest in accounting, taxation, and financial planning.

Essential Skills Needed

• Comfortable working in a deadline-driven environment with a sense of urgency.
• Able to independently coordinate resources and complete assigned projects.
• Working knowledge of basic tax law.
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills.
• Client-focused work ethic and professionalism.
• Collaborative team player with emerging leadership qualities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Familiarity with QuickBooks preferred; willingness to learn required.

• Direct mentorship from CPA professionals, with exposure to real client tax and accounting work.
• Hands-on experience with tax preparation, planning, and accounting processes during the season.
• Exposure to accounting and tax software used in professional practice.
• Competitive hourly pay or stipend.
• Flexible scheduling around class commitments.
• Small-firm environment with direct access to senior professionals.
• Potential path to future opportunities with the firm.