Bookkeeper Intern

Description

S.W.A.A. Tax & Financial Consultant Corp is a professional accounting and financial services firm headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. We provide comprehensive tax preparation, bookkeeping, payroll processing, financial consulting, and grant writing support services to individuals, small businesses, and non-profit organizations throughout the greater Indianapolis area.

We are committed to developing the next generation of accounting and financial professionals. Our internship program offers hands-on experience in a fast-paced, professional environment under the mentorship of experienced practitioners.

Position Overview

1. S.W.A.A. Tax & Financial Consultant Corp is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Bookkeeper Intern to join our growing team. Under the supervision of a senior accountant, the intern will assist with day-to-day financial recordkeeping and client account management.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

1. Record and classify daily financial transactions using accounting software (QuickBooks preferred)
2. Reconcile bank and credit card statements on a monthly basis
3. Assist with accounts payable and accounts receivable processing
4. Maintain accurate and up-to-date general ledger entries
5. Prepare basic financial reports, summaries, and trial balances for review
6. File and organize financial documents, receipts, and client records
7. Support senior staff during tax season with data entry and document preparation
8. Communicate professionally with clients regarding account inquiries

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

1. Certified Bookkeeping Certificate from an accredited program OR an Associate Degree in Accounting (required)
2. Basic understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
3. Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and general computer skills
4. Familiarity with QuickBooks or similar accounting software is a plus
5. Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
6. Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive financial information
7. Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

1. Prior bookkeeping, accounting, or office experience (even volunteer or academic)
2. Experience with cloud-based accounting platforms
3. Knowledge of basic payroll processing procedures

Learning Objectives

Transaction Recording & Software Proficiency

1. Accurately record and classify daily financial transactions in QuickBooks (or equivalent accounting software) with minimal supervision by the end of the internship.
2. Demonstrate proper use of chart of accounts to categorize income, expenses, and other transactions.

Bank & Credit Card Reconciliation

1. Perform monthly bank and credit card reconciliations, identifying and resolving discrepancies independently.
2. Explain the purpose and process of reconciliation to ensure understanding of why accuracy matters for financial reporting.

Accounts Payable & Receivable

1. Process vendor invoices and client payments accurately and within established timelines.
2. Track outstanding receivables and payables, flagging overdue items for senior staff review.

General Ledger Maintenance

1. Maintain up-to-date, error-free general ledger entries that reflect all recorded transactions.
2. Identify and correct ledger discrepancies before they affect downstream reports.

Financial Reporting

1. Prepare basic financial reports (e.g., trial balances, summary statements) suitable for senior accountant review.
2. Interpret trial balance outputs well enough to flag obvious errors (e.g., unbalanced entries) before submission.

Document Management & Organization

1. File and organize financial documents, receipts, and client records following firm procedures, ensuring easy retrieval.
2. Maintain confidentiality and data security standards when handling client financial information.

Tax Season Support

1. Assist senior staff with data entry and document preparation during tax season, meeting deadlines under increased workload.
2. Demonstrate familiarity with the types of documents and data needed for individual/business tax preparation.

Client Communication & Professionalism

1. Communicate clearly and professionally with clients regarding routine account inquiries.
2. Apply discretion in escalating complex or sensitive client issues to senior staff rather than attempting to resolve them independently.

Leadership & Self-Management

1. Demonstrate ownership of assigned tasks by completing them accurately and on time with minimal follow-up needed from supervisors.
2. Prioritize competing deadlines (e.g., reconciliations vs. tax season data entry) and communicate proactively if workload becomes unmanageable.
3. Exercise sound judgment in knowing when to act independently versus when to escalate a decision to a senior accountant.
4. Take initiative in identifying process inefficiencies (e.g., document organization, repetitive data entry steps) and proposing improvements to senior staff.
5. Build foundational time-management and organizational habits that translate to managing multiple client accounts simultaneously.

Professional Growth & Team Collaboration

1. Seek feedback regularly from the supervising senior accountant and apply it to improve accuracy and efficiency.
2. Support team workflow during high-volume periods (e.g., tax season) by anticipating needs and offering help proactively rather than waiting to be asked.
3. Develop the communication skills needed to eventually train or guide future interns/junior staff on basic bookkeeping tasks.
4. Model professionalism and accountability in client interactions, building the trust required for more autonomous client-facing responsibilities over time.

Long-Term Leadership Readiness (optional stretch objectives, if the internship has growth potential)

1. Shadow or assist senior accountants in client meetings to begin understanding the advisory side of the role, not just the data entry side.
2. Gain exposure to how senior staff make decisions under deadline pressure (e.g., tax season), as a foundation for eventually managing those decisions independently.

Contact Information