2 answers
George
Student
1
Question
Asked
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What should I think about now that I am a tax intern at a public accounting firm?
I am an upcoming junior in college. I don't have a specialty in tax yet.
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2 answers
Julius Kalibbala
CEO at Daystar Grace Foundation, Counselor,Mentor and career guide. Sales and Marketing at Akatale on cloud (U) Ltd
20
Answers
Kampala, Central Region, Uganda
Updated
Julius’s Answer
Hello good friend, it's not clear whether you're finishing, just started your internship, but l trust it's not too late to ponder and draw the lines well.
Setting clear, realistic goals as a tax intern in a public accounting firm helps you gain the most from the experience and stand out professionally.
Here’s how you as a tax intern can set SMART goals—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound—during their internship:
1. Technical Learning Goals
Goal: "By the end of my internship, I want to understand the process of preparing individual and small business tax returns using (you can name any software you know)
- Ask to work on various return types (individual, corporate, partnership).
- Learn common tax forms (1040, 1120, 1065, etc.).
- Understand current tax laws and regulations (especially in your region).
2) Software & Tools Mastery
Goal: "Become confident using the firm’s tax preparation software and tools like Excel for data analysis within the first 4 weeks."
- Familiarize yourself with the accounting systems.
- Learn how to use templates, organize client documents, and automate tasks.
3) Compliance & Documentation
Goal: "Learn how to accurately organize and document tax files according to firm and legal standards."
- Develop habits for good recordkeeping.
- Understand how to handle confidential data.
4) Communication & Collaboration
Goal: "Improve my ability to communicate tax findings and questions clearly with senior associates and clients."
- Practice writing clear emails and file notes.
- Learn how to explain tax terms in simple language.
5) Professional Networking
Goal: "Build professional relationships with at least 3 full-time team members to learn from their experience."
- Ask for short mentorship chats or shadowing opportunities.
- Attend team meetings and company events.
6) Continuous Feedback & Growth
Goal: "Request formal or informal feedback at least twice during the internship to improve performance."
- Check in with your supervisor after major tasks or at key milestones.
- Show that you’re learning from your mistakes and growing.
7) Career Exploration
Goal: "Understand the different tax career paths (corporate tax, audit, advisory) and assess which one suits my skills and interests best."
- Ask questions about roles in the firm.
- Reflect on what you enjoy most during your internship tasks.
I hope with the above advice, you can do more and thrive in your career.
Setting clear, realistic goals as a tax intern in a public accounting firm helps you gain the most from the experience and stand out professionally.
Here’s how you as a tax intern can set SMART goals—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound—during their internship:
1. Technical Learning Goals
Goal: "By the end of my internship, I want to understand the process of preparing individual and small business tax returns using (you can name any software you know)
- Ask to work on various return types (individual, corporate, partnership).
- Learn common tax forms (1040, 1120, 1065, etc.).
- Understand current tax laws and regulations (especially in your region).
2) Software & Tools Mastery
Goal: "Become confident using the firm’s tax preparation software and tools like Excel for data analysis within the first 4 weeks."
- Familiarize yourself with the accounting systems.
- Learn how to use templates, organize client documents, and automate tasks.
3) Compliance & Documentation
Goal: "Learn how to accurately organize and document tax files according to firm and legal standards."
- Develop habits for good recordkeeping.
- Understand how to handle confidential data.
4) Communication & Collaboration
Goal: "Improve my ability to communicate tax findings and questions clearly with senior associates and clients."
- Practice writing clear emails and file notes.
- Learn how to explain tax terms in simple language.
5) Professional Networking
Goal: "Build professional relationships with at least 3 full-time team members to learn from their experience."
- Ask for short mentorship chats or shadowing opportunities.
- Attend team meetings and company events.
6) Continuous Feedback & Growth
Goal: "Request formal or informal feedback at least twice during the internship to improve performance."
- Check in with your supervisor after major tasks or at key milestones.
- Show that you’re learning from your mistakes and growing.
7) Career Exploration
Goal: "Understand the different tax career paths (corporate tax, audit, advisory) and assess which one suits my skills and interests best."
- Ask questions about roles in the firm.
- Reflect on what you enjoy most during your internship tasks.
I hope with the above advice, you can do more and thrive in your career.
Amber Lee
Tax Associate
85
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Amber’s Answer
Hi George,
You should take every opportunity you get from your current internship to learn as much as you can. Offer to take a stab at completing a task, attend meetings, and complete all your required firm-sponsored trainings. You might not be able to figure out right away which areas of tax you want to devote your career to, but at least you'll get a sense of what all these different specialties are.
You should take every opportunity you get from your current internship to learn as much as you can. Offer to take a stab at completing a task, attend meetings, and complete all your required firm-sponsored trainings. You might not be able to figure out right away which areas of tax you want to devote your career to, but at least you'll get a sense of what all these different specialties are.
Amber, thank you!
George