Contracts & Financial Operations Intern

Arlington County VA•Arlington, VA

10d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Operations section within the Department of Environmental Services (DES) is seeking a motivated Contracts & Financial Operations Intern to support contracts administration, financial operations, and procurement coordination for the Water, Sewer, Streets (WSS) Division and the Water Pollution Control Bureau (WPCB). This internship offers hands-on experience supporting contract tracking, procurement processes, financial documentation, and operational coordination within a complex public infrastructure environment. Working under the mentorship of experienced professionals, the intern will assist with contract management activities, process improvement initiatives, and data organization efforts that support efficient service delivery and fiscal accountability.

Requirements

Recent, 2025 and/or 2026 college graduates earning either a Bachelor’s or a Master’s degree in the area of consideration prior to the start date of the Cohort Program (Sept. 2026)
No professional-level work experience (less than one year) in the internship field
Currently enrolled student in a Master’s degree program related to the internship, but must not have significant professional-level work experience in the internship area and must be available to work during designated hours.
Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Accounting, Economics, Liberal Arts, or related discipline.
Background Check: A pre-employment criminal records check will be conducted. It will include checks of the following: criminal record, driving record, education, professional licensure, and credit history.
Letter of Interest: A complete application includes a letter of interest.
Resume Requirement: A complete application includes a resume.
Please complete each section of the application including the supplemental questions.
Your responses to the supplemental questions are required because they provide us with specific information necessary to evaluate your qualifications for this position.
These responses are considered part of the selection process.

Nice To Haves

Strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills, along with an interest in contracts administration, finance, procurement, or public sector operations.
Coursework or experience involving budgeting, contracts, data analysis, or administrative support is preferred, as is the ability to manage details across multiple tasks and deadlines.
G.P.A. of 3.0 or above is preferred and applicants may be asked to provide certified official transcripts
Coursework or experience related to contracts administration, procurement, finance, budgeting, or public administration
Experience organizing or tracking data using spreadsheets or databases, including Microsoft Excel
Ability to review documents and identify discrepancies, trends, or missing information
Experience preparing summaries, schedules, or administrative reports.

Responsibilities

Supporting contract administration and procurement activities, including tracking solicitation and contract processes through award
Maintaining and updating contract databases, logs, and tracking tools to ensure accuracy and accessibility of information
Assisting with development and management of procurement project schedules and preparing routine status updates for internal stakeholders
Reviewing and verifying invoices to ensure pricing, deliverables, and supporting documentation comply with contract requirements
Supporting process improvement initiatives related to contract management, documentation, and administrative workflows
Compiling, organizing, and analyzing financial and contract-related data to support reporting and audit activities
Collaborating with staff across DES divisions to support coordination of contract, procurement, and financial operations
Performing other duties as assigned to support operational, budget, and contract priorities