Finance and Compliance Intern

Crowe•Chicago, IL

19h•Onsite

About The Position

Consulting is a dynamic business focused on solving problems for our clients and serving our core markets through innovative solutions. As technology and AI continue to reshape the consulting landscape, we are looking for individuals who are curious, adaptable, and eager to learn. At Crowe, consultants are expected to build both technical and transferable skills, think critically, and use technology to solve real business problems. In this role, you will continuously learn, collaborate across teams, and explore how tools, including emerging AI capabilities, can improve efficiency, insights, and client outcomes. As you grow, you’ll also begin to take ownership of client relationships, contribute to account strategy, and support the delivery of high-impact work. Developing a sense of account leadership, including understanding client needs, ensuring delivery excellence, and building trusted partnerships, is part of what sets successful consultants apart. Success in this role comes from a growth mindset, strong communication skills, advanced critical thinking, and the ability to navigate new challenges with confidence. As a Finance and Compliance team member in Crowe’s Consulting Practice your role will be focused on helping clients resolve business needs in the areas of accounting and finance. You will have the opportunity to work on diverse teams with experienced experts to problem-solve and present constructive solutions to our clients. At Crowe, we empower you to take risks, to challenge yourself in specialized areas of consulting & technology, and to generate solutions that impact the firm and your professional growth. Crowe cultivates a creative company culture where you will have the opportunity to share your ideas and knowledge with clients from your very first day with the firm. You will assist Public Sector clients with navigating the financial and capital markets, developing strategies for funding various projects, and completing long-term capital and operational planning. Typical projects in this role include budget assistance (both revenue and expenditure estimation), bond market research, financial modeling, revenue analysis, assistance preparing utility rate and fee studies, attendance at public meetings; participation in client meetings; and assistance preparing analyses for economic development projects. Additional roles are focused on the following areas: Accounting Consulting (Financial reporting, accounting standard implementation, finding mitigation) Compliance (Attestation engagements, incurred cost audits, GAGAS performance audits, grant compliance consulting, subrecipient monitoring, indirect cost compliance) Internal Audit (Audits, co-source internal audit, outsourced internal audit, risk assessment, internal control assessment, Enterprise Risk Management)

Requirements

Exhibit strong verbal and written communication skills when consulting with senior management, C-suite client personnel, and government regulators.
Apply business writing skills to produce high-quality, client-ready deliverables.
Demonstrate strong critical thinking skills to solve complex problems, generate practical solutions, and contribute to strategic outcomes.
Thrive in fast-paced, dynamic environments.
Adapt to changing priorities and risk landscapes while managing time effectively.
Show a desire to continuously learn and build a deeply specialized skill set that evolves with industry demands.
Cultivate strong relationships with clients, colleagues, and the community to support collaboration and long-term success.
Possess the ability to quickly acquire new skills, tools, and concepts with a mindset focused on ongoing personal and professional development.
Apply systematic, analytical approaches to problem-solving and interpreting complex data sets and regulatory requirements.
Self-motivated to deliver high-quality results, take responsibility for outcomes, and grow through feedback and experience.
Excel in both collaborative team environments and when working independently to meet project goals.
Capable of operating effectively in high-pressure, deadline-driven environments with competing priorities.
Demonstrate initiative, creativity, and the desire to contribute to innovative approaches and continuous improvement.
Willingness to travel up to 30% or more annually when working as a full-time staff consultant, based on client or project needs.

Nice To Haves

Pursuing bachelor’s or master's degree in accounting
Potential to begin pursuit of CPA, CIA, or other relevant credentials (e.g., AML or compliance certifications) depending on focus area.
Desire to pursue and obtain certifications such as the CPA or other firm-supported credentials relevant to your area of focus

Responsibilities

Gather and Review Financial & Compliance Documentation: Collects financial statements, policies, procedure manuals, and other relevant materials for initial assessment.
Verify that required documentation aligns with applicable standards (e.g., GAAP, IFRS, basic regulatory guidelines).
Conduct Basic Compliance Testing: Follows standardized testing procedures to assess adherence to internal controls or regulatory requirements (e.g., SOX controls, anti-money laundering checks).
Tracks and documents any identified exceptions or non-compliant activities.
Prepare & Organize Workpapers: Maintains thorough and accurate workpapers (physical or electronic) detailing testing samples, results, and initial observations.
Ensures the traceability of findings according to firm or industry standards.
Support Engagement Execution: Assists in data entry, reconciliations, or preliminary analyses under guidance from senior team members.
Contributes to engagement administrative tasks such as scheduling, file management, and updates to project trackers.
Contribute to Anti-Money Laundering (AML) system implementations by designing, planning, and executing data-related workstreams.