Intern - Undergraduate

City of Austin • Austin, TX

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

JOIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN TEAM At the City of Austin, we are more than just an employer—we are a vibrant community dedicated to shaping one of the nation's most dynamic and innovative cities. As we strive to fulfill our commitment as public servants, it is important that we ground our efforts in a set of guiding principles – Empathy, Ethics, Excellence, Engagement, and Equity – anchors in delivering services that significantly impact the lives of Austinites. Joining the City of Austin means embarking on a purposeful career, contributing to the community, and being part of a forward-thinking organization that values every employee. What Makes the City of Austin Special? Make a Difference: Join a team driving meaningful change in one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation. Value and Innovation : Work in an environment where employees are valued and innovation thrives. Competitive Benefits: Enjoy a comprehensive compensation package that includes generous leave, work-life balance programs, and extensive benefits. Retirement Security: Plan for the future with the City of Austin Employees' Retirement System. Sustainable Transportation Options: Commute easily with access to public transit and bike-friendly infrastructure. Focus on Wellness: Stay healthy through wellness programs, on-site fitness centers, and mental health support. Career Growth: Advance your skills and expertise with professional development and leadership opportunities. Modern Workspaces: Work in innovative and sustainable environments that foster collaboration and inspiration. By joining us, you become part of a community that values its people and is committed to making Austin the most thriving and resilient city in the country. Under general supervision, this position assists in general administrative or research functions to develop a working knowledge of a targeted area in municipal government. Job Description: Duties, Functions, and Responsibilities: Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned. Observes and assists professionals in the assigned department to learn about areas of career interest. Assists, as necessary, in the coordination, administration, or monitoring of specific programs. Assists, as necessary, with researching, collecting and organizing data, performing analyses, and preparing reports to supplement knowledge gained through academic courses. Participates, as necessary, in finding solutions to existing problems and discusses recommendations with administrative personnel to acquire skills in problem solving. Assists with special projects. Notes to Candidate: If you are enthusiastic about public service and love to dive deep into new topics, join us this summer at the Austin City Auditor’s Office (ACAO)! Our internship program strives to give students the training and experience to help them become effective public servants both at ACAO and in their future careers. If you have no experience as a performance auditor, no worries! We will help you build your tools for the trade with a dedicated mentor and in-house trainings. Here are more details about our program: This is a full-time internship for Summer 2026. The internship will start on June 1st. Internship end date is flexible. This is a hybrid telework position, with interns required to attend in-person biweekly collaboration days and scheduled trainings. If you are selected, you will be required to report to the City of Austin offices within three business days of your start date to complete all required new-hire paperwork. Interns will be assigned to an existing audit team and will work with an experienced auditor on one or more projects. Other opportunities available for interns include assisting with internal projects, working with staff on social media, or the office’s podcast, “Audit ATX.” The Austin City Auditor’s Office is a City department that reports to the City Council and provides a menu of services including performance audits, investigations, and special request projects. These services are designed to provide information to support the City Council’s decision-making, establish accountability for meeting expectations and generate a force for positive change. Projects primarily focus on the performance of City departments, programs, and initiatives with emphasis on results/effectiveness and efficiency/economy. More information about our office and examples of our audit reports can be found here. Your duties and functions over the summer may include the following: Conduct interviews and meetings with external clients to elicit useful, relevant, and reliable information. Collect and analyze both qualitative and quantitative data, extracting information that is significant to the project Conduct research on subject matters related to the project. Document information and conclusions in an organized and useful manner. Use collected information to support conclusions. Develop clear, concise, timely, and accurate written summaries. Demonstrate increasing mastery of performance auditing processes, procedures, and techniques. Review allegations of fraud, waste, and abuse. We appreciate your interest in joining us at the Austin City Auditor’s Office. A couple more notes before you submit your application: A resume and cover letter are required and will not be accepted in lieu of a complete online application. You are required to respond to the supplementary application question. The Austin City Auditor’s Office is a tobacco-free worksite. Use of tobacco products and/or e-cigarettes is not permitted at any Austin City Auditor’s Office worksite location. This includes other City worksites, City vehicles, and personal vehicles located on the premises.

Requirements

• Knowledge of Federal, State, and Local laws and ordinances.
• Knowledge of applicable processes, techniques, and methods.
• Knowledge of City practices, policies, and procedures.
• Knowledge of statistical analysis.
• Skill in oral and written communication.
• Skill in using computers and related software applications.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Ability to operate a computer keyboard and other basic office equipment.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively.
• Ability to create clear and concise reports.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective communication and working relationships with City employees and the public.
• Graduation from an accredited high school or equivalent.
• By the time of internship period, student is classified as a senior (completed their junior year coursework) or is recently graduated from an accredited college or university undergraduate degree program, with some advanced coursework related to the internship program.
• Expects to earn their undergraduate degree within the next 18 months.
• Ability to learn and adhere to appropriate professional standards, including the Government Auditing Standards.
• Ability to master steep learning curves regarding government organizations, programs, activities, functions, and, where applicable, their interrelations with the private and not-for-profit sectors.
• Ability to solicit, receive, analyze, and use information provided by office staff and external clients and stakeholders.
• Ability to maintain objectivity and implement appropriate standards of care in all scopes of work.
• Ability to complete assigned duties and functions in a timely and effective manner.
• Ability to demonstrate continuous learning and growth by developing a new skill or pursuing a professional certification.
• Proficient at collecting information according to an established project plan.
• Proficient at working with others to achieve a project goal or objective.
• Ability to analyze and evaluate facts; make sound, objective assessments and observations; and where appropriate, make constructive recommendations.

Nice To Haves

• Effective interpersonal skills, strong oral and written communication skills, and computer skills.
• Excellent problem-solving ability and public relations skills.
• The field of study is open, but the intern’s major must be consistent with the requirements of the City job title for which the internship is benchmarked.

Responsibilities

• Observes and assists professionals in the assigned department to learn about areas of career interest.
• Assists, as necessary, in the coordination, administration, or monitoring of specific programs.
• Assists, as necessary, with researching, collecting and organizing data, performing analyses, and preparing reports to supplement knowledge gained through academic courses.
• Participates, as necessary, in finding solutions to existing problems and discusses recommendations with administrative personnel to acquire skills in problem solving.
• Assists with special projects.
• Conduct interviews and meetings with external clients to elicit useful, relevant, and reliable information.
• Collect and analyze both qualitative and quantitative data, extracting information that is significant to the project
• Conduct research on subject matters related to the project.
• Document information and conclusions in an organized and useful manner.
• Use collected information to support conclusions.
• Develop clear, concise, timely, and accurate written summaries.
• Demonstrate increasing mastery of performance auditing processes, procedures, and techniques.
• Review allegations of fraud, waste, and abuse.

Benefits

• Competitive Benefits: Enjoy a comprehensive compensation package that includes generous leave, work-life balance programs, and extensive benefits.
• Retirement Security: Plan for the future with the City of Austin Employees' Retirement System.
• Sustainable Transportation Options: Commute easily with access to public transit and bike-friendly infrastructure.
• Focus on Wellness: Stay healthy through wellness programs, on-site fitness centers, and mental health support.
• Career Growth: Advance your skills and expertise with professional development and leadership opportunities.
• Modern Workspaces: Work in innovative and sustainable environments that foster collaboration and inspiration.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: High school or GED