Program Intern, Excise Tax

Pilot Company • Knoxville, TN

10d • Onsite

About The Position

Pilot Company is seeking an Excise Tax Intern to join their team in Knoxville, Tennessee, for the summer of 2027. This internship offers a unique opportunity to gain valuable insight into Excise Tax, understanding how various federal, state, and local excise taxes impact fuel movement through the supply chain, from import and pipeline transport to wholesale distribution and final retail sale. The intern will be an essential member of the Excise Tax team, gaining direct exposure to complex tax dynamics. The primary focus will be supporting high-volume compliance efforts and driving operational efficiency by auditing, consolidating, and standardizing team tracking tools and file structures. This role combines hands-on tax experience with impactful workflow optimization, providing a well-rounded foundation for a career in tax.

Requirements

• Currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in accounting.
• Proficiency in Excel is essential.
• Strong collaborative skills with the confidence to reach out across teams, ask timely questions, and clarify requirements to ensure project momentum.
• A desire to learn and an eagerness to contribute to a collaborative environment.
• Driven, reliable, authentic, and welcoming qualities.

Nice To Haves

• A master's concentration in tax is a plus.
• Experience with Alteryx or SQL is a great advantage.

Responsibilities

• Gain direct exposure to how federal, state, and local excise taxes apply at every stage of physical fuel movement across North America.
• Observe and assist with compiling, reconciling, and preparing high-volume tax returns to ensure accuracy and timely submission to government authorities.
• Be mentored by staff, providing hands-on training and real-world experience.
• Resolve operational bottlenecks by auditing daily tracking tools and file management systems—consolidating 10–15 active team trackers and creating clear, standardized folder structures to improve team efficiency.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern