Summer Tax/Accounting Intern

Old Mission•Chicago, IL

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Old Mission is seeking two motivated interns — an Accounting & Accounts Payable Intern and a Tax Intern — to join our team in Chicago for the summer, with the potential to continue on a part-time basis during the school year. Reporting directly to our firm's Controller and Director of Tax, you will gain meaningful, hands-on exposure to accounting and tax operations at a fast-paced trading firm, including invoice processing, general ledger entries, VAT and use tax compliance, month-end close, and cost allocations across our trading centers. This is a high-impact role where your ideas will matter, and the processes you help shape will have a global footprint. If you are intellectually curious, detail-oriented, and eager to learn how accounting and tax functions operate within a sophisticated financial firm, we encourage you to apply.

Requirements

Currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related field, with at least three years of coursework completed; rising juniors and seniors are welcome to apply
Foundational understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) through coursework or prior experience
Basic familiarity with indirect tax concepts, including sales tax, use tax, or VAT, gained through coursework or prior experience
Strong analytical mindset with a genuine desire to understand data and improve processes
Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks at once
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, SUMIF, VLOOKUP, and related functions — required for this role
Clear and professional communication skills — comfortable interacting with colleagues across departments and levels of seniority
Proactive and self-directed work style; able to operate effectively in a fast-paced environment
Demonstrated integrity and discretion when handling confidential financial information

Nice To Haves

Experience or coursework in accounting software (Intacct a plus)
Exposure to tax research tools or indirect tax compliance software
Familiarity with multi-jurisdictional tax compliance concepts, including EU VAT or US state and local tax frameworks
SQL familiarity or interest in data tools is a bonus
Interest in financial markets, trading, or the broader asset management industry

Responsibilities

Assist in recording and processing vendor invoices into our general ledger
Help ensure that expenses are allocated correctly to trading strategies, supporting accurate profit and loss reporting for indirect expenses
Support the annual audit process by gathering and organizing documentation as requested by auditors
Assist with the preparation of annual 1099s for tax purposes
Contribute to special projects, ad-hoc reporting, and analysis as directed by management
Document workflows and accounting processes to support operational continuity
Assist in the research and classification of purchases for VAT and use tax compliance across multiple jurisdictions
Research vendor invoices and purchasing activity to determine appropriate VAT treatment for international transactions, including EU and UK jurisdictions
Maintain and update purchase classification records to support use tax filing obligations across applicable state and local jurisdictions
Assist in the preparation and timely filing of use tax and VAT returns, including gathering supporting documentation and reconciling tax liability schedules