Accounting Intern

Job Summary 

The Accounting Intern will support the Accounting Department with accounts receivable, accounts payable, cash management, customer account maintenance, and process improvement initiatives. The internship will provide hands-on experience with accounting operations while allowing the intern to work on projects that improve cash flow, payment efficiency, data accuracy, and communication with customers and suppliers. 

A primary focus of the internship will be transitioning customers and suppliers from paper checks to ACH payments and ensuring customer account records contain accurate and up-to-date accounting contact information. 

Key Responsibilities 

Accounts Receivable & Customer ACH Conversion 

• Contact customers to introduce and promote ACH payments as an alternative to paper checks.  
• Provide customers with the company's ACH payment instructions and required information.  
• Identify the appropriate customer accounts payable contacts for payment-related communications.  
• Follow up with customers regarding ACH enrollment and maintain records of their responses.  
• Track customer participation and progress toward ACH conversion.  
• Assist with identifying opportunities to reduce payment delays and improve the timing of customer receipts.  
• Communicate with customers regarding invoices, statements, payment status, and account questions as needed.  

Customer Accounting Contact Information & Account Maintenance 

• Review customer accounts to identify missing, outdated, or inaccurate accounting contact information.  
• Contact customers to verify the appropriate contacts for:  
  • Where invoices should be emailed  
  • Where customer statements should be emailed  
  • Who should be contacted regarding accounts receivable questions  
  • Who should be contacted regarding payment inquiries  
  • Who should receive past-due notices or collection communications  
  • Who is responsible for ACH/payment setup  
• Verify customer email addresses, phone numbers, and contact names related specifically to Accounting.  
• Update verified information in the company's ERP/customer master records.  
• Identify inactive or incorrect accounting contacts and assist with removing or replacing outdated information.  
• Ensure customer accounts have appropriate accounting contacts identified for ongoing communication.  
• Document customer responses and maintain accurate records of contact information.  
• Identify gaps in customer account information that may create delays in invoicing, collections, payments, or other accounting communications.  

Accounts Payable & Supplier ACH Conversion 

• Contact suppliers to request ACH enrollment information.  
• Obtain and organize required ACH documentation.  
• Verify supplier payment information in accordance with company procedures.  
• Assist with transitioning suppliers from paper checks to ACH payments.  
• Track supplier participation and maintain accurate payment method records.  
• Assist with follow-up communications to suppliers who have not completed the ACH enrollment process.  

Track Results 

• Track and analyze the results of the ACH conversion projects.  
• Maintain organized records and spreadsheets to track project progress.  
• Prepare reports or summaries showing project progress and measurable results. 

Preferred Skills 

• Basic understanding of accounting principles, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and general financial recordkeeping. 
• Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate customer, supplier, and payment information. 
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office applications; experience maintaining spreadsheets and tracking project progress is preferred. 
• Comfortable communicating professionally with customers, suppliers, and internal team members by phone and email. 
• Ability to organize information, follow up on open items, meet deadlines, and manage multiple tasks at one time. 
• Willingness to learn ERP/customer master systems, payment processes, ACH enrollment procedures, and company accounting policies. 
• Analytical mindset with the ability to identify missing information, process gaps, and opportunities for improvement. 

Ideal Candidate Profile 

The ideal candidate is a dependable, curious, and detail-oriented student pursuing a degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field. This individual should be comfortable working with numbers, organizing data, asking questions, and communicating clearly with customers and suppliers. The successful intern will demonstrate professionalism, confidentiality, initiative, and a positive attitude while gaining hands-on experience in accounting operations, ACH conversion projects, customer account maintenance, and process improvement initiatives.