Last updated: July 2026
Moss Adams, now part of Baker Tilly and the 6th-largest US accounting firm, hires 100+ interns each year across 30+ offices and converts 80 to 90 percent of them to full-time hires. That conversion rate is the number that matters. For the 2027–2028 cycle (you apply fall 2026, you intern summer 2027), applications fill on a rolling basis, so the calendar decides your odds as much as your transcript does.
Quick Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Where to apply | mossadams.com/careers/campus (transitioning to Baker Tilly careers portal) |
| Application window (2027–28) | Expected Aug to Nov 2026 for summer 2027; winter/spring variants may post Jan to Apr 2027. Projected pattern, not yet posted |
| Rolling? | Yes. Applications reviewed as received; firm responds within about 2 weeks of submission |
| Eligibility | Typically juniors (3rd year of a 4-year or 4th year of a 5-year program). GPS early-ID program accepts freshmen through juniors. Accounting major preferred for Tax/Audit; MIS, CS, IT accepted for Risk Advisory |
| Duration | 8 to 10 weeks (summer) or Jan to Apr (winter/spring busy season). GPS early-ID program is 6 weeks |
| Compensation | About $24 to $44/hr depending on city and track (avg roughly $32 to $35/hr). Higher in high-cost metros like SF, LA, Seattle |
| Visa sponsorship | Not confirmed. JDs do not state sponsorship status. Verify with Baker Tilly careers for the 2027 cycle |
| Locations | 30+ offices across WA, OR, CA, AZ, NM, CO, TX, KS. Key cities: Seattle (HQ), Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, Phoenix, Dallas |
| # Programs | 8+ tracks: Tax/Audit, Assurance, SALT, Risk Advisory (IT Assurance, SOC, Cybersecurity), Compliance Internal Audit, Consulting, GPS early-ID, and Ignite Scholarship |
Two numbers define this program: 100+ intern seats across 30+ offices and an 80 to 90 percent conversion rate to full-time. Rolling review means early applicants face the most open seats.
Externships are short, remote projects where you finish real work for a real company. The Attronica Financial Planning & Analysis Externship and Yinan Zhao Investing & Financial Modeling Externship build the financial analysis and client-facing evidence a Moss Adams application rewards. Explore all Externships.
What Is a Moss Adams Internship?
A Moss Adams internship is a paid, full-time placement, 8 to 10 weeks in summer or a busy-season stint from January to April, that puts students on real client engagements in tax, audit, risk advisory, or consulting. The firm hires 100+ interns a year across its 30+ offices, and the pipeline works: a NACE case study reports 80 to 90 percent conversion to full-time. Summer interns attend a 4-day firmwide Summer Internship Program (SIP) in Southern California with training, networking, and exposure to firm leadership. The firm is a Vault Top 10 accounting firm, a three-time RippleMatch Campus Forward Award winner, and holds a 3.9 out of 5 on Glassdoor. Since June 2025, Moss Adams operates under the Baker Tilly name as the 6th-largest US CPA firm.
When Do Moss Adams Internship Applications Open for 2027–2028?
Moss Adams recruits on a predictable fall cadence. Core internship applications typically open August to November for the following summer, about 8 to 12 months ahead. But the firm also runs early-ID programs, the GPS Operational Internship and the Ignite Scholarship plus TakeOff! Leadership Program, that engage freshmen and sophomores 18 to 24 months before a core internship. So for summer 2027, you apply fall 2026. But the relationship can start much earlier.
Summer 2027 applications are not yet posted. This is the build window: your resume, your CPA-track coursework, and your client-facing stories when postings open will decide whether rolling review reaches you.
Core Client Service internship applications (Tax/Audit, Risk Advisory, SALT, Consulting) expected to open on Baker Tilly's careers portal. Rolling review from day one, so apply within the first weeks.
The funnel: first-round virtual interview with a recruiter, then two 30-minute interviews with service-line professionals. Average time from application to offer is about 19 to 21 days.
Winter/spring busy-season internship variant runs for students whose schedules allow. Also the window for Ignite Scholarship and GPS early-ID program applications for the next cycle.
8 to 10 weeks on real client engagements, plus a 4-day firmwide SIP event in Southern California. Perform well and you join the 80 to 90 percent who convert to full-time.
Why You Must Apply the Week Applications Open
Rolling is not a footnote, it is the mechanism. Moss Adams reviews applications as they arrive and responds within about two weeks. That means the earliest applicants face the most open seats, and late applicants face fewer. The firm also uses AI-powered routing to match applicants to relevant business lines and locations, so your resume is being triaged from the moment it lands. Apply within the first two weeks of a posting, not the last two.
Which Moss Adams Internship Programs Should You Target?
Moss Adams runs 8+ intern tracks spanning tax, audit, advisory, and consulting, plus two early-ID pipeline programs for underclassmen. Which one should you target? The honest answer is the track whose coursework and skills you can already evidence, because every round interviews you against that role's requirements and the firm's seven Success Skills.
| Program | Focus | Duration | Key skills |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting Intern (Tax & Audit) | Combined tax/audit rotation with dual buddies across both service lines, real client work | 8–10 wks summer | Accounting coursework, Excel, CPA-track eligibility |
| Risk Advisory & Compliance Intern | IT controls testing, SOC 1/2/3 examinations, cybersecurity projects | 8–10 wks summer | MIS / CS / IT, analytical thinking, compliance knowledge |
| State & Local Tax (SALT) Intern | SALT compliance reviews, tax controversy analysis, technical memoranda | 8–10 wks summer | Tax coursework, research skills, written communication |
| Compliance Internal Audit Intern | Grant management, internal audit for government, tribal, and nonprofit entities | 8–10 wks | Accounting, compliance frameworks, attention to detail |
| GPS Operational Internship (early-ID) | Rotational, operational exposure across firm functions; pipeline to client-service roles | 6 wks summer | Open to broader majors, teamwork, intellectual curiosity |
| Ignite Scholarship + TakeOff! | $2,500 scholarship, one-day leadership event, year-long mentorship for diverse underclassmen | Ongoing | Leadership potential, growth mindset, diverse backgrounds |
See every open track on the Baker Tilly careers portal. Note the split calendar: core internship applications cluster in fall, while early-ID programs (GPS, Ignite) engage students as early as sophomore year.
What Are the Eligibility Requirements?
Moss Adams' requirements vary by track, but several lines repeat across nearly every intern posting:
• Class year (core internship): typically juniors, in the 3rd year of a 4-year program or 4th year of a 5-year program, with academic courses remaining after the internship.
• GPS early-ID: freshmen, sophomores, and juniors enrolled in a bachelor's program, approximately 2 years from graduation.
• Major: Accounting (or coursework toward CPA eligibility) for Tax/Audit tracks. MIS, Computer Science, IT, and related fields accepted for Risk Advisory and Compliance. GPS is open to broader majors.
• Residency: must reside within commutable distance to a Moss Adams / Baker Tilly office and be willing to work on-site, including travel to client locations with potential overnight stays.
Does Moss Adams Have a GPA Cutoff?
No hard minimum is published in any available JD. Moss Adams does not state a specific GPA threshold, unlike some Big 4 firms that commonly list 3.0+. But 'strong academic performance' is expected across every posting. Given accounting industry norms and the firm's selectivity as a Vault Top 10 firm, expect a practical floor of about 3.0 and competitive admits at 3.3+. Do not let a sub-3.3 GPA stop you from applying, but pair it with strong extracurriculars and relevant experience.
What Skills Does Moss Adams Look For, and How Do You Build Them?
Read across six Moss Adams intern JDs, spanning Tax/Audit, SALT, Risk Advisory, Cybersecurity, Compliance Internal Audit, and GPS, and the pattern is clear. Teamwork, communication, and critical thinking appear in all six. Client focus and emotional intelligence show up in five. The firm also codifies a branded competency framework, the seven 'Moss Adams Success Skills' (Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Emotional Intelligence, Professional Presence, Growth Mindset, Intellectual Curiosity, Results Focus), repeated verbatim across postings. So what does that mean? Bring the accounting or IT coursework, then wrap every interview story in one of those seven skills.
What Moss Adams looks for in interns
Skills across 6 Moss Adams intern & analyst job descriptions · 2025–26 cycle Moss Adams intern JDs, projecting 2027–2028
Method: full-text analysis of six Moss Adams intern job descriptions across aggregators (TealHQ, university career centers, ZipRecruiter, Tech Titans, Ladders). Prior-cycle basis; the firm's seven Success Skills are evaluated in interviews rather than always listed as JD qualifications, so they sit alongside this chart, not inside it.
How Is Demand for Accounting Interns Moving Right Now?
Accounting intern hiring right now: July 2026
Across US accounting-intern postings tracked this week · aggregate market data, all employers
The supply-demand imbalance in accounting works in your favor. Firms need interns who convert to staff, and Moss Adams' 80 to 90 percent conversion rate shows the pipeline is working.
Method: qualitative assessment based on industry reporting and firm-specific data. No quantitative intern-posting tracker baseline is available for accounting the way it is for software engineering.
Build These Skills Before You Apply
And every skill in that chart maps to a remote Externship where you finish a real project before a role opens.
| Skill (from real JDs) | JD evidence | Externship that builds it |
|---|---|---|
| Financial analysis & accounting judgment | Tax/Audit JDs: "tax return preparation," "review of client accounting/operating procedures," "financial statement preparation" | Attronica Financial Planning & Analysis |
| Research, analytical thinking & Excel proficiency | SALT JDs: "SALT compliance reviews, tax controversy analysis, drafting technical memoranda" | Yinan Zhao Investing & Financial Modeling |
| Client-facing communication & teamwork | All JDs: "excellent customer service skills," "strong written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills" | Attronica Financial Planning & Analysis |
How close is the overlap? The Attronica project is financial planning and valuation work that yields the client-facing analytical evidence a Moss Adams behavioral interview probes for, and the Yinan Zhao project ends on the research-and-model story an accounting firm wants.
What Is the Moss Adams Application and Interview Process Like?
Moss Adams' funnel is short and behavioral-first, with an average 19 to 21 days from application to hire:
1. Apply on mossadams.com/careers/campus (transitioning to Baker Tilly careers portal). Submit your resume and unofficial transcripts from all schools attended. The firm uses AI-powered routing to match applicants to relevant business lines and locations.
2. Application review. The firm reviews academic achievements and experience and contacts candidates based on qualifications, typically within about 2 weeks.
3. First-round interview (virtual). A behavioral interview with a recruiter, focused on leadership, teamwork, conflict resolution, personal goals, and 'why Moss Adams / Baker Tilly.'
4. Final-round interview (virtual). Two 30-minute interviews with client service professionals, such as two tax or audit seniors who would supervise the intern. Expect behavioral questions mapped to the firm's seven Success Skills, with some technical or role-specific questions depending on the track.
5. Rolling offer. Decisions come quickly. The overall process averages 19 to 21 days.
So the two things to drill are clear: STAR-method stories mapped to each of the seven Success Skills (Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Emotional Intelligence, Professional Presence, Growth Mindset, Intellectual Curiosity, Results Focus), and a genuine answer for 'why Moss Adams' that references the firm's West Coast roots, industry focus, or culture. The interview difficulty is rated 2.57 out of 5 on Glassdoor, so preparation beats panic.
What Students on Reddit Say
Moss Adams has minimal Reddit presence compared to Big 4 firms, so these insights draw from Glassdoor intern reviews and community discussion, all paraphrased.
Moss Adams has a genuinely supportive culture for interns, especially on the West Coast. Teams go out of their way to include you in client work early, and the learning curve is steep but manageable because seniors actually want to teach.
The Moss Adams interview process is pretty standard for mid-tier firms: expect a behavioral round focused on teamwork and client scenarios. Compared to other regional firms, they tend to move quickly from interview to offer, so be ready to decide fast.
Intern pay at Moss Adams is competitive with other top-25 firms, and the conversion rate to full-time is high if you show initiative. Negotiate your start date if you need flexibility, and ask about the office you are placed in since culture can vary by location.
How Do You Stand Out When 80% Convert?
Three moves, all before a posting opens. First, apply in week one: rolling review means the earliest applicants face the most open seats, and the firm's AI routing starts matching you immediately. Second, know the seven Success Skills cold. Every behavioral question maps to one of them (Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Emotional Intelligence, Professional Presence, Growth Mindset, Intellectual Curiosity, Results Focus), so prepare a STAR story for each. Third, bring proof: a financial analysis project, a client-facing deliverable, or CPA-track coursework that shows you can do the work, not just talk about it. And remember: 80 to 90 percent of interns convert, so the internship itself is the audition for full-time.
What Other Companies Should You Consider?
Moss Adams (now Baker Tilly) competes with the Big 4 and other large advisory firms for accounting talent. If you are building an accounting-internship list, these are the obvious neighbors:
- Deloittelargest of the Big 4, massive intern class with similar fall-rolling calendarGuide →
- PwCstrong audit and tax pipeline with structured Start internship programGuide →
- EYglobal reach with a launch internship that feeds directly into full-timeGuide →
- KPMGsimilar West Coast presence and structured intern-to-staff pipelineGuide →
- Accentureconsulting and advisory focus with broader tech and strategy tracksGuide →
Our accounting internships guide maps the whole landscape, timeline by timeline.
FAQ
Is Moss Adams now Baker Tilly?
Yes. On June 3, 2025, Moss Adams merged with Baker Tilly. The combined firm operates under the Baker Tilly name and is the 6th-largest US CPA firm by revenue. Legacy Moss Adams offices, culture, and teams remain largely intact, but the careers portal is transitioning to Baker Tilly's.
When do Moss Adams internship applications open for summer 2027?
Expect core Client Service internship postings (Tax/Audit, Risk Advisory, SALT, Consulting) to open August to November 2026 on a rolling basis. Winter/spring variants may post January to April 2027. These dates are projected from the prior cycle and are not official yet.
Is Moss Adams internship hiring rolling?
Yes. Applications are reviewed as they arrive, and the firm responds within about two weeks. Seats fill rolling, so applying in the first weeks of a posting gives you the most open spots.
What GPA do I need for a Moss Adams internship?
No hard minimum is published in any available JD. Strong academic performance is expected, and accounting industry norms suggest a practical floor of about 3.0, with competitive admits at 3.3+. But the firm does not state a specific number.
Do I have to be an accounting major?
For Tax/Audit tracks, yes, accounting is preferred and you need to be on a CPA-eligibility path. Risk Advisory and IT Assurance tracks accept MIS, Computer Science, IT, and related fields. The GPS early-ID program is open to broader majors.
How long is a Moss Adams internship and how much does it pay?
Core internships run 8 to 10 weeks in summer (mid-June to mid-August) or January to April for the busy-season variant. The GPS early-ID program is 6 weeks. Pay averages about $32 to $35 per hour, with a range of roughly $24 to $44 per hour depending on city and track.
What is the Moss Adams interview process like?
Two rounds, both virtual. Round one is a behavioral interview with a recruiter. Round two is two 30-minute interviews with service-line professionals who would supervise you. Content is predominantly behavioral, mapped to the firm's seven Success Skills. Glassdoor rates difficulty at 2.57 out of 5.
Do Moss Adams interns get return offers?
At very high rates. A NACE case study reports the firm targets 70 percent conversion and consistently achieves 80 to 90 percent annually. Individual outcomes depend on performance and office capacity, but the pipeline is designed to convert interns to full-time staff.
Moss Adams' 80 to 90 percent conversion rate means the internship is the job interview. Spend the runway building proof: a remote Externship turns 'interested in accounting' into a finished financial project you can point at.
About the Author
Bifei Wang has spent 17 years focused on human flow and the growth of young professionals, spanning international education, career training and coaching, and recruitment process outsourcing. Over 7 years at Extern, he has had one-on-one sessions with thousands of students exploring careers in consulting, finance, tech, marketing, and data, giving him a firsthand view of how the job market has shifted for early-career professionals and what it actually takes to break in.
Continue Reading
Ready to get started?
