Last updated: September 2026
Sikich is the #25 firm on the IPA 500 with $529.5 million in net revenue and roughly 2,000 team members spanning North America, EMEA, and APAC. The firm doesn’t publish fixed deadlines for its intern cohorts. Instead, it recruits on a rolling basis through campus events in early fall, with interview decisions averaging just 7 days on Glassdoor. Two positions are live right now (as of August 2026): a Summer 2027 Federal Audit Intern in Alexandria, VA and a Spring 2027 Audit Intern for Local Government in Springfield, IL. For the 2027–2028 cycle, that means you can apply today for spring and summer 2027, while summer 2028 postings are projected to surface mid-2027 via the same rolling pipeline. The Bain Capital minority investment in 2024 has only accelerated Sikich’s growth trajectory, making intern seats a pipeline into a firm that is scaling fast.
Quick Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Where to apply | jobs.jobvite.com/sikichcareers (Jobvite ATS). Also attend campus recruiting events in early fall |
| Application window (2027–28) | Spring 2027 and Summer 2027 postings are live now (August 2026). Summer 2028 projected mid-2027. Rolling, no published deadline |
| Rolling? | Yes. Positions fill without deadlines. Campus recruiting runs early fall, interviews in October, offers in November (Vault pattern) |
| Eligibility | Sophomore, Junior, or Senior in an accounting or auditing program. Pursuing CPA credentials. US work authorization required without sponsorship |
| Duration | Spring: January to April (~16 weeks, full-time 40 hr/wk busy season). Summer: 3 to 6 months (Vault) |
| Compensation | $29 to $30/hr (official from live postings, August 2026) |
| Visa sponsorship | No. Postings require US work authorization without current or future sponsorship needs |
| Locations | Alexandria VA (Federal Audit), Springfield IL (Local Gov’t), Naperville IL (HQ), Chicago IL, Milwaukee WI |
| # Programs | Federal Audit, Audit (For-Profit, Not-For-Profit, Local Government), Tax (historically). Vault: 51 to 100 interns per year |
Two numbers frame the opportunity: $29 to $30 per hour in official posted pay, and a 7-day average time to hire on Glassdoor. Rolling review plus campus recruiting means early fall is the real window, even though no formal deadline exists.
Externships are short, remote projects where you finish real work for a real company. The Yinan Zhao Investing & Financial Modeling Externship builds the Excel modeling and financial-analysis evidence that audit interviewers look for, and the HP Tech Ventures Deal Sourcing Externship develops the analytical reasoning and research skills Sikich’s advisory work rewards. Explore all Externships.
What Is a Sikich Internship?
A Sikich internship is a paid placement that puts accounting students on live audit engagements across the firm’s government, not-for-profit, and for-profit client base. Sikich is ranked #25 on the IPA 500 and #28 for Best Accounting Internships on Vault, with 51 to 100 interns joining each year. Glassdoor reviews give the firm 3.7 out of 5 stars with 63% recommending, and intern interviews are rated just 2.3 out of 5 in difficulty with 75% reporting a positive experience. Since Bain Capital’s 2024 minority investment, Sikich has been expanding aggressively across technology advisory and managed services, meaning interns enter a firm with an accelerating growth curve and broadening career paths beyond traditional audit.
When Do Sikich Internship Applications Open for 2027–2028?
Sikich does not publish fixed application deadlines. Instead, the firm recruits through campus events in early fall, interviews in October, and extends offers by November, per Vault’s documented pattern. Two live postings confirm the cycle is active now (August 2026): a Summer 2027 Federal Audit Intern in Alexandria, VA (hybrid) and a Spring 2027 Audit Intern for Local Government in Springfield, IL. Glassdoor data shows an average of just 7 days from application to hire and 100% of interviewed candidates reporting they applied via campus recruiting. For summer 2028, expect postings to surface around mid-2027, roughly 10 to 12 months ahead of the start date.
Two intern postings are live right now: Summer 2027 Federal Audit (Alexandria VA, hybrid) and Spring 2027 Local Government Audit (Springfield IL). Campus recruiting for fall 2026 is imminent. This is the proof-building window: what sits on your resume when you meet a recruiter at a career fair decides whether you advance.
Campus recruiting season. Sikich attends career fairs at target schools, and 100% of Glassdoor-reporting interns applied through campus recruiting. Apply on Jobvite the moment you connect with a recruiter. Rolling means seats fill without a posted close date.
Interviews run about 7 days from application. Glassdoor rates difficulty at 2.3 out of 5 (Easy) with 75% positive experience. Expect behavioral questions about teamwork, communication, and your interest in public accounting. Offers typically land by November.
Spring 2027 interns start: Local Government Audit in Springfield IL runs full-time (40 hr/wk) through busy season. This is real audit work during peak filing and reporting period.
Summer 2027 Federal Audit interns begin in Alexandria VA (hybrid). Duration is 3 to 6 months per Vault. Perform well: Sikich uses internships as its primary full-time pipeline, and CPA-bonus benefits (4 exam days plus 4 study days, plus tuition reimbursement) await converted hires.
How to read this page: our dates come from tracking previous recruiting cycles and daily posting data. Treat them as informed estimates based on historical patterns, not confirmed dates. The company's official careers page is always the most current source. If a role is posted there, go by that, even if this page suggests the window hasn't opened yet.
Why You Must Apply the Week Applications Open
Sikich fills positions on a rolling basis without published deadlines, and the average time from application to hire is just 7 days. Every single Glassdoor-reporting intern got in through campus recruiting, which means the real window is the two to three weeks of career fairs in September and October. Miss that window and you are chasing seats that may already be spoken for. Apply on Jobvite the same day you meet the recruiter at a fair, because a week later the role could be filled.
Which Sikich Internship Programs Should You Target?
Sikich runs its internships by audit practice area, with each track mapping to a different client base and regulatory environment. The track you target should match your coursework and where you want to build your CPA career.
| Program | Focus | Duration | Key skills |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Audit Intern | Federal government audit engagements, compliance with government auditing standards | Summer, 3–6 months (hybrid) | Government auditing standards, Microsoft Suite, CPA pursuit, independent work |
| Audit Intern — Local Government | Municipal and county audit, governmental accounting standards (GASB) | Spring (Jan–Apr), 40 hr/wk | Governmental accounting, Microsoft Suite, CPA pursuit, collaboration |
| Audit Intern — For-Profit / Not-For-Profit | Financial-statement audits for commercial and nonprofit clients | Summer or Spring, ~3–6 months | GAAP, analytical skills, Microsoft Suite, CPA pursuit |
| Tax Intern (historical) | Tax compliance, advisory, and return preparation | Busy season (Jan–Apr) | Tax research, Excel, attention to detail, CPA pursuit |
See all open roles at jobs.jobvite.com/sikichcareers. Note the split calendar: Spring (January to April) runs during busy season at full-time hours, while Summer placements offer hybrid flexibility and longer duration.
What Are the Eligibility Requirements?
Sikich’s intern requirements are consistent across the two live postings (August 2026):
• Class year: Sophomore, Junior, or Senior. Both live postings accept students from sophomore through senior year.
• Major: Enrolled in an accounting or auditing program at a college or university. CPA-track coursework is effectively required since both postings ask candidates to be pursuing CPA credentials.
• CPA intent: Actively pursuing or planning to pursue CPA licensure. The firm offers a CPA bonus with 4 exam days and 4 study days upon conversion to full-time.
• Work authorization: Must be authorized to work in the US without current or future sponsorship. No visa sponsorship available.
Does Sikich Have a GPA Cutoff?
No published GPA requirement appears in either live posting or on the firm’s careers page. This is notable because most mid-tier accounting firms state a 3.0 floor. The absence suggests Sikich weighs campus-recruiting interactions, CPA intent, and relevant coursework more heavily than a transcript number. That said, Glassdoor’s 100% campus-recruiting application rate means you likely need to make an impression in person at a career fair before the GPA question even arises.
What Skills Does Sikich Look For, and How Do You Build Them?
Two live Sikich intern job descriptions (Summer 2027 Federal Audit, Spring 2027 Local Government Audit) converge on a short, clear skill set. Microsoft Suite proficiency and verbal and written communication appear in both. CPA pursuit appears in both. The Federal Audit posting adds independent work and deadline management, while both emphasize collaborative teamwork. The pattern is straightforward: Sikich hires people who can communicate clearly, work in Microsoft Office, and are committed to the CPA path, then trains the audit methodology on the job.
What Sikich looks for in interns
Skills across 2 Sikich intern & analyst job descriptions · 2026–27 cycle Sikich US intern JDs (live August 2026), projecting 2027–2028
Method: full-text analysis of two Sikich US intern job descriptions read from live Jobvite postings (Summer 2027 Federal Audit Intern, Spring 2027 Audit Intern Local Government), August 2026. Small sample (n=2) because only two intern roles are currently posted; historical Tax postings would likely add tax-research and analytical skills.
How Is Demand for Accounting Interns Moving Right Now?
Accounting intern hiring context: August 2026 hiring right now: September 2026
Across US accounting intern postings tracked this month · aggregate market data, all employers
September 2026 is the fall recruiting wave: accounting intern postings jumped 126.2% from August, Seats fill on rolling review, so the applications that go in this month meet the widest pool of open roles.
Method: aggregate analysis of US accounting intern postings on Adzuna's US index, August average versus September 2026 to date (3 collection days). Sample indexes under half of all US postings; figures show direction and relative level, not total market share.
Build These Skills Before You Apply
And the skills in that chart map to remote Externships where you finish a real project before the campus recruiting window opens.
| Skill (from real JDs) | JD evidence | Externship that builds it |
|---|---|---|
| Financial analysis & Excel modeling | Both JDs: "Microsoft Suite" proficiency, accounting/auditing program requirement | Yinan Zhao Investing & Financial Modeling |
| Analytical reasoning & research | Federal Audit JD: "ability to work independently and meet deadlines," analytical work on government engagements | HP Tech Ventures Deal Sourcing |
| Communication & collaborative teamwork | Both JDs: "verbal and written communication," "collaborative teamwork" | Yinan Zhao Investing & Financial Modeling |
How close is the overlap? The Yinan Zhao project is financial modeling and investment analysis that yields the Excel-driven, numbers-literate evidence Sikich’s behavioral interview probes for, and the HP Tech Ventures project builds the independent research and analytical reasoning story a Federal Audit STAR-format question rewards.
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What Is the Sikich Application and Interview Process Like?
Sikich’s interview process is short and low-pressure, with an average of just 7 days from application to hire and difficulty rated 2.3 out of 5 (Easy):
1. Connect at a campus career fair. 100% of Glassdoor-reporting interns applied through campus recruiting. Attend your school’s accounting or business career fair in September or October and speak directly with Sikich recruiters.
2. Apply on Jobvite to a specific role and location. The portal lists open intern positions by track and office. Apply the same day you meet the recruiter.
3. Behavioral interview. Expect conversational, low-pressure questions about your interest in public accounting, teamwork, communication, and why Sikich. Glassdoor rates 75% positive experience. No documented technical assessment or case study.
4. Offer. Decisions come fast, averaging 7 days total. With 100% campus-recruiting sourcing and easy-rated interviews, the main gate is showing up prepared at the right career fair.
No online assessment, HireVue, or technical test is documented for Sikich intern roles. The process is relationship-driven and campus-first, which means your in-person impression at a career fair matters more than any portal optimization. Prepare three to four STAR stories about teamwork, meeting deadlines, and your CPA motivation.
What Students on Reddit Say
Three community threads give a window into intern experience and firm reputation.
Just got an internship offer and I am so excited. The interview process was straightforward and the people were genuinely friendly. Feeling great about starting in public accounting at a mid-size firm where you actually get real client exposure from day one.
Sikich is solid mid-tier. Good culture, real audit work, and you are not just a number. The CPA support is generous and people seem to stick around longer than at Big 4. Worth considering if you want actual mentorship over brand prestige.
If you cannot land Big 4, mid-tier firms like Sikich, BDO, and Grant Thornton are absolutely viable paths to the CPA. You still get real audit hours, the pay is competitive, and the exit opportunities are solid once you have the credential.
How Do You Stand Out for a Sikich Internship?
Three moves, all executable before September career fairs. First, show CPA commitment early. Both live postings ask for candidates pursuing CPA credentials, and the firm backs this with a CPA bonus (4 exam days plus 4 study days and tuition reimbursement) for full-time hires, so mention your 150-credit plan and exam timeline in conversation. Second, know Sikich’s growth story. The Bain Capital investment, the IPA #25 ranking, the expansion into EMEA and APAC, the technology advisory practice: recruiters at a mid-tier firm notice when a candidate has done more than read the Wikipedia page. Third, bring a finished project. Since 100% of interns enter through campus recruiting and the interview is behavioral, a real deliverable (financial model, analytical report) converts a STAR story from hypothetical to concrete and separates you from every other junior who just says “I’m interested in audit.”
What Other Companies Should You Consider?
Sikich competes for accounting interns alongside other IPA-ranked mid-tier firms. If you are building an audit-internship application list, these are the natural neighbors:
- BDO#5 US accounting firm; larger global network, more structured recruiting calendarCareers site
- Grant Thornton#6 US firm; broader advisory practice, similar mid-tier cultureCareers site
- Baker Tilly#6 post-merger with Moss Adams; 51+ offices, rolling year-round recruitmentCareers site
- Crowetop-10 US firm; strong in financial services audit, Midwest presenceCareers site
- CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen)top-10 US firm; strong government and nonprofit audit, similar campus-recruiting modelCareers site
Our Big 4 accounting and audit internships 2027 guide maps the larger firms side by side. Sikich’s advantage for many candidates: smaller cohorts mean more direct partner exposure, a 7-day hiring timeline, and less competition per seat than Big 4 batch recruiting.
FAQ
When should I apply for a Sikich internship for 2027 or 2028?
Apply now for 2027 roles that are already live. Sikich recruits on a rolling basis through campus events in early fall, with positions filling without published deadlines. For summer 2028, postings are projected to surface around mid-2027, roughly 10 to 12 months ahead of the start date.
How much does a Sikich internship pay?
Official pay is $29 to $30 per hour, based on two live intern postings as of August 2026. This is competitive with mid-tier accounting peers like Crowe and translates to roughly $60,000 annualized at full-time hours during the spring busy-season placement window.
Does Sikich sponsor visas for interns?
No. Both live postings require US work authorization without current or future sponsorship needs. International students who will need employment-based visa sponsorship after graduation are effectively excluded from these intern roles and should focus recruiting efforts on firms that explicitly offer sponsorship.
What GPA do I need for a Sikich internship?
No published GPA requirement appears in Sikich intern postings. The firm does not state a minimum threshold, unlike most mid-tier peers that specify 3.0. CPA-track coursework, campus-fair engagement, and strong communication skills appear to weigh more heavily than transcript numbers in the selection process.
How hard is the Sikich intern interview?
Easy. Glassdoor rates it 2.3 out of 5 in difficulty, with 75% positive experience and an average of just 7 days to hire. Expect conversational behavioral questions about teamwork and public-accounting interest, with no documented technical assessment or case study.
What tracks does Sikich offer for interns?
Federal Audit, Local Government Audit, For-Profit Audit, Not-For-Profit Audit, and Tax are the documented tracks. The two live postings as of August 2026 are Federal Audit in Alexandria VA (hybrid) and Local Government Audit in Springfield IL, covering both government and commercial client bases.
Does Sikich offer return offers to interns?
No official conversion rate is published. However, the firm invests heavily in CPA support for full-time hires, including 4 exam days, 4 study days, tuition reimbursement, and a CPA completion bonus, strongly suggesting the internship functions as a primary pipeline into full-time audit roles.
Is Sikich a good firm for starting a CPA career?
Yes for candidates who value mentorship and client exposure over brand prestige. Sikich is IPA #25 with $529.5 million revenue, offers generous CPA support, and provides real audit engagement work from day one in smaller cohorts than Big 4 programs.
Sikich’s rolling pipeline and 7-day hiring speed mean the real deadline is the September career fair. Spend the weeks before it building proof: a remote Externship turns “interested in audit” into a finished financial project your STAR story 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.
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