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2020 Accounting Internship Programs, Ranked

Did anyone else notice that Vault released its 2020 accounting firm rankings and accounting internship program rankings on the two biggest tax days of the year? The Vault Accounting 50 almost always comes out on April 15, and its latest ranking of the best accounting internships came out on Oct. 15. Coincidence? Probably … or maybe not. I have no idea.

Anyway, accounting internships. There are 20 that Vault considers the best of the best, based on a survey of firms that sponsor internships and ratings from current and former interns about their experiences. The nice thing about this list is only two Big 4 firms are ranked, and only one made the top 10. But don’t worry, all four made Vault’s list of the 50 most prestigious internships.

Public accounting firms also were ranked in several other categories, such as the best internships for quality of life, compensation and benefits, employment prospects, and diversity.

Let’s jump right in:

Best Accounting Internships (2019 ranking in parenthesis):

1. PKF O’Connor Davies (8)
2. Elliott Davis (1)
3. Moss Adams (9)
4. Plante Moran (5)
5. H&CO (NR)
6. Frank, Rimerman + Co. (2)
7. Frazier & Deeter (NR)
8. Armanino (7)
9. WilkinGuttenplan (3)
10. KPMG (13)
11. BDO USA (4)
12. Blue & Co. (NR)
13. Eide Bailly (11)
14. PwC (12)
15. Baker Tilly (15)
16. CohnReznick (19)
17. Sikich (10)
18. Wipfli (16)
19. CBIZ MHM (17)
20. Withum (NR)

100 Best Internships:

10. PKF O’Connor Davies (24)
12. Elliott Davis (3)
17. Moss Adams (31)
19. Plante Moran (11)
22. H&CO (NR)
24. Frank, Rimerman + Co. (4)
26. Frazier & Deeter (NR)
29. Armanino (21)
32. WilkinGuttenplan (5)
33. KPMG (47)
35. BDO USA (9)
37. Blue & Co. (NR)
47. Eide Bailly (39)
49. PwC (46)
56. Baker Tilly (NR)
68. CohnReznick (NR)
71. Sikich (34)
78. Wipfli (NR)
81. CBIZ MHM (NR)
83. Withum (NR)
90. Marks Paneth (NR)
96. PwC Strategy& (NR)

Most Prestigious Internships:

17. Deloitte (14)
30. Ernst & Young (26)
40. PwC (30)
47. KPMG (45)

Best Consulting Internships:

6. PwC (6)
11. PwC Strategy& (NR)
13. CBIZ (12)

Best Financial Services Internships: 

3. Frazier & Deeter (NR)

Best Internships for Career Development:

18. H&CO (NR)
20. Elliott Davis (11)
25. Plante Moran (13)
27. Blue & Co. (NR)

Best Internships for Quality of Life:

5. WilkinGuttenplan (5)
6. Elliott Davis (4)
17. Frank, Rimerman + Co. (6)
23. H&CO (NR)
27. PKF O’Connor Davies (NR)
28. Plante Moran (NR)
30. Moss Adams (NR)

Best Internships for Compensation & Benefits:

3. Elliott Davis (1)
10. Withum (NR)
13. Blue & Co. (NR)
14. H&CO (NR)
18. Plante Moran (18)
19. Frazier & Deeter (NR)
24. Moss Adams (NR)
27. BDO USA (24)

Best Internships for Employment Prospects:

3. PKF O’Connor Davies (22)
9. KPMG (NR)
10. Frazier & Deeter (NR)
11. Eide Bailly (NR)
15. PwC (NR)
18. Moss Adams (NR)
24. Frank, Rimerman + Co. (6)
30. Armanino (23)

Best Internships for Diversity:

2. H&CO (NR)
17. Marks Paneth (NR)
21. Withum (NR)
24. CohnReznick (NR)
27. KPMG (NR)

And if you do get an internship at Armanino or Withum, there’s always a chance you’ll make a cameo in a cringe-worthy firm video.