7 Skills You Need for a Finance Internship

22 Jan 7 Skills You Need for a Finance Internship

Finance is one of the world’s largest sectors, covering roles like analysts, investors, and bankers. As of December 2024, over 9.2 million people were employed in finance in the U.S. alone. With more than half a million job openings, competition is fierce—especially among Gen Z, many of whom are eyeing finance careers.

But what is a finance internship?
It’s a short-term, practical work experience where students or recent grads apply their classroom learning to real-world business challenges—whether in accounting, banking, or corporate finance.

While there is a surplus of job openings in finance—more than half a million, to be exact—it’s not just you who’s looking into a career in the field. In fact, a good majority of Gen Z also prefer a career in finance. Competition is bound to be high, and you need to stand out if you want to make it through. An impressive finance internship (and ideally, a glowing recommendation from your supervisor) can really give you that edge.

You might be asking: if internships are for learning, how can you already be prepared? Don’t worry—we’re not saying you need to be an expert. Having a handful of basic skills, like handling simple finance tasks and working well with others, can make a big difference. So, what exactly are the skills you need to excel in a finance internship?

Before we dive into that, let’s look at what a finance intern typically does.

What does a finance intern do?

In case you’re wondering what finance interns do, it’s far more than just filing paperwork or shadowing senior staff. Interns often handle real tasks like budgeting, reporting, and market research—contributing directly to team decisions.

As mentioned earlier, finance spans a wide spectrum of roles: investment banking, corporate finance, accounting, risk management, and more. To gain a well-rounded understanding of the industry, finance interns are typically exposed to a variety of responsibilities.

Here are five common finance intern responsibilities you can expect:

Analyzing financial data

Interns may review and analyze data to identify trends and insights by assessing market conditions, company performance, or investment opportunities.

Preparing reports and presentations

Creating financial reports and presentations for meetings may be a key responsibility for interns, from compiling financial results to developing slides.

Supporting budgeting and forecasting

Interns may be tasked to assist in preparing budgets and forecasts by gathering data, organizing spreadsheets, and analyzing financial models.

Handling accounting work

Accounting is a vital component of finance. Interns may process invoices, manage accounts payable/receivable, or assist in audits.

Conducting market research

Interns may study market trends, competitor performance, or industry developments to support decision-making within the team.

These responsibilities highlight the variety of basic skills needed to succeed in a finance internship. Now, let’s explore these in more detail.

What skills do you need for a finance internship?

To succeed in your internship and career, mastering a blend of technical and soft skills is key. If you’re asking about the skills required for internship success, here’s what matters:

Technical Skills

• • Spreadsheets – Excel & Google Sheets are essential. Learn pivot tables, VLOOKUP, NPV, and more.
  • Financial Principles – Understand budgeting, forecasting, balance sheets, and investment analysis.
  • Data Analysis – Turn numbers into insights using financial modeling, ratio analysis, and Excel tools.

Soft Skills

• • Communication – Report writing, presenting insights, and explaining complex data clearly.
  • Attention to Detail – Small mistakes can lead to big financial consequences.
  • Time Management – Meet tight deadlines and juggle multiple tasks without losing accuracy.
  • Problem-Solving – Break down financial issues logically and propose actionable solutions.

Below, we will explain each of these 7 key skills and share a few tips that can help you during your finance internship.

Knowledge on spreadsheets

In the finance world, being proficient with the most common spreadsheets like Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets is a must. Spreadsheets help you stay organized, automate calculations, and even perform complicated analyses.

You will likely use a spreadsheet—or something similar—to manage data and generate reports. The better you understand how to use these tools, the more efficient and effective you’ll be during your internship.

Pro-tip on Excel for soon-to-be finance interns: Take the time to get comfortable with Microsoft Excel and its more advanced features, such as pivot tables, lookup, and macros. Many interns also benefit from learning commonly used Excel functions and formulas in the industry of finance, like VLOOKUP, NPV (which stands for net present value), and SUMIF. Understand these functions better through online tutorials, or by using them on your own.

Understanding of financial principles

A good grasp of basic financial principles is the foundation of not just a successful internship, but a soaring career in the industry. If you want to excel as a finance intern, you’ll need to understand concepts like budgeting, forecasting, financial statements, and investment analysis.

You’re not expected to be an expert, but knowing the essentials will make it easier for you to follow discussions and understand your assignments. This also makes sure that you’re not just completing tasks but adding value, too—and your supervisor will definitely appreciate that.

Tips on building your financial knowledge:

• • Familiarize yourself with metrics like ROI, EBITDA, and profit margins.
  • Review financial statements such as balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements.
  • Take free online courses or watch tutorials to better your understanding of financial principles.
  • Check out industry news to see how these principles are applied in the real world.

Data analysis

Data is the backbone of decision-making in the finance sector. As an intern, you will likely work with large sets of numbers, spreadsheets, or reports. From there, you will identify patterns and trends, then analyze them. Strong analytical skills help make sense of this data and turn it into insights and recommendations—which are needed in coming up with good business strategies.

To sharpen your data analysis skills, familiarize yourself with financial modeling and common analysis techniques. Learn the difference between horizontal and vertical analysis, as well as leverage and growth analysis. Practice reading financial statements, calculating ratios, using Excel formulas, and finding meaning in numbers.

Going into your internship with these technical skills up your sleeve can make your experience a whole lot easier.

Communication

It’s not enough to just crunch the numbers—you also need to explain your data. You may be tasked with writing reports, creating presentations, or discussing insights with other departments (or clients, even). This is where strong communication skills, both written and verbal, can come in handy.

Good communication ensures that your findings are understood and acted upon. Whether you’re presenting to managers, working with team members, or preparing content for clients, you will need to articulate your points clearly.

Tips for effective communication:

• • Work on simplifying your explanations of complex financial topics.
  • Practice presenting your findings in a clear, organized manner.
  • Learn to differentiate the way you talk to someone who knows their finance technicalities, and someone who has no background in the field. 
  • Keep your reports or emails straightforward and jargon-free.

Attention to detail

In finance, accuracy is everything—it’s a numbers-driven industry where the smallest error can lead to the biggest consequences. Something as simple as a misplaced decimal or a wrong math operation can seriously affect a company’s financial outlook.

This is why attention to detail is one of the most important skills you’ll need to develop. As a finance intern, you may be responsible for reviewing financial documents, entering data into forms and spreadsheets, or making sure that calculations are accurate.

Our simplest but most effective tip to avoid making mistakes is to always double check your work. Be meticulous. Review your work over and over to ensure everything is correct before submitting it.

An extra tip: Take a break after working on a task, then return with a fresh set of eyes to catch any errors.

Time management

Balancing multiple tasks is common during internships. In finance, deliverables usually come with strict deadlines because it’s a fast-paced industry. Trust us when we say that staying on top of your workload can make or break your finance internship experience.

Time management skills are crucial. Being good at organizing your tasks and prioritizing can help you a lot in meeting deadlines. And remember, you need to be able to do these without compromising the quality of your work!

Tips and tools to help with time management:

• • Break larger projects into smaller tasks to feel less overwhelmed
  • Set realistic timelines for each task
  • Prioritize high-impact tasks first, and allocate specific times of the day for each
  • Use time management or project manager tools like Trello, Asana, or Airtable

Problem-solving

Not to scare you, but finance is full of challenges—there’s balancing budgets, and then there’s resolving data discrepancies, to name a few. Your ability to think critically and solve problems efficiently can bring a lot of value to a company, potentially making you an outstanding intern.

Problem-solving is not just about fixing issues, though. It’s about taking on challenges with a logical and proactive mindset. Supervisors value interns who can remain calm under pressure, analyze situations thoroughly, and deliver effective solutions.

If you want to become an intern with strong problem-solving skills, try these four steps:

• • Stay calm—avoid rushing to conclusions.
  • Break down issues into smaller parts to identify the root cause.
  • Brainstorm multiple solutions and weigh their pros and cons before deciding on the best approach.
  • Look from different perspectives and get more insights by working with team members.

Now that you know the skills needed to excel in a finance internship, it’s time to take the next step: landing one.

How to Get a Finance Internship?

Securing a finance internship begins with preparation and positioning. To stand out, focus on building a strong application that reflects your interest in the industry and readiness for the role. Highlight relevant coursework, extracurricular activities, and technical proficiencies such as Excel or financial modeling.

Be sure to include these fiscal intern skills for resume impact: attention to detail, data analysis, financial reporting, and strong communication. These are often essential for the finance intern duties and responsibilities you’ll encounter.

Don’t underestimate the power of networking—connect with alumni, attend career fairs, and leverage platforms like LinkedIn. If you’re wondering how to get a finance internship without existing contacts, programs like Absolute Internship offer structured, guaranteed placements that match your goals.

With 24/7 support and host cities including Hong Kong, London, and Tokyo, Absolute Internship makes your global finance intern journey seamless and rewarding.

Apply now to kickstart your career and gain hands-on experience that sets you apart.