Public Accounting Firm Internship Program Survey
1. Firm Name (optional)
Response
Count
30
answered question
30
skipped question
4
2. Your name and position (name optional, however, please provide position)
Response
Count
33
answered question
33
skipped question
1
Response
Percent
Response
Count
0 to 25
24.2%
8
26 to 50
9.1%
3
51 to 75
3.0%
1
78 to 100
3.0%
1
101 to 125
9.1%
3
126 to 150
0.0%
0
150+
51.5%
17
answered question
33
skipped question
1
3. Number of CPA's working at your firm:
Page 1
4. Does your firm regularly employ interns?
Response
Percent
Response
Count
Yes
90.9%
30
No
9.1%
3
answered question
33
skipped question
1
5. If you answered yes to question 4, typically what time of year does your firm regularly employ interns? (Select all that apply)
Response
Percent
Response
Count
Fall
6.5%
2
Winter
96.8%
30
Spring/Summer
61.3%
19
answered question
31
skipped question
3
6. How many interns does your firm normally employ?
Fall
Winter
Spring/Summer
Response
Count
0
1-3
4-6
7-9
10 - 12
12 - 15
16+
69.2%
(9)
0.0% (0)
7.7% (1)
7.7% (1)
0.0% (0)
0.0% (0)
15.4%
(2)
13
0.0% (0)
35.5%
(11)
16.1%
(5)
3.2% (1)
6.5% (2)
0.0% (0)
38.7%
(12)
31
19.2%
(5)
11.5%
(3)
19.2%
(5)
3.8% (1)
0.0% (0)
0.0% (0)
46.2%
(12)
26
answered question
33
skipped question
1
Page 2
7. Do you recruit for multiple office locations?
Response
Percent
Response
Count
Yes
69.7%
23
No
30.3%
10
answered question
33
skipped question
1
Response
Percent
Response
Count
Part-time, less than 20 hours
0.0%
0
Part-time, 20 hours
6.1%
2
Full-time, 40 hours
42.4%
14
Full-time plus overtime
72.7%
24
Approximately how many overtime hours?
28
answered question
33
skipped question
1
Response
Percent
Response
Count
Tax only
36.4%
12
Audit only
24.2%
8
Tax and audit
72.7%
24
Other (please describe)
27.3%
9
answered question
33
skipped question
1
8. Please indicate the hours requirement related to the internships your firm offers.
9. What type of internships does your firm offer? (Check all that apply)
Page 3
10. If offering tax internships, check the types of tax returns an intern would prepare. (Check all that apply)
Response
Percent
Response
Count
Individual
96.8%
30
Corporate
74.2%
23
Partnerships
83.9%
26
Trusts
51.6%
16
Payroll
12.9%
4
Property tax
61.3%
19
Other (please describe)
6.5%
2
answered question
31
skipped question
3
Response
Percent
Response
Count
One - two weeks formal training
program including interns from other
office locations at an offsite location
(not in the local office)
50.0%
16
In-house formal training program
located in the local office including
only local office interns
62.5%
20
On-line or written training materials
(self paced by intern)
34.4%
11
On-the-job training with
supervision from senior staff
78.1%
25
Other or additional comments,
describe:
12.5%
4
answered question
32
skipped question
2
11. Identify which training programs best describe your firm’s approach. (Check all that apply)
Page 4
12. Do you feel your firm’s training program adequately prepares interns for their engagements/projects?
Response
Percent
Response
Count
Yes, the training program is more
than adequate.
75.0%
24
The firm training program could be
more comprehensive, however, it
does provide a solid base.
21.9%
7
No, our training program should be
improved and updated.
3.1%
1
Other or additional comments, describe:
5
answered question
32
skipped question
2
Response
Percent
Response
Count
Yes
87.5%
28
Occasionally
12.5%
4
No
0.0%
0
answered question
32
skipped question
2
13. Does your firm use internships as a full-time recruiting step?
Page 5
14. Other than recruiting, what is the major reason your firm engages in employing interns? (Rank in order of importance if
applicable)
Least
Important
Busy season assistance
Most
Important
N/A
Rating
Average
Response
Count
12.9% (4)
32.3% (10)
51.6% (16)
3.2% (1)
2.40
31
Providing opportunities for students
3.2% (1)
45.2% (14)
48.4% (15)
3.2% (1)
2.47
31
Increase firm name awareness
among student population
9.7% (3)
35.5% (11)
51.6% (16)
3.2% (1)
2.43
31
Other (please specify)
3
answered question
31
skipped question
3
15. What major attributes do you expect a student to possess when considering them for an internship position? (Rank in order of impo
Least
Important
Most
Important
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
3.2%
6.5%
12.9%
35.5%
22.6%
(0)
(0)
(0)
(1)
(2)
(4)
(11)
(7)
0.0% (0)
3.2%
(1)
6.5%
(2)
9.7%
(3)
0.0%
(0)
9.7%
(3)
16.1%
(5)
19.4%
(6)
25.8%
(8)
9.7% (3)
41.9%
(13)
16.1%
(5)
6.5%
(2)
12.9%
(4)
3.2%
(1)
3.2%
(1)
3.2%
(1)
3.2%
(1)
0.0%
(0)
3.2% (1)
Work experience
0.0% (0)
3.2%
(1)
0.0%
(0)
6.5%
(2)
19.4%
(6)
12.9%
(4)
9.7%
(3)
19.4%
(6)
19.4%
(6)
9.7% (3)
Extracurricular activities
0.0% (0)
0.0%
(0)
16.7%
(5)
13.3%
(4)
10.0%
(3)
20.0%
(6)
20.0%
(6)
6.7%
(2)
10.0%
(3)
3.3% (1)
Classes taken (tax courses,
auditing, intermediate accounting,
etc.)
0.0% (0)
0.0%
(0)
0.0%
(0)
3.2%
(1)
3.2%
(1)
19.4%
(6)
19.4%
(6)
6.5%
(2)
19.4%
(6)
29.0% (9)
Technical skills possessed (Excel,
Access, etc.)
3.2% (1)
3.2%
(1)
9.7%
(3)
3.2%
(1)
9.7%
(3)
6.5%
(2)
19.4%
(6)
0.0%
(0)
45.2%
(14)
0.0% (0)
18.8% (6)
28.1%
(9)
9.4%
(3)
3.1%
(1)
9.4%
(3)
18.8%
(6)
6.3%
(2)
3.1%
(1)
0.0%
(0)
0.0% (0)
0.0%
3.2%
6.5%
6.5%
6.5%
3.2%
22.6%
32.3%
(0)
(1)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(1)
(7)
(10)
0.0%
0.0%
3.2%
0.0%
6.5%
9.7%
16.1%
25.8%
GPA
0.0% (0)
Leadership roles
Study abroad program/ Travel
Hobbies and interests
Level of academic career (junior,
senior, grad student, etc.)
Level of interest and confidence
0.0% (0)
Page 6
19.4% (6)
19.4% (6)
38.7%
observed in the interview
0.0% (0)
(0)
(0)
(1)
(0)
(2)
(3)
(5)
(8)
(12)
16. Does your firm regularly extend full-time offers to students performing well on internships?
Response
Percent
Response
Count
Yes
87.5%
28
Occasionally
12.5%
4
No
0.0%
0
answered question
32
skipped question
2
17. Which of the following do you feel are the most beneficial results of your firm’s internship program? (Rank in order of
importance)
Least
Important
Most
Important
N/A
Rating
Average
Response
Count
Ability to recruit top students
0.0% (0)
0.0%
(0)
10.0%
(3)
26.7%
(8)
63.3%
(19)
0.0%
(0)
4.53
30
Test out potential hires prior to
extending a full-time offer
0.0% (0)
3.3%
(1)
6.7% (2)
46.7%
(14)
43.3%
(13)
0.0%
(0)
4.30
30
Assist full-time staff during busy
season
6.7% (2)
20.0%
(6)
50.0%
(15)
6.7% (2)
16.7% (5)
0.0%
(0)
3.07
30
Enhance relationships with “key”
universities
13.8% (4)
24.1%
(7)
6.9% (2)
41.4%
(12)
13.8% (4)
0.0%
(0)
3.17
29
3.10
29
Other (please specify)
0
answered question
30
skipped question
4
Increase Firm’s reputation with
students
20.7% (6)
17.2%
(5)
3.4% (1)
48.3%
(14)
10.3% (3)
0.0%
(0)
Page 7
18. Which of the following are the most challenging aspects of maintaining an internship program? (Rank from least challenging to mos
Least
Challenging
Most
Challenging
N/A
Rating
Average
Recruiting logistics and time
7.1% (2)
7.1%
(2)
10.7%
(3)
21.4%
(6)
10.7%
(3)
25.0%
(7)
17.9% (5)
0.0%
(0)
4.68
Locating acceptable students via
interviews – i.e. correct skill set,
personality, etc.
3.6% (1)
7.1%
(2)
17.9%
(5)
7.1%
(2)
21.4%
(6)
25.0%
(7)
17.9% (5)
0.0%
(0)
4.82
Financial aspects of payroll/training
21.4% (6)
21.4%
(6)
35.7%
(10)
17.9%
(5)
3.6%
(1)
0.0%
(0)
0.0% (0)
0.0%
(0)
2.61
Finding time available to train new
interns
7.1% (2)
14.3%
(4)
25.0%
(7)
35.7%
(10)
10.7%
(3)
7.1%
(2)
0.0% (0)
0.0%
(0)
3.50
Ensuring full-time staff engage and
assist with interns’ experience
3.6% (1)
7.1%
(2)
14.3%
(4)
42.9%
(12)
10.7%
(3)
17.9%
(5)
3.6% (1)
0.0%
(0)
4.18
Finding enough work to keep interns
busy throughout their internship
0.0% (0)
14.3%
(4)
3.6%
(1)
25.0%
(7)
25.0%
(7)
14.3%
(4)
17.9% (5)
0.0%
(0)
4.75
17.9%
17.9%
14.3%
0.0%
0.0%
(5)
(5)
(4)
(0)
(0)
Office space availability for interns
50.0% (14)
0.0%
0.0% (0)
1.96
(0)
Other (please specify)
answered question
skipped question
19. Any other comments regarding interns or internship programs?
Response
Count
2
answered question
2
skipped question
32
Page 8