The Summer Internship Experience (SIE) offered by heritage Moss Adams (now Baker Tilly) provides an immersive program for students pursuing careers in accounting and related consulting fields, during which they engage in hands-on projects and gain practical skills and industry insights. (Note: Moss Adams and Baker Tilly merged recently and now operate under the Baker Tilly name.)

Created in 2012 by Moss Adams to cultivate the next generation of accounting and consulting professionals, the SIE recognizes the accounting professional shortage and the industry need for inclusive talent.

“The program aims to provide students at the university level with tangible experiences while showcasing a career in the accounting profession. Ultimately, the program is designed to build a strong pipeline of skilled career professionals who will elevate the profession and the firm,” explains Leanne Lutkus, senior manager of campus programs at  the organization.

“Investing in our interns is more than just providing them with a summer job; it is about the future of the profession and the firm. By equipping interns with the necessary skills and experiences, we are ensuring a strong pipeline of talent ready to take on future challenges and to join the firm. Their fresh perspectives and innovative ideas contribute to our ongoing success and growth.”

Some of the hands-on projects the interns participate in during SIE include:

• Impact 4 Good Community Project—A competitive teambuilding program with a donation of hands-on classroom materials that enhance STEM and environmental education curriculum.
• The Power of Giving: Making an Impact—The summer interns saw firsthand how giving back is woven into the firm’s culture and how one can make a meaningful difference. Interns had to the opportunity to build pet beds and toys and make cards for animals at a local shelter.
• Final Intern Farewell Project—The summer interns are responsible for organizing their final presentations, which act as a final report out of their internship journey and allows them to share out what special client work they were able to work on. In addition, the interns, as a group, organize an office-wide celebration in which they are given a budget to work with and the creative freedom to present to their career advisers, buddies, and office leadership.
• Innovation Sprint—The summer interns collaborate with the firm’s internal innovation team to work on special projects, such as AI.

The internship program places strong emphasis on mentorship, offering guidance and support throughout the interns’ journey.

“We foster a culture of inclusivity and teamwork, ensuring that interns feel valued and empowered. Overall, the program equips interns with knowledge and experience necessary to thrive in their future careers,” Lutkus says.

Lutkus touts the SIE as a testament to Baker Tilly’s commitment to nurturing up-and-coming industry talent within both of its internship cohorts: interns in client service and others in the Guide, Pilot, Steer (GPS) Operational Internship program.

The firm’s primary goal for its client service interns is to prepare them for a staff position at Baker Tilly. This involves a dual focus on enhancing their technical skills and fostering professional growth.

“Through mentorship and networking opportunities, interns establish vital connections within the firm, setting the stage for a successful career at Baker Tilly,” Lutkus notes of the eight-week program.

“They gain hands-on experience in audit, tax, and consulting, developing a comprehensive understanding of our core services.”

Meanwhile, the firm’s GPS program—which spans six weeks—is designed as the first step in the internship pathway. Its primary objective is to identify talented students and introduce them to the firm’s business, with the opportunity to pursue a second internship in audit, tax, or consulting the following year.

“The GPS Internship specifically aims to enhance participation from outstanding sophomores and juniors from all backgrounds. This program is vital to building a stronger, more inclusive workplace,” Lutkus says.

A highlight and addition to SIE is the Summer Intern Program (SIP), a four-day in-person conference held in Southern California. SIE brings all client service and GPS interns together, providing a unique opportunity to network with their cohort and professionals across the firm.

Hosted during the first full week of the internship, all interns participate in interactive sessions that discuss topics such as:

• Audit, tax, and consulting;
• The path to CPA; and
• Business resource groups.

Interns also participate in team building/community service activities and meet firm leadership, including Moss Adams’ CEO and now Baker Tilly’s CEO-elect, Eric Miles.

“SIP provides the interns with the knowledge and skills to thrive during the internship and beyond,” Lutkus points out, adding that the SIP sets the tone for the remainder of the SIE.

“Following SIP, interns return to their office locations ready to embark on the remainder of their internship experience.”

To evaluate the success of its internship program, - the organization uses a combination of quantitative and qualitative measures. Its primary goal is to convert 70% of its interns to full-time employees.

“We consistently exceed this target, achieving a conversion rate of 80% to 90% annually,” Lutkus says.

“This demonstrates the program’s effectiveness in aligning interns’ experiences with long-term career opportunities at Baker Tilly.”

Additionally, the firm administers an end-of-program survey to assess the quality of its training sessions. Interns are asked to rank these sessions on a scale of 1 to 5, with a target average score of 4 or greater. In 2024, when the company hosted more than 440 interns firmwide, the sessions achieved an average score of 4.3, reflecting their relevance and impact on interns’ professional development.

“Beyond metrics, our program prioritizes creating a sense of belonging and providing a realistic experience of what it’s like to work full time at Baker Tilly,” Lutkus says.

“The high conversion rate and strong survey results indicate that interns leave the program with a positive impression of our culture and work environment. These outcomes affirm that our program successfully meets its objectives, fostering a pipeline of talented professionals and supporting their growth within our firm. Investing in interns is more than just providing them with a summer job; it’s about shaping the future of Baker Tilly.”