Navigating Your Path: A Guide to Plante Moran Internship Requirements

Plante Moran, one of the nation's largest audit, tax, consulting, and wealth management firms, offers a variety of internship opportunities for students and those looking to gain real-world experience. The firm prides itself on its "we-care" culture, prioritizing the growth, well-being, and success of its staff. Interns are treated like entry-level staff, given meaningful work, and provided with opportunities for professional development and networking. This article will delve into the requirements for Plante Moran internships, covering various roles and general expectations.

General Requirements for Plante Moran Internships

Regardless of the specific internship role, there are some general qualifications that Plante Moran seeks in its candidates.

Academic Standing: A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is typically required for most internship positions.
Leadership and Soft Skills: Plante Moran seeks detail-oriented leaders with problem-solving, communication, and analytical skills.
Educational Background: Depending on the position, candidates are generally pursuing a Bachelor's or Master's degree in a relevant field.
Work Authorization: Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship, with exceptions for qualified candidates who are bilingual in either Japanese and English or Chinese and English.

Internship Opportunities and Specific Requirements

Plante Moran offers internships across its various service lines, including audit, tax, management consulting, and wealth management. Here's a breakdown of some of the specific requirements for different internship roles:

Audit Intern

Role Overview: Audit interns help instill confidence in organizations by assuring their financial health. They are given the flexibility to craft business solutions, not just spreadsheets.
Responsibilities: Participating in different phases of the audit engagement, including planning, testing, researching, and reporting. Working with compilations, reviews, compliance, financial statements, and benefit plans.
Qualifications: Pursuing a Bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in accounting; or Master’s degree in accounting or tax. On track to complete the requisite degree and supporting credits to sit for the CPA exam, with the goal of successfully obtaining your CPA license.

Tax Intern

Role Overview: Tax interns gain exposure to a wide range of tax incentives and work directly with clients to identify and resolve issues.
Responsibilities: Focusing on projects related to cost segregation, fixed asset recovery periods, capitalization versus expense analysis, R&D tax credits, and domestic producer activities deduction. Assisting clients to ensure proper documentation of credits and deductions in accordance with IRS regulations.
Qualifications: Pursuing a Bachelor's degree with an an emphasis in accounting; or Master's degree in accounting or tax. Academic success (a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0). On track to complete the requisite degree and supporting credits to sit for the CPA exam, with the goal of successfully obtaining your CPA license.

Management Consulting Intern

Role Overview: Management consulting interns focus on clients’ critical business needs, working on projects from strategy to operations.
Responsibilities: Work with a variety of external clients and their technologies to provide technical support to ensure clients' business operations run without interruption. Identify and resolve problems related to PC and server hardware and software, mobile devices, AV equipment, network services and any other technical issues that may arise for external clients. Project work including migrations, upgrades, security audits, as well as research and implement new technologies.
Qualifications: Pursuing a Bachelor's degree in information technology, computer science, or related field. Information Technology (IT) and/or engineering knowledge/experience is a plus. Some experience with service desk remediation is a plus.

Medicare and Medicaid Consulting Intern

Role Overview: These interns work with client financial information related to Medicare and Medicaid cost reporting.
Responsibilities: Analyze and compile client financial information into Medicare and Medicaid cost reporting. Interface with clients on reporting of information to optimize their revenues. Research market and industry trends, and report on findings.
Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in accounting or related; or master’s degree in accounting, tax or related.

The Track Internship Program

Plante Moran also offers the Track Internship Program, a multi-year program that features coaching and mentorship, along with national training in audit, tax, management consulting, and wealth management. This program is open to all eligible freshman and sophomore students. Students who are Black or African-American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, or two or more races are strongly encouraged to apply.

What to Expect as a Plante Moran Intern

Real-World Experience: Interns work on actual client projects, gaining a real feel for the profession and the firm's clientele.
Variety: Exposure to audit, tax, consulting, and wealth management practices, as well as the many industries Plante Moran works in.
Professional Development: Interns are evaluated against a defined set of competencies and receive feedback from staff at all levels.
Networking: Interns have the opportunity to connect with staff and partners across the firm and attend the Intern Summit, a firmwide gathering for interns.

Benefits and Compensation

Plante Moran offers eligible staff a robust benefits package, including health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance. Staff can also take advantage of Flexible Time Off and various pre-determined holidays, as well as a 401(k) plan, flexible benefits plans, business-related travel expense, lodging, and meal reimbursement for business-related use. A pension plan is also available for eligible administrative and paraprofessional staff. A discretionary bonus plan is available for eligible staff.

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The compensation range reflects the base salary the firm reasonably expects to pay for the position across its offices in various regions. Compensation decisions take into account a wide variety of factors, including responsibilities, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and geography.

Applying for an Internship

Interested applicants must submit their resume for consideration using Plante Moran's applicant tracking system. Due to the high volume of interest, only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

Plante Moran's Culture and Values

Plante Moran distinguishes itself through its culture, which is centered around valuing its employees and fostering a supportive and inclusive environment. The firm has received consistent recognition as one of Fortune Magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For.” Plante Moran is committed to a diverse workplace and strives to create a culture where each person feels accepted and valued. The firm believes in flexibility and balance, encouraging individuals to work with their supervisor and team to determine their optimal working environment each day.

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