Do I need a visa to do an accounting internship in London?

Visa requirements for an accounting internship in London depend on your nationality and length of stay. See full visa requirements >

Can UK citizens do an accounting internship in the UK?

Eligibility for an international internship in London depends on your citizenship and residency history. If you solely hold a UK passport and have lived only in England & Wales for the past five years, you must join a program outside the UK.

What kind of companies host accounting interns in London?

Accounting interns are placed with a mix of major global accounting firms, mid-tier practices, boutique advisory firms and in-house corporate finance teams, depending on your interests and experience. Discover example host organizations >

How long are accounting internships in London?

Programs typically run from 4 to 24 weeks, with start dates available year-round.

What qualifications do I need for an accounting internship in London?

You don't necessarily need an accounting degree or previous professional experience to apply for an accounting internship in London. The right qualifications will depend on the internship placement, but relevant studies in accounting, finance, economics or a related subject can be useful. Transferable skills such as numeracy, attention to detail, analytical thinking and clear communication can also help you succeed in an accounting role. Your placement is matched to your experience, interests and career goals.

How can I get an accounting internship in London?

To get an accounting internship in London, start by identifying which side of accounting interests you most, whether that's audit, tax, transaction services or management accounting, and consider how your education, skills and experience line up with it. You can then apply for an internship program and discuss your career goals, interests and placement preferences during the application process. At The Intern Group, you'll complete an online application and interview before working with the team to secure an accounting internship that matches your profile and goals.

Having a picnic during an accounting internship in London

Accounting internships in London

London is home to the accounting profession's global headquarters in every sense that matters, the firms that set the standards, the qualifications that carry weight worldwide, and a sheer density of practice areas few other cities can match.

All four of the world's largest accounting firms run major operations from London, alongside a deep bench of mid-tier practices and boutique advisory firms serving everything from multinational corporations to fast-growing start-ups. For interns, that concentration offers genuine exposure to how the profession actually functions at scale, from statutory audit through to the advisory work increasingly reshaping what accounting firms do.

Whether you're a university student, recent graduate, gap year student or career changer, an accounting internship in London can help you build real technical understanding within the profession's most influential global market.

Important eligibility information: If you solely hold a UK passport and have lived only in England & Wales for the past five years, you must join a program outside the UK.

Guaranteed Internship
Vetted roles in leading London accounting and audit firms.

Complete Overseas Support
Visa assistance, London housing, social & cultural events and 24/7 staff support included.

Global Career Network
Join 15,000+ alumni with dynamic workshops, networking events, and employer references.

Example accounting host organizations in London

We've previously placed interns with organizations across London's audit, tax, advisory and corporate accounting sectors. The organizations featured represent examples of the types of professional environments where participants have gained experience.

Why do an accounting internship in London?

The world's largest accounting firms didn't just choose London as one of many offices, several effectively built their global reputation from operations based in the city, advising on some of the most significant corporate transactions and audits anywhere. That history has created a genuinely deep talent pool and a culture where technical rigour gets taken extremely seriously from day one.

London's accounting industry has also evolved well beyond traditional audit and compliance work, with advisory services now representing a huge share of what major firms actually do, everything from transaction support to sustainability reporting as companies navigate increasingly complex disclosure requirements. That shift means interns get exposure to a profession that looks considerably broader than the stereotype of number-crunching alone, closer to strategic business advice built on a foundation of financial rigour.

The city is particularly strong in areas such as audit, tax advisory, transaction services and management accounting, giving you exposure to nearly every corner of the modern accounting profession within a single market.

Experience accounting at the profession's global centre

Big Four presence
See how the world's largest accounting firms operate from London at genuinely global scale.

Deep specialization
Explore accounting across audit, tax, transaction services and management accounting.

International networking
Build connections with professionals working across one of the most internationally staffed accounting communities anywhere.

Evolving profession
Learn how advisory work and changing disclosure requirements are reshaping what modern accounting firms actually do.

Interns for an accounting internship in London

Explore accounting internships in London

London's accounting landscape spans the world's largest firms, mid-tier practices, boutique advisory firms and in-house corporate accounting teams. Your internship could give you the opportunity to see how organizations in the city manage financial reporting, compliance and advisory work for clients around the world.

External Audit

London's audit practices work with everything from FTSE 100 companies to fast-growing private businesses, giving interns exposure to how financial statements actually get verified at scale. Your internship could involve supporting fieldwork, testing procedures or documentation.

You could work on: Audit fieldwork · Testing procedures · Documentation · Client liaison support

Transaction Services & M&A Support

London's role as a global dealmaking hub means accounting firms here spend real time on due diligence and financial analysis supporting mergers and acquisitions. You could support financial due diligence, data analysis or deal documentation.

You could work on: Financial due diligence · Data analysis · Deal documentation · Valuation support

Tax Advisory

London's tax teams advise clients navigating UK, EU and international tax rules that shift regularly, making this one of the more intellectually demanding corners of the profession. You could support tax return preparation, research or client documentation.

You could work on: Tax return preparation · Regulatory research · Client documentation · Compliance support

Management Accounting

In-house finance teams across London rely on management accountants to turn raw numbers into insight that actually shapes business decisions. You could support budgeting, variance analysis or management reporting.

You could work on: Budgeting support · Variance analysis · Management reporting · Cost analysis

Financial Reporting & Compliance

Companies listed on the London Stock Exchange face genuinely rigorous disclosure requirements, giving interns exposure to financial reporting standards applied at a serious level. You could support statutory accounts preparation, disclosure checklists or reporting projects.

You could work on: Statutory accounts support · Disclosure documentation · Reporting projects · Reconciliation

Bookkeeping & Financial Operations

Smaller businesses and start-ups across London still rely on solid day-to-day bookkeeping to keep their finances in order, offering interns exposure to the more hands-on, foundational side of accounting. You could support transaction recording, reconciliation or basic reporting.

You could work on: Transaction recording · Reconciliation · Basic reporting · Ledger maintenance

Example accounting internship roles in London

Depending on your skills and interests, you could take on a role such as:

Investment Research Intern
Strategic Finance Intern
Corporate Finance Intern
E-commerce Finance Intern
Business Development and Finance Intern
Investment Analyst Intern
Sustainable Finance Analyst Intern
Private Equity Finance Intern

Your exact role will depend on your host organization and placement.

Explore more example Finance roles >

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What can you gain from an accounting internship in London?

An accounting internship in London offers more than a line on your CV. It's a chance to see how the profession operates at its most influential global centre, developing practical, technical skills grounded in genuinely rigorous standards.

Build London accounting experience

Add international accounting experience to your CV and show future employers that you've worked within one of the most respected accounting markets in the world.
Work on real accounting projects

Put your knowledge into practice through projects that could involve audit, tax, transaction support or management accounting, depending on your placement
Grow your international accounting network

Connect with professionals across London's audit, tax and advisory sectors while building relationships with fellow interns from around the world.
Understand the modern accounting profession

See how advisory work, ESG reporting and evolving disclosure requirements are reshaping what accounting firms actually do.
Experience London's accounting culture

Gain insight into how technical rigour and genuine career structure combine within one of the profession's most established markets.

Having afternoon tea during an accounting internship in London

What's included in the London internship program?

Your program includes support designed to help you get the most from your international internship, from placement and accommodation to visa support, career coaching and 24/7 in-country support.

Explore the full London internship program >

Hear from our interns in London

"The Intern Group has been such a great part of my overall experience, not just through my internship, but socially as well. They’re always organising new events for interns and are consistently there to support you whenever you need help. My biggest piece of advice for future interns is to be ready to step outside your comfort zone. Not because you should be scared, but because you need to be willing to try new things and stay open to new opportunities. This is such a great experience that you’ll want to explore absolutely everything." - Shanell Cartagena, finance intern in London

"The Intern Group has helped me connect with so many people. If I had come to such a big, busy city where everyone is focused on their own career, it could have been difficult to meet people my age who are in a similar position. The Intern Group made it easy to build friendships with people I might never have met otherwise, and that has been one of the highlights of my experience." - Matthew Fluke, intern in London

On the Tube during an accounting internship in London

Is a London accounting internship right for you?

A London accounting internship could be a great fit if you want hands-on exposure to the profession at its most established and influential global centre.

Whether you're a university student, recent graduate, gap year student or career changer, you can build practical accounting skills while experiencing how organizations in London manage financial reporting, compliance and advisory work. It's an opportunity to build your CV, expand your professional network and discover where a career in accounting could take you.

What is it like to live as an accounting intern in London?

Living as an accounting intern in London means adjusting to a demanding schedule, particularly during audit busy season, but the payoff is a city that genuinely rewards you once you're off the clock.

Weeknights might mean a quiet dinner near the office or drinks with colleagues once a big deadline clears, while weekends open up everything from gallery visits to a market in Notting Hill or Borough. The Tube makes the whole city easy to navigate, and fellow interns tend to become the people you lean on to make sense of London's size and pace.

Visiting a theme park during an accounting internship in London

FAQs

: Visa requirements for an accounting internship in London depend on your nationality and length of stay.

See full visa requirements >
: Eligibility for an international internship in London depends on your citizenship and residency history. If you solely hold a UK passport and have lived only in England & Wales for the past five years, you must join a program outside the UK.
: Accounting interns are placed with a mix of major global accounting firms, mid-tier practices, boutique advisory firms and in-house corporate finance teams, depending on your interests and experience.

Discover example host organizations >
: Programs typically run from 4 to 24 weeks, with start dates available year-round.
: You don't necessarily need an accounting degree or previous professional experience to apply for an accounting internship in London. The right qualifications will depend on the internship placement, but relevant studies in accounting, finance, economics or a related subject can be useful.

Transferable skills such as numeracy, attention to detail, analytical thinking and clear communication can also help you succeed in an accounting role. Your placement is matched to your experience, interests and career goals.
: To get an accounting internship in London, start by identifying which side of accounting interests you most, whether that's audit, tax, transaction services or management accounting, and consider how your education, skills and experience line up with it.

You can then apply for an internship program and discuss your career goals, interests and placement preferences during the application process. At The Intern Group, you'll complete an online application and interview before working with the team to secure an accounting internship that matches your profile and goals.

Realize your potential with an international internship

1

Apply online

Complete the easy online application form.
2

Interview

If your interview is successful, confirm your enrollment with a tuition deposit.
3

Secure your internship

Collaborate in the internship placement process & accelerate your career.