Finance Intern (Accounting)

Location: San Jose, California, United States
Employment type: Internship

About the role

We are looking for a Finance Intern to join the accounting team and gain hands-on experience supporting accurate, timely, and well-controlled financial operations. You will learn how accounting processes connect across the general ledger, period close, reconciliations, payables, financial reporting, and internal controls.

This is a project-based opportunity for someone who is curious about how financial information is recorded, reviewed, and communicated. You will work with accounting and cross-functional partners to organize data, investigate questions, document processes, support recurring activities, and deliver a defined project outcome.

What you’ll do

Support month-end and quarter-end close activities by preparing schedules, gathering support, tracking open items, and documenting completion.
Assist with account, balance-sheet, bank, and other reconciliations; investigate differences and escalate questions with appropriate context.
Help prepare and document journal entries, ledger activity, account analyses, and financial-reporting support materials.
Support accounts-payable and procure-to-pay activities by organizing invoice, vendor, payment, and approval information.
Collect, validate, and organize financial data from multiple sources while maintaining accuracy, completeness, and appropriate documentation.
Help prepare trial-balance, income-statement, balance-sheet, and other financial reports or analysis used by Accounting and Finance stakeholders.
Maintain process documentation, workpapers, checklists, and audit-support materials in accordance with team standards.
Support internal-control activities by organizing evidence, tracking requests, and following established review and approval procedures.
Use Excel and other business tools to analyze information, maintain trackers, identify trends, and communicate findings clearly.
Partner with Accounting, FP&A, Procurement, Finance Operations, and other teams to clarify requirements and resolve data or process questions.
Identify opportunities to improve repeatable accounting workflows, data quality, documentation, and reporting.
Own defined project deliverables with mentor support, provide progress updates, ask questions when blocked, and present project results and next steps.

What you bring

Currently pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in accounting, finance, business, economics, or a related field.
Coursework or foundational knowledge in financial accounting, managerial accounting, corporate finance, or related topics.
Strong analytical and quantitative skills, with careful attention to detail and data accuracy.
Working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint, including the ability to organize data and communicate analysis clearly.
Ability to follow a process, investigate discrepancies, maintain organized documentation, and protect business-sensitive information.
Strong written and verbal communication skills and comfort collaborating with cross-functional partners.
Organization, ownership, flexibility, and willingness to learn in a dynamic environment.
Ability to manage milestones and deadlines, follow through reliably, and stay engaged when project scope or priorities change.
A positive, coachable, learning-oriented attitude and sound judgment.

Preferred qualifications

Experience with account reconciliations, journal entries, financial reporting, audit support, internal controls, or process documentation through coursework, projects, internships, or campus organizations.
Familiarity with enterprise resource planning or accounting systems, such as Oracle Fusion, is a plus.
Experience creating Excel analyses, reporting trackers, dashboards, or other business-facing materials.
Interest in process improvement, automation, and how technology can improve accounting accuracy and efficiency.

Equal opportunity

Astera Labs is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We encourage anyone with relevant experience to apply.

Internship experience and compensation

This is a paid, hourly U.S. internship. The applicable hourly rate is determined as part of the offer process and specified in the offer letter, depending on education level ranges from $35/hour to $55/hour. U.S. interns currently receive a $500-per-week housing/relocation stipend for the duration of the internship. Interns participate in Early Career programming, including technical and professional-development sessions, community events, and an end-of-program project presentation.

About the role

What you’ll do

Support month-end and quarter-end close activities by preparing schedules, gathering support, tracking open items, and documenting completion.

Assist with account, balance-sheet, bank, and other reconciliations; investigate differences and escalate questions with appropriate context.

Help prepare and document journal entries, ledger activity, account analyses, and financial-reporting support materials.

Support accounts-payable and procure-to-pay activities by organizing invoice, vendor, payment, and approval information.

Collect, validate, and organize financial data from multiple sources while maintaining accuracy, completeness, and appropriate documentation.

Help prepare trial-balance, income-statement, balance-sheet, and other financial reports or analysis used by Accounting and Finance stakeholders.

Maintain process documentation, workpapers, checklists, and audit-support materials in accordance with team standards.

Support internal-control activities by organizing evidence, tracking requests, and following established review and approval procedures.

Use Excel and other business tools to analyze information, maintain trackers, identify trends, and communicate findings clearly.

Partner with Accounting, FP&A, Procurement, Finance Operations, and other teams to clarify requirements and resolve data or process questions.

Identify opportunities to improve repeatable accounting workflows, data quality, documentation, and reporting.

Own defined project deliverables with mentor support, provide progress updates, ask questions when blocked, and present project results and next steps.

What you bring

Currently pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in accounting, finance, business, economics, or a related field.

Coursework or foundational knowledge in financial accounting, managerial accounting, corporate finance, or related topics.

Strong analytical and quantitative skills, with careful attention to detail and data accuracy.

Working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint, including the ability to organize data and communicate analysis clearly.

Ability to follow a process, investigate discrepancies, maintain organized documentation, and protect business-sensitive information.

Strong written and verbal communication skills and comfort collaborating with cross-functional partners.

Organization, ownership, flexibility, and willingness to learn in a dynamic environment.

Ability to manage milestones and deadlines, follow through reliably, and stay engaged when project scope or priorities change.

A positive, coachable, learning-oriented attitude and sound judgment.

Preferred qualifications

Experience with account reconciliations, journal entries, financial reporting, audit support, internal controls, or process documentation through coursework, projects, internships, or campus organizations.

Familiarity with enterprise resource planning or accounting systems, such as Oracle Fusion, is a plus.

Experience creating Excel analyses, reporting trackers, dashboards, or other business-facing materials.

Interest in process improvement, automation, and how technology can improve accounting accuracy and efficiency.

Internship experience and compensation