How to Get an ACCA Internship During Your Studies
The fastest way to get an ACCA internship while studying is to apply early through three channels — the myACCA portal and ACCA Careers, LinkedIn, and Big 4/MNC career pages — with a CV that shows Excel and IFRS basics. You don’t need to finish your exams first. Most firms hire part-qualified students, and the work can count toward your Practical Experience Requirement (PER).
Below is the exact playbook we walk students through, including those at our ACCA coaching in Jaipur, so they convert applications into offers instead of sending CVs into a void.
When should you start applying for an ACCA internship?
Start the moment you clear your first few Applied Knowledge papers — you do not need to be fully qualified. Big 4 trainee intakes open 3–4 months before the start date, so plan around their hiring windows rather than waiting for results. Off-cycle roles at GCCs, banks and corporates appear year-round, so keep applying continuously.
Where to find ACCA internships in India
- myACCA portal & ACCA Careers: the official job boards list approved employers and trainee vacancies in India and abroad.
- LinkedIn: search “ACCA trainee”, “finance trainee”, “FP&A intern” and filter by city; set job alerts and follow Big 4 recruiters.
- Naukri & Internshala: both have active finance-internship sections where mid-size firms and Big 4 post ACCA-specific roles.
- Direct career pages: EY, KPMG, Deloitte and PwC run structured ACCA trainee programmes — apply directly each quarter.
Build the skills that get you shortlisted
Recruiters screen on skills, not certificates. Before you apply, get comfortable with advanced Excel, the basics of IFRS, and one ERP or financial-modelling tool. A short, demonstrable project (a model, a dashboard, a case analysis) does more for your CV than another line of coursework.
Write a CV and cover note that actually convert
Lead with the papers you’ve cleared, your skills, and any practical work — college finance projects, a family-business books role, a campus treasurer position all count. Keep it to one page, quantify everything, and tailor the opening line of every application to the specific firm. Generic CVs are the number-one reason students get ignored.
Make sure the internship counts toward your PER
To become a full ACCA member you need 36 months of relevant experience mapped to 9 performance objectives and signed off by a qualified supervisor. Prioritise roles at ACCA Approved Employers, where your experience maps to PER more easily — it’s worth more than a slightly higher stipend somewhere that doesn’t count.
Interview prep in one line
Expect a mix of technical questions (basic accounting, IFRS, why ACCA) and behavioural ones (why this firm, a time you solved a problem). Have two clear examples ready and know the firm’s service lines. That’s usually the difference between a callback and a rejection.
Megha’s Take Stop waiting to “finish a few more papers” before applying. Firms hire part-qualified students all the time, and your first internship is what makes every later application easier. The student who applies at Applied Knowledge stage with a tidy one-page CV beats the one who waits until Strategic Professional and applies to nothing. — Megha Bhansali, CA, ACCA Member, Ex-Big 4 (India & UK) |
Want a clear ACCA roadmap — exams, internship and PER — mapped to your timeline? Book a free 1:1 counselling call with Megha Bhansali (CA, ACCA Member, Ex-Big 4). We’ll plan your paper sequence and the exact internship windows to target, with zero sales pressure. 💬 WhatsApp: +91 96807 56998 🌐 Book online: www.meghabhansaliclasess.com |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I do an ACCA internship before finishing my exams? Yes. Most firms hire part-qualified ACCA students, and you can start as early as the Applied Knowledge stage.
Does an internship count toward ACCA PER? Yes, if the work maps to ACCA’s 9 performance objectives and is verified by a qualified supervisor. You need 36 months total for membership.
When do Big 4 ACCA internships open? Typically 3–4 months before the start date, so apply early and track each firm’s career page.
Do I need work experience to get an ACCA internship? No. College projects, campus roles and basic Excel/IFRS skills are enough to get shortlisted for entry-level internships.
Can students outside metros get ACCA internships? Yes — remote and hybrid GCC roles mean students in cities like Jaipur can intern for metro-based teams without relocating.
About Megha Bhansali Classes
Megha Bhansali Classes is a commerce-education brand led by Megha Bhansali — CA, ACCA Member, Ex-Big 4 (India & UK) and an ACCA Approved Learning Partner — guiding Class 12 commerce students and graduates across India through CA, ACCA, US CMA and CFA decisions with honest, data-backed counselling.
What are the most common mistakes students make in Accountancy exams?
| Common mistakes include: |
| Ignoring working notes |
| Writing answers without proper format |
| Calculation errors in partnership questions |
| Missing adjustments |
| Avoiding these alone can increase scores by 10–15 marks. |
How should I revise Accountancy one day before the exam?
| One day before the exam, revise only: |
| Formats (Balance Sheet, Cash Flow, P&L Appropriation) |
| Important journal entries |
| Ratio formulas |
| Adjustment list |
| Avoid starting new chapters to prevent confusion. |
🎓 Ready to Start Your ACCA Journey in Jaipur?
