Summer Intern, Finance

Overview

Emerson Collective (EC) is a company of investors, changemakers, creative thinkers, and problem solvers working to make a lasting mark on the world. 

Emerson Collective’s summer internship program places rising college sophomores, juniors, and seniors - and, for select opportunities, undergraduate students graduating in 2026 - in paid internship opportunities across Emerson Collective and our longstanding nonprofit partners XQ Institute, E Pluribus Unum, and Chicago CRED. 

We’re looking for college students who think big, embrace challenges, and thrive in collaboration.

The internship is onsite, 40 hours per week, from June 15 through August 7, 2026. A mandatory paid virtual onboarding and orientation will take place June 10–12. See below for more details.

Application Deadline: Friday, January 9, 2026, at 2:00 PM PT / 5:00 PM ET. Applications submitted after this deadline will not be accepted.

The Opportunity

The Finance team plays a key role in supporting every team at Emerson Collective by delivering financial insights that power decision-making across our resources to drive impact.

As the Finance intern, you'll gain hands-on exposure to the fundamentals of financial reporting, month-end close, forecasting, budgeting, and variance analysis at a mission-driven company. You’ll work closely with team members across departments and use technologies such as Google Sheets, OpenAI, Cube FP&A, and LookerStudio to help develop and strengthen our models, reports, and dashboards to discover new financial insights and drive financial optimization decision-making. You’ll also contribute to our AI and automation initiatives, helping test and develop new tools to make financial processes faster, smarter, and more efficient.

• Contribute to AI Initiatives: Support the finance team’s AI initiatives by assisting with the testing and implementation of AI applications to bolster how we support budget owners at the collective.
• Assist in Financial Reporting: Support the finance team in preparing, reviewing, and analyzing financial reports, ensuring accuracy and timely distribution.
• Support Forecasting: Work alongside the team to assist in developing and refining department forecasts to ensure alignment with organizational goals and budgets.
• Conduct Variance Analysis: Analyze budget vs. actual variances and provide insights to identify trends and areas for potential cost optimization.
• Enhance Financial Models and Dashboards: Utilize core FP&A tools to develop and maintain financial models, reports, and dashboards that drive key decision-making in Looker Studio.
• Collaborate Across Departments: Engage with team members and stakeholders from various departments to gather information, understand financial needs, and deliver data-driven insights.

• Rising undergraduate sophomore, junior, or senior, preferably pursuing a degree in finance, economics, business, or a related field.
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills, with the ability to translate data into clear insights.
• Detail-oriented, organized, and proactive, with a growth mindset and eagerness to learn new tools and technologies.
• Solid understanding of financial concepts such as forecasting, budgeting, and reporting.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across teams.

Internship Details

Compensation

- All interns are paid $25 per hour and can expect to work 40 hours per week from June 15 to August 7 (eight weeks).

- Interns will also be paid $25 per hour for onboarding and orientation sessions taking place June 10–12.

- All interns receive a lunch allowance and a commuter allowance, and may also receive travel and housing allowances as needed. 

Key Dates

- November 18 – January 9: Internship applications accepted; interviews begin on a rolling basis

Applications must be submitted by 2:00 PM PT/5:00 PM ET on Friday, January 9.

(Please note that not all applicants will be selected for interviews.)

- January 12 – March 7: Interviews continue and offers extended

- June 10–12: Mandatory virtual onboarding and orientation

- June 15: Internship program begins

- August 7: Internship program concludes