Business Consulting - Finance Modernization Intern

In today’s fast-paced, technology-driven environment, organizations need transformative strategies that enable bold decisions and unlock meaningful change. Grant Thornton’s Finance Modernization team, which sits in our Business Consulting practice, empowers clients to reimagine their finance functions for peak performance and sustained innovation. Our professionals work alongside CFOs and finance leaders to modernize operations, enhance agility, and prepare for the future of finance. Clients rely on us to navigate complex challenges and position their organizations to thrive in a rapidly evolving marketplace. Our core offerings are tailored to each client’s industry and specific needs, ensuring relevance, impact, and measurable results.

As a member of our Finance Modernization team, you’ll play a key role in helping clients transform their finance organizations to become more agile, data-driven, and strategically aligned. You’ll work with dynamic companies to tackle challenges such as disruptive technologies, evolving business models, global competition, and rising investor expectations.

We partner with CFOs and senior finance leaders to modernize operating models, redesign processes, and implement digital solutions that elevate the role of finance as a strategic enabler. From optimizing planning and forecasting to enhancing performance management and decision support, you’ll help clients unlock value and build future-ready finance functions.

Interested candidates should demonstrate a strong curiosity for how finance functions can evolve to become more strategic, data-driven, and digitally enabled. They should bring a problem-solving mindset and a passion for using technology, analytics, and process improvement to help organizations modernize their finance operations. An interest in areas such as financial planning and analysis (FP&A), performance management, digital tools (e.g., automation, cloud ERP, data visualization), and operating model redesign is highly valued. Individuals should be self-starters and demonstrate the desire to build skills related to Grant Thornton’s core values of: Collaboration, Leadership, Excellence, Agility, Respect and Responsibility.

Your day-to-day may include:

• Assessing client finance operations and processes to identify transformation opportunities aligned with strategic business objectives

• Learning and applying emerging technologies (e.g., automation, analytics, cloud platforms) to modernize finance functions

• Supporting engagements across industries and regions that focus on redesigning finance operating models, improving forecasting, and enhancing performance management

• Receiving hands-on mentoring and career coaching from experienced transformation leaders

• Participating in team building and networking events to strengthen collaboration and cross-functional insight

• Engaging in professional development and targeted training in areas like digital finance, strategic planning, and change management

• Contributing to community outreach initiatives that reflect our values and commitment to impact

• Sharpening your leadership and advisory skills by working directly with CFOs and senior finance stakeholders

You have the following technical skills or qualifications: 

• Preferred cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Economics, Information Systems, or related fields

• Strong interest in modernizing finance functions through digital tools, process redesign, and strategic enablement

• Familiarity with finance technologies such as ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle), automation platforms (e.g., Alteryx, UiPath), and analytics tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau)

• Experience in data analysis, including the ability to interpret complex financial datasets, identify trends, and generate actionable insights to support decision-making

• Ability to analyze and improve financial planning, forecasting, and performance management processes

• Willingness and ability to work additional hours, as needed

• Ability to travel to various client sites as needed

• Excellent communication (written and verbal), and interpersonal skills

• Effective project and time management skills for handling multiple priorities

• Positive mindset for managing multiple tasks, deliverables, and learning new concepts

• Ability to work efficiently and effectively in a team environment while maintaining strong attention to detail

• High proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook); experience with advanced Excel functions is a plus

• Embrace different points of view and welcome opposing and conflicting ideas

• Open mindset and eagerness to learn new skills, especially in digital finance and transformation methodologies

• Uphold the firm's code of ethics and business conduct

The pay rate for this position in the firm’s Chicago office is $37 per hour.