Finding a professional foothold while you’re still worrying about SAT scores or who to take to prom is tough. Most "internships" for teens are basically glorified coffee runs. But the CLA high school internship program is a different beast entirely. It’s run by CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA), one of the largest professional services firms in the United States. They don't just want you to sit in a corner. They want you to see how the gears of wealth management, outsourcing, and audit actually turn.
It’s intense. Honestly, it’s probably one of the most structured ways to figure out if you actually like numbers or if you just like the idea of a paycheck.
Why the CLA High School Internship Program Isn’t Your Typical Summer Gig
Most people assume accounting firms are just rooms full of people in gray suits staring at spreadsheets until their eyes bleed. That’s a dated stereotype. At CLA, the high school initiative is designed to be a "pipeline." They aren't doing this just to be nice; they are looking for the next generation of CPAs and advisors.
You’re getting a look at the "private wealth" side of things. You’re seeing how digital forensics works. You might even see how a tax return for a multi-million dollar construction firm is built from the ground up.
It’s about exposure.
The firm operates heavily in the "wealth advisory" space. For a high schooler, this means learning the difference between a simple savings account and complex investment vehicles. It’s the kind of stuff they definitely don't teach in your 10th-grade economics class.
The Breakdown of What You’ll Do
Forget filing papers for eight hours. While there is definitely some administrative "grunt work"—because let's be real, you're an intern—the core of the CLA high school internship program is centered on the "Day in the Life" model.
One day you might be sitting in on a client strategy meeting. The next, you’re using software that costs more than your car to analyze data sets. CLA emphasizes a "seamless" experience. They want you to feel like part of the team. This means you get a mentor. This person isn't just there to give you tasks; they are there to make sure you don't feel totally lost when people start throwing around terms like "EBITDA" or "fiduciary duty."
It's fast.
If you can’t keep up with the jargon, you’ll struggle at first. But the mentors are usually pretty chill about explaining things. They know you’re seventeen. They don't expect you to be a tax law expert on day one.
How to Actually Get Noticed During the Application Process
Don't send a generic resume. Seriously. If your resume looks like every other kid's "President of the Chess Club" template, it’s going in the digital trash. CLA looks for "entrepreneurial grit."
What does that even mean?
It means they want to see that you’ve done something on your own. Maybe you ran a lawn care business that actually made a profit. Maybe you taught yourself Python. Maybe you volunteer at a non-profit and managed their social media. They want to see that you can take a project from A to Z without someone holding your hand every five seconds.
The interview process for the CLA high school internship program is often the first "real" interview a student will ever have. It’s not like interviewing for a lifeguard position. You need to dress up. You need to look them in the eye. You need to have questions ready.
"We look for students who are curious. If a student asks 'Why do you use this specific method for auditing?' instead of just nodding, they immediately stand out." — General sentiment from professional services recruiters.
Real Talk About the Compensation
Yes, it’s paid.
Unlike many internships in the arts or non-profit sectors, CLA pays their interns. The rate varies depending on your location—obviously, an intern in New York City or Chicago might see a different hourly rate than someone in a smaller satellite office in the Midwest—but it’s competitive for high school roles.
But don't do it just for the money. The real value is the "CLA" name on your resume when you apply to college or for a "Big Four" internship later in your university career. It’s a massive signal to recruiters that you’ve been vetted by a top-tier firm before you were even old enough to vote.
The Culture Shock: Office Life vs. School Life
High school is predictable. You have bells. You have a lunch break. You have a teacher telling you exactly what to do. The CLA high school internship program is nothing like that.
It’s professional.
You have to manage your own time. If you finish a task, you don't just sit there on your phone. You go find your mentor and ask for the next thing. This "proactive" mindset is the hardest thing for high schoolers to learn. In an office, silence usually means you're being forgotten, and being forgotten is the quickest way to not get invited back for a second summer.
CLA has a "diverse" and "inclusive" culture, which sounds like corporate speak, but in practice, it means they have various "Employee Resource Groups" (ERGs). As an intern, you often get to participate in these. It’s a great way to meet people who aren't just in the accounting department. You might meet folks from marketing, HR, or IT.
Is This Right for You? (The Honest Truth)
If you hate math, stay away.
I mean, you don't have to be a calculus genius, but if looking at a spreadsheet makes you want to nap, you’re going to be miserable. The CLA high school internship program is for the kid who likes systems. It’s for the person who wonders how businesses stay afloat or how rich people keep their money.
It’s also for the socially confident. You will have to talk to adults. Not just "Hey, how’s it going" talk, but "Here is the data I found in this report" talk. If you’re painfully shy, this will be a "trial by fire." That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but you should be prepared for the discomfort.
Actionable Steps to Secure Your Spot
If you’re reading this and thinking, "Okay, I want in," you need a game plan. You can't just wait for a flyer to appear on your school's bulletin board.
1. Clean up your digital footprint. Before you apply to the CLA high school internship program, Google yourself. If your Instagram is private, keep it that way. If you have a LinkedIn profile (and you should), make sure it has a professional-ish photo. No selfies in the bathroom mirror.
2. Network before the application opens. Find someone who works at a local CLA office on LinkedIn. Send a short, polite message: "Hi, I'm a high school junior interested in your internship program. Would you be open to a 10-minute Zoom call so I can learn about the culture?" Half will ignore you. One might say yes. That one "yes" is your golden ticket.
3. Master the "Star" Method for interviews. When they ask you a question, answer with a Situation, Task, Action, and Result.
- Situation: My club needed money.
- Task: We had to raise $500.
- Action: I organized a car wash and handled the cash flow.
- Result: We raised $700.
This shows you think logically.
4. Research the firm's specific industries. CLA doesn't just do "business." They specialize in "Agribusiness," "Health Care," "Construction," and "Manufacturing." If you know the local office near you works heavily with farmers, mention that you’re interested in how the agricultural economy works. It shows you did your homework.
5. Prep your "Why." "I want to put it on my resume" is a bad answer. "I want to understand the intersection of tax law and small business growth because my parents own a shop" is a great answer.
The CLA high school internship program is a rare bridge between the classroom and the real world. It’s not easy, and it’s not for everyone. But if you can handle the professional expectations and the steep learning curve, it’s a massive head start on your career. Just remember to bring a notebook. Taking physical notes in a meeting makes you look ten times more professional than typing on a phone, even if you’re just recording deadlines. Success here is about the small details.
