Advice for Employers and Recruiters
Why September Is the Best Time to Apply for and Hire Finance Interns
As companies gear up for a new financial year, September emerges as the prime time for finance internship recruitment. This strategic timing aligns with several key factors in the business world, offering unique advantages for both employers and aspiring interns. Drawing from insights provided by industry experts, this article explores why September is the optimal month for finance internship applications and hiring.
- Leverage New Budgets for Effective Recruitment
- Align with Financial Planning Cycles
- Capitalize on Year-End Financial Preparations
- Secure Top Talent Before Competitors
- Seize the September Momentum
- Gain Competitive Edge in Talent Acquisition
- Proactive Students Stand Out Early
- First-Mover Advantage in Finance Recruitment
- Match Academic Year with Career Opportunities
Leverage New Budgets for Effective Recruitment
The reason why September is the smart month to start recruitment is that budgets have just been signed off after mid-year reviews, which means funds are available to put into action. Companies can spend this money on campus events, career fair sponsorships, finance club sponsorships, Handshake and LinkedIn advertising, assessment centre booking, and covering interview costs or student stipends. Spending the budget early gives employers access to the best slots, increased visibility, and a more rapid flow of applications on the exact timeline in which students are actively planning their year.
Moving recruitment to Q4 pushes the recruiting process into a busy time for financial teams when year-end deadlines are mounting, and some companies put freezes on spending new budgets. Many of the best campus events are booked up, advertised space is more costly, and managers are so booked in reporting they can’t properly support interns. Recruiting in September means you are investing the new budget at the correct time and allows employers access to fresh talent when both resources and time are available.
Steve Case
Financial & Insurance Consultant, Insurance Hero
Align with Financial Planning Cycles
September is arguably the most ideal month to obtain a finance internship as it coincides with employers’ planning cycles for their incoming budgets. Most organizations start planning their financial strategy for the next fiscal year in the fall; therefore, this time provides employers with the perfect opportunity to invite interns to assist with data analytics, research, and report preparation. This timing also gives students a unique chance to gain practical experience in financial planning processes, which are usually at their peak during this period. Additionally, early recruitment allows employers to train interns by having them work on these important tasks and gives students the opportunity to work on impactful projects, which enhances their resumes.
Sherman Standberry
CPA and Managing Partner, My CPA Coach
Capitalize on Year-End Financial Preparations
Having managed corporate finance operations for over 15 years and supervised monthly closings, I’ve observed that September is when finance departments finalize their Q4 budgets and start planning for the following year’s staffing needs. This is especially critical in my experience with software and AdTech companies, where year-end financial modeling determines intern headcount.
I’ve witnessed this during my FP&A work with seed rounds and fundraising — September marks the time when companies get serious about their financial presentations to investors for the next fiscal year. They need fresh talent who can hit the ground running in January, so they start recruiting three months ahead to allow for proper vetting and onboarding.
From a practical standpoint, September applications land on finance managers’ desks right when they’re deep in variance analysis and budgeting cycles. Your application gets reviewed by decision-makers who are actively thinking about resource allocation, not HR screeners months later when positions might already be mentally filled.
The students applying in September also demonstrate they understand cash flow timing – a core finance principle. Companies notice when candidates show they grasp the rhythm of financial planning cycles.
Michael J. Spitz
Principal, SPITZ CPA
Secure Top Talent Before Competitors
September is a crucial time for both employers and students when it comes to finance internships because it sets the pace for everything that follows.
For employers, recruiting early means access to top-tier candidates before they’re scooped up by competitors. The most ambitious students, those who are organized, driven, and genuinely interested in finance, are already scanning listings and polishing their resumes by the start of the academic year. If your company waits until winter or spring, you risk missing out on that first wave of talent entirely.
From the students’ perspective, applying in September offers a serious advantage. Many of the most competitive finance internships, especially at major banks and consultancies, operate on rolling deadlines or fill positions quickly. The earlier you apply, the better your odds, not just of landing an interview, but of having more choices overall. It also gives you breathing room to tweak your strategy if you don’t get a response right away. Simply put, waiting can cost you options, while starting early keeps doors wide open.
Jasmine Escalera
Career Expert, LiveCareer
Seize the September Momentum
I’ve always felt that September has a certain rhythm to it. Summer is behind us, the air gets a little sharper, and people shift back into a focused mindset. For finance internships, that timing is important. Employers are mapping out their projects for the year ahead, and students are fresh off the break with energy to commit. If you wait until winter, you’ve already lost that momentum — students are buried in exams and companies are knee-deep in year-end tasks. September is that sweet spot where both sides are clear-eyed and ready to make decisions that actually stick.
Eugene Musienko
CEO, Merehead
Gain Competitive Edge in Talent Acquisition
I have been closely involved in the pipelines of emerging talent, and therefore, I believe that September is the most crucial month for both employers and students regarding finance internships. Most companies begin preparing their summer internship programs many months in advance, and September is when efforts are made to align recruitment strategies with upcoming academic plans. Early recruitment gives employers an advantage over their competitors when it comes to acquiring the best employees, as they are guaranteed access to the top talent pool.
September is also significant for students, as this is when most competitive finance companies begin their application seasons. Procrastinating is equivalent to losing the entire opportunity since most of these opportunities have time limits. Early application demonstrates seriousness and proactivity — qualities that employers in the financial industry highly value.
In my opinion, opening the recruitment and application process in September is the ideal way to begin a successful internship season. It enables employers to develop robust candidate pipelines, and students have an excellent opportunity to excel in a competitive environment. Finally, being early and strategic in September creates an advantage that can be maintained throughout the recruitment cycle.
Chunyang Shen
Founder at Jarsy Inc., Jarsy Inc.
Proactive Students Stand Out Early
As the saying goes, “The early bird gets the worm.” September is when top employers begin recruiting because they want proactive students who show initiative, eagerness, and clarity about their career path. Starting early signals drive, and companies know those are the candidates who will add value fast.
Marcia Torres
CEO & Founder, Imagen Talent Solutions
First-Mover Advantage in Finance Recruitment
As I see it, September is a critical time for employers to recruit for finance internships because the most ambitious candidates begin their search then. The top-tier talent knows that the finance industry’s recruiting calendar is highly accelerated, often a full year in advance. By being present on campus and opening applications in September, companies get the first pick of motivated students. Waiting until the spring semester means you’re often left with a smaller, less prepared applicant pool. It’s a simple case of supply and demand; the best students are actively looking, so you need to be actively recruiting.
Yuri Berg
Cbdo, FinchTrade
Match Academic Year with Career Opportunities
September is a key time to recruit finance interns because it’s the start of the academic year when students are looking for opportunities that match their studies with career goals. Many companies also begin hiring interns in the fall to secure top talent before competition heats up. Starting early gives both employers and students enough time to explore options and prepare for a successful internship experience.
Robbert Bink
Founder and Crypto Recovery Specialist, Crypto Recovery Services
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