Financial- Intern at Sparksoft in Columbia, MD

ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• The Financial Intern provides analytical, reporting, and administrative support to Sparksoft’s Finance and Project Control teams. This role supports day‑to‑day contract financial management activities, including data analysis, reporting, budget tracking, and compliance support under the guidance of senior financial staff. The intern gains hands‑on experience in government contracting, FP&A, project finance, and financial systems while contributing to accurate and timely financial deliverables.
• The Financial Intern works closely with Financial Analysts, Project Control Analysts, Program Managers, and the Finance Manager to support internal and client‑facing financial requirements in accordance with Sparksoft policies and applicable federal contract standards. The role is developmental in nature and not responsible for independent financial decision‑
• Financial Analysis & Reporting Support
• Assist with collecting, validating, and organizing financial data related to project costs, labor hours, and budgets.
• Support preparation of routine financial reports, dashboards, and variance analyses under supervision.
• Assist in tracking actuals versus budget, estimates to complete (ETC), and estimates at completion (EAC).
• Perform basic data analysis in Excel or Power BI to support financial insights and management reporting.
• Support project teams with financial data required for monthly status reports and internal reviews.
• Assist with labor hours validation, rate checks, and reconciliation of financial data across systems (e.g., ERP, dashboards).
• Help maintain funding trackers and contract financial documentation.
• Support invoice preparation activities by compiling required data and performing quality checks.
• Assist in maintaining organized financial records in accordance with contract requirements and Sparksoft policies.
• Support documentation requests for internal reviews or audits under guidance from senior staff.
• Help ensure financial data aligns with established internal controls and reporting standards.
• Assist with updating financial trackers, templates, and documentation.
• Perform data clean‑up, formatting, and quality control checks.
• Support special projects, process improvement efforts, and financial modeling exercises as assigned.
• Participate in team meetings to gain exposure to project finance, FP&A, and government contracting practices.
• Apply machine learning techniques for predictive analytics and hypothesis testing on diverse datasets.
• Collaborate with data scientists and stakeholders to identify trends and deliver actionable insights.
• Assist in data cleaning, preparation, and integration from multiple sources for analysis.
• Document processes and findings to support transparency and reproducibility.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE: 

• No prior professional experience required.
• Academic coursework or internships related to finance, accounting, analytics, or business operations are preferred.
• Basic understanding of financial concepts such as budgeting, costs, and variance analysis.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel (e.g., formulas, basic pivot tables); exposure to Power BI or financial systems is a plus.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Ability to analyze data, follow documented processes, and meet deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team‑based environment and follow supervisory guidance.
• Entry‑level, developmental position
• Works under close to moderate supervision
• No supervisory or budget authority
• Ability to comply with Sparksoft policies, confidentiality requirements, and applicable federal contract standards.
• Candidates must be able to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance.
• Candidates must have lived in the United States 3 out of the past 5 years

PREFERED EXPERIENCE: 

• No preferred experience. This is an intern position.

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS:

• Currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field from an accredited college or university.