Jefferies Controllers Summer Internship Program - New York and Jersey City
What you can expect
Jefferies Summer Interns have the unique opportunity to gain insight into a global, client-focused investment bank and experience an entrepreneurial environment where employees have the opportunity to make an immediate impact and are rewarded for performance. You’ll be exposed to Jefferies’ full range of products and leading industry expertise. Our lean team structure will not only provide you with unparalleled hands-on experience, it will help you develop lasting personal and professional relationships with peers and senior professionals that will serve as the foundation for a successful career.
Following an enriching orientation program, Interns will begin working on their day-to-day responsibilities, with support from colleagues serving as both instructors and mentors throughout the internship program. As a way to help maximize your experience with us, Interns will receive formal performance reviews.
In addition to working on projects that incorporate research, analysis, and recommendations, Interns are challenged to think creatively, offer their input, and add value to the team from day one. As with everyone at Jefferies, Interns are expected to pursue their projects with excellence, a collaborative spirit, and with the highest levels of integrity.
What we look for in a candidate
We look for candidates who are eager to make an impact to our clients by doing real, hands-on work. Successful Jefferies Interns are able to multitask and manage a variety of projects simultaneously. Candidates must demonstrate professionalism and relationship management skills together with strong technical, written and verbal communication skills. The work is fast paced, challenging and intellectually stimulating. The ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines, be adaptable and work both independently and as part of a team are essential traits of a successful candidate. Candidates should have a strong academic background and be pursuing a four-year Bachelor's degree or equivalent program. Although a background in accounting or finance can be helpful, we hire Interns who have studied a variety of disciplines.
Desired Background and Skills:
- Undergraduate candidates pursuing a Bachelor’s degree
- Expected graduation between December 2026 – June 2027
- Proficient in Microsoft office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
- Broad understanding of financial markets and/or accounting
- Demonstrates a high level of professionalism
- Ability to perform under pressure with tight deadlines
- Project management skills a plus
- Team player who excels at working both independently and as part of a team
- Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
- Ability to multitask and manage a variety of projects simultaneously
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
WORK WITH US – Opportunities in Controllers
The Jefferies Controllers Internship affords candidates the opportunity to become familiar with, and gain hands-on experience of, the finance and accounting activities at Jefferies.
Controllers have responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of the firm’s financial records, regulatory filings and internal management reports. Interns will be placed in one of the following teams within Controllers: Balance Sheet, Legal Entity, & Corporate Control; Business Unit Control; Regulatory Reporting; Valuations; Accounting Policy & External Reporting, and Financial Planning & Analysis. Additionally, you will have regular and consistent interaction with various other operational groups, as well as Finance, Risk, Compliance, and business management teams.
A brief description of each Controllers group is provided below for your reference:
BALANCE SHEET, LEGAL ENTITY & CORPORATE CONTROLLERS
This team is responsible for establishing and maintaining a comprehensive set of controls over the Firm’s balance sheet and various legal entities. This includes establishing and monitoring substantiation policies and procedures, managing all balance sheet and legal entity analyses and reporting, developing controls across all legal entities, ensuring compliance with bylaws and compiling required financial statements. In addition, the Corporate Controllers team has ultimate responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the firm’s books and records including Accounts Payable and Fixed Assets.
BUSINESS UNIT CONTROLLERS:
Business Unit Controllers are aligned by division/product and serve as the main conduit between the Front Office and Finance. Their main duties are to record, analyze, reconcile and explain all financial data related to trading activities by the respective business units they support, which includes Equities, Fixed Income, Asset Management and Commodities, and Investment Banking.
FINANCIAL PLANNING & ANALYSIS
Financial Planning & Analysis is responsible for preparing the weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual management reports that compare actual results to forecasts, used primarily by the CFO. This team is also responsible for the budgeting and forecasting activities at the firm as well as producing profitability reports and other ad-hoc reports, which are used for analyzing the health of each business.
REGULATORY CONTROLLERS:
Responsible for the preparation and filing of reports required by US regulatory authorities (primarily the SEC and FINRA) as well as pro-actively managing the firm's regulatory capital usage. Regulatory Controllers are also responsible for ensuring the firm's compliance with all regulatory requirements related to the protection of customer assets. The team analyzes financial and operational information before submitting reports to the regulatory authorities, addresses periodic regulator inquiries and interacts with regulators during their annual examinations. Additionally, they also advise management on the regulatory impact of new products and system implementations. In this capacity, regulatory controllers must stay abreast of new developments in the regulatory environment and communicate the effects to the appropriate business units.
VALUATION CONTROLLERS
Valuation Controllers are responsible for the independent price verification process (IPV) - providing an independent valuation opinion of the firm's inventory based on our fair value policy. The IPV process is implemented in conjunction with Risk Management and Accounting Policy.
ACCOUNTING POLICY & EXTERNAL REPORTING:
Responsible for establishing the firm's accounting policies and ensuring the proper application of accounting principles in Jefferies' financial statements, including our external SEC filings. The Accounting Policy Group provides technical accounting advice on complex business transactions and advice to management and the Audit Committee on accounting and financial statement matters, as well as monitors industry developments to enable Jefferies to implement new accounting standards on a timely and effective basis. The External Reporting Group prepares and files the firm's financial statements with the SEC and is also responsible for coordination and oversight of financial reporting for Jefferies Group subsidiaries.
COMPENSATION CONTROLLERS
This team is jointly responsible for analyzing, forecasting and recording Jefferies' compensation programs including production-based agreements, contractual guarantees and discretionary compensation. In addition, this team is responsible for the end of year compensation process.
EXPENSE CONTROLLERS
The Expense Controllers team is responsible for ensuring proper expense controls are in place, producing timely and detailed expense analyses across all areas of the firm (including for the firm’s Expense Management Committee), overseeing the expense allocation process, and implementing/coordinating expense budgeting and forecasting activities firm-wide. The group also participates in Expense Savings initiatives globally.
About Us
Jefferies is a leading global, full-service investment banking and capital markets firm that provides advisory, sales and trading, research, and wealth and asset management services. With more than 40 offices around the world, we offer insights and expertise to investors, companies, and governments.
At Jefferies, we are committed to building a culture that provides opportunities for all employees regardless of our differences and supports a workforce that is reflective of the communities where we work and live. As a result, we are able to pool our collective insights and intelligence to provide fresh and innovative thinking for our clients.
Jefferies is committed to creating and sustaining a workforce that welcomes individuals from all backgrounds to apply. Our employment decisions are made without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, pregnancy, age, medical condition, physical or mental disability, marital status, domestic partner status, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, genetic information, reproductive health decisions, or any other factor protected by applicable law. We are committed to hiring the most qualified applicants and complying with all federal, state, and local equal employment opportunity laws. As part of this commitment, Jefferies will extend reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities, as required by applicable law.
The salary for this role is $75,000 (pro-rated for the 10-week internship program).
