Real-World Experience in Campus Financial Operations
Two University of Idaho accounting students have secured paid internships with the Division of Finance and Administration, gaining hands-on experience in roles that directly support campus operations and financial management. The year-long positions represent a growing partnership between the division and the university’s accounting program, designed to bridge classroom learning with practical workplace skills.
Puja Thapa, an accounting major from Kathmandu, Nepal, and Karl Andersson, a senior majoring in accounting and business information analytics, are both working within the division this academic year. Andersson is a National Merit Scholar who attended University of Idaho while his family was based in Kazakhstan, where his father worked for the U.S. Foreign Service. Andersson participated in UIdaho Bound, an online orientation program, before arriving on campus.
The internships carry real responsibility and compensation. Thapa’s role includes revising the division’s onboarding handbook, screening new interns, and tracking return on investment for departmental initiatives. She is also gaining direct exposure to accounts payable and general accounting functions across campus.
“I am currently working in accounts payable and general accounting, learning how every department functions,” Thapa said. “The mentorship is great, it’s intentional and patient. I really appreciate the learning environment.”
Andersson’s internship focuses on operational continuity and institutional knowledge transfer. He is documenting Student Accounts business processes, developing Standard Operating Procedures, creating workflow diagrams, and producing onboarding materials—work that will serve future staff and interns. His tasks align with a transition period in which retiring employees are passing along decades of institutional expertise.
Building a Pipeline of Finance Professionals
The Division of Finance and Administration manages university budgets, facility maintenance, human resources, and campus business services—functions critical to daily operations across the institution. The internship structure was modeled after the successful Office of Sponsored Programs internship program, according to Matthew Rueger, University Finance Analyst.
Laila Cornwall, director of Student Accounts, serves as Andersson’s mentor and plays a key role in overseeing the internships. The mentorship model emphasizes intentional guidance and professional development rather than administrative busywork, a distinction that shapes the interns’ experience and learning outcomes.
Thapa came to the internship with prior experience in accounting education and service. Over three years at the university, she participated in the Accounting Experiential Class, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, and Vandal Solutions—exposure that prepared her for the formal internship role. She is set to graduate in Spring 2027.
What Comes Next
Both interns are working toward positions that could lead to full-time roles in university finance or accounting fields broadly. The Division of Finance and Administration’s internship program suggests an institutional commitment to developing local talent and retaining skilled professionals who understand campus operations. For students like Thapa and Andersson, the paid experience accelerates their career readiness while filling real operational needs across the university.
Prospective accounting and finance majors at University of Idaho interested in internship opportunities should contact the accounting program or the Division of Finance and Administration directly. The program demonstrates how universities can partner with academic departments to create mutually beneficial learning and workforce pipelines.