Business Operations Intern (Rotational Program – HR, Finance & Data)

About the Opportunity

KPFF Consulting Engineers is piloting a new Shared Services Summer Internship Program, designed to provide hands-on exposure to the business operations that support our engineering teams.

In this program, you’ll gain hands-on exposure to the business operations that keep a company running day-to-day, including areas like human resources, payroll, data, and finance.

This is a unique opportunity to explore careers in People Services (Benefits & Payroll), IT & Data, and Finance & Accounting through a rotational experience. Over the course of six weeks, you’ll gain insight into how these functions work together to support a growing, people-focused organization.

Why KPFF: At KPFF, you’ll be part of a collaborative, people-first engineering firm where Shared Services plays a critical role in supporting our teams and projects. This internship gives you meaningful exposure and helps you explore where your interests align within a professional environment.

Program Structure

• 6-week internship program (July 6 – August 21)
• Rotational experience across Shared Services functions:
  • People Services (Human Resources & Benefits)
  • IT & Data (Employee data, systems, and reporting)
  • Finance & Accounting (Financial operations and reporting)
• Approximately 2 weeks spent within each area
• Coordinated and supported by a central program lead
• Each rotation is supported by a dedicated team member who will provide guidance, assign work, and offer feedback. You’ll both shadow professionals and take ownership of defined tasks and small projects within each function
• Full-time participation (approximately 40 hours per week) is expected. While limited flexibility for summer coursework may be considered, you should plan to be available during standard business hours for the majority of the program
• This role is fully on-site in our Seattle office. Relocation or housing is not provided
• Compensation for this role is $28–$32 per hour

What You’ll Do

You’ll contribute to real work across multiple teams while building foundational business skills. Responsibilities will vary by rotation but may include:

People Services (Benefits/Payroll)

• You’ll support document retention efforts by scanning, organizing, and securely disposing of records
• You’ll shadow payroll specialists to learn payroll processes and best practices
• Create clear, user-friendly informational materials to explain internal programs
• Tailor content and visuals to suit different audiences and communication needs

Example Projects:

• Document the end-to-end payroll process and present findings to the team
• Develop an onboarding resource that helps new members understand key systems, resources, and timelines

IT & Data

• You’ll distribute a brief satisfaction survey to a defined user group to gather feedback on current devices
• Research a targeted set of viable replacement options for the most impacted devices
• You’ll gather and document survey employees and document responses on FAQs related to Microsoft PowerBI

Example Projects:

• Develop a concise recommendation package to support leadership decision-making on future device refreshes
• Design and implement a Microsoft SharePoint-based agent that assists users in answering questions related to Microsoft PowerBI

Finance & Accounting

• You’ll learn day-to-day PCA operations, including project setup, billing processes, budget review, and collaboration with project managers
• You’ll build an understanding of company payment workflows, including how incoming payments are received and applied

• Maintain and update vendor W-9 records, ensuring all documentation is current and accurate
• Clean and organize vendor files to improve data accuracy and accessibility

Example Projects:

• Assist with client billing process improvements, including a project reviewing bill routing for top 50 clients
• Assist in gathering and preparing audit samples for review
• Scan and organize documents, standardizing folder structures and naming conventions

What You’ll Gain

• Gain exposure to multiple business functions within a professional services firm
• Build hands-on experience through real projects and workflows
• Explore potential career paths within Shared Services
• Build relationships with professionals across teams
• Develop a foundational understanding of how business operations support technical teams
• Gain insight into careers in HR, finance, payroll, and data

Who We’re Looking For

• Currently pursuing a degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, or a related field
• Typically aligned with sophomore or junior-level students, though all qualified candidates will be considered
• Interest in exploring multiple business functions rather than specializing in one area
• Strong attention to detail and willingness to learn
• Effective communication and organizational skills
• Ability to adapt to new environments and take initiative

Preferred Skills

• Familiarity with Microsoft Office tools (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• Comfort learning new systems and tools quickly
• Basic understanding of business operations or coursework in related areas

Application Instructions

In the “Message to Hiring Manager,” please include:

• Why you’re interested in exploring multiple business functions
• A project, class, or experience that demonstrates your attention to detail or organization

Additional Notes

• This is a pilot internship program designed to give you broad exposure to multiple business functions. As an early iteration, you may have opportunities to share feedback and help shape how the program evolves in the future.
• The projects listed above are examples. Your specific work may vary based on team priorities and timing.
• You’ll spend time across multiple teams, with a mix of foundational tasks, hands-on project work, and opportunities to learn directly from team members within Shared Services.
• You’ll receive ongoing guidance and informal feedback throughout the program. If you perform strongly, you may be considered for future internship or full-time opportunities, though this is not guaranteed.

KPFF Consulting Engineers participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

KPFF Consulting Engineers is an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, ethnicity, national origin, religion, marital status, sex/gender (including sexual orientation or gender identity), pregnancy, veteran status, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, or any other protected basis.