Paid Summer Intern - Accounting

ABOUT OUR COMPANY

Bridgeford Trust Company is a fast-growing and well-known South Dakota trust company. We have offices in both Pierre and Sioux Falls. South Dakota has a thriving trust industry that has become a global leader in the field. Bridgeford services high net-worth clients across the country and around the globe as a trustee and is a prominent provider of services in our industry. There are many opportunities for advancement and growth in the company and Bridgeford has an excellent track record of hiring our interns for full-time positions.

This position must be performed in-person in our Sioux Falls office. This is not a remote position. Applicants must be currently located in Sioux Falls or will be in Sioux Falls over the summer. We are also looking for intern applicants with strong South Dakota ties with desires to remain in the state for full-time employment.

Applications for this position will be considered on a rolling basis, so applying as soon as possible is recommended.

THE ROLE AND THE COMPENSATION:

This is a paid summer internship (approximately 12-15 weeks over the summer).

• Pay and Time Commitment: Hourly pay is $15/hr, and the time commitment is 30-40hrs/week (based on how many hours per week you would like) during standard business hours (your choice of hours any time between 7am and 5:30pm)
• Experience Required: no specific job experience required. Training will be provided.
• Interests: we're looking for someone interested in accounting/ operations that may want a long-term career in the trust industry. We have an excellent track-record of hiring our interns for full-time positions after their internships.
• Education: Bachelors degree or working to obtain Bachelor's degree required. You must be in the top 1/3 of your class if currently a student.
• Ideal Background: Business, Accounting, or Operations
• Starting Date of Internship: May 2026 (exact date TBD)
• End Date of Internship: TBD (based around your school schedule)

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Assist with Trust Company operational and accounting areas as assigned. Below are examples of what some of these functions could entail:

• Set up and maintain trust, agency, and custodial accounts in accordance with South Dakota trust statutes
• Input and maintain asset and transaction data in the Company’s trust accounting system
• Assist with processing daily operational activity including cash movements, distributions, contributions, wires/ACH, and journal entries
• Assist with maintaining accurate asset records, including updates to valuations, cost basis, and account positions
• Support fiduciary accounting processes such as principal vs. income tracking, reporting, and depreciation/amortization
• Participate in reconciliation workflows for accounts, asset types, and system data; assist with internal and external audits
• Help prepare and support required trust reporting for beneficiaries, advisors, and regulators
• Assist with IRS communications and follow-up on tax matters related to trust accounts
• Work closely with trust operations, asset accounting, and other internal teams on daily tasks and special projects
• Respond to operational requests from trust officers, relationship managers, and beneficiaries
• Performing other requested tasks and functions as explained and assigned

GENERAL

Training will be provided as needed. You do not need any particular background in order to thrive in this role. What you do need, is:

• Interest in marketing and the trust industry
• Attention to detail
• Willingness to learn
• A can-do and generally positive attitude
• Ability to spot potential improvements and make recommendations
• Excellent writing skills
• Strategic mindset
• Ability to problem-solve
• Friendliness and ability to work well in a close team setting
• Personal initiative
• Ability to complete tasks diligently, efficiently, and thoroughly

Work Location: In person