Ivy Tech, H&R Block create tax preparer internship pathway for accounting students

Fourteen Ivy Tech Indianapolis accounting students will be wrapping up a nearly four-month internship with H&R Block this 2026 Tax Day, on Wednesday, Apr. 15. The uniquely large cohort for a single employer partnership in one semester, provided the needed personnel for the tax preparation company during its busiest season while also giving students the opportunity to work directly with clients and apply classroom knowledge in a professional setting all before graduating. 

“This is a really unique partnership,” said Jenny Trusler, talent connection manager at Ivy Tech Indianapolis. “I’ve never had an employer hire 14 interns in one semester. Usually it’s one, two, maybe three or four — but never 14.”

“This partnership has allowed us not only to enlist tax associates, but also to provide a meaningful first step in each student’s career path,” Sherry Taylor, H&R Block Multi-Unit Leader, said. 

The successful pilot of the internship pathway was made possible through close cross-departmental collaboration between Ivy Tech Indianapolis’ Ivy+ Career Link team and faculty who regularly invite employer partners to present during class time.

For Ivy Tech, the program represents a strong example of how our employer partnerships can connect students with meaningful career opportunities while they are still completing their education.

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The First Step: Removing Barriers for Student Opportunity

One key feature that helped make the internship accessible to students was H&R Block’s decision to cover the cost of the company’s tax preparer training course, which typically costs about $149. Completing the course allows participants to become certified tax preparers if they pass the exam.

According to Taylor, removing the financial barrier was intentional.

“Removing barriers and ensuring the opportunity was available to all who wanted to participate is part of the stated H&R Block culture,” Taylor said. “H&R Block is a community-minded organization that regularly seeks opportunities to uplift and build within the community.”

The interns completed the training before beginning work in early January and continued through the tax season, which typically runs through April 15.

Taylor said the students helped address staffing needs during one of the busiest times of the year.

“Hiring these accounting students who had successfully completed our tax course provided closure for staffing gaps in our stores,” she said.

Beyond helping the company meet seasonal demand, the internship allows students to gain the skills needed to become accountants across any industry. 

“Students have the opportunity to develop skills directly related to accounting, like tax preparation, but also interpersonal skills,” Taylor said. “This internship provides a safe, guided and supervised environment for student development.”

From classroom to career experience

The partnership came together through close collaboration between Trusler and Barb Burton, assistant professor and program chair for accounting at Ivy Tech Indianapolis.

Throughout the fall semester, Burton and Trusler coordinated classroom presentations where H&R Block representatives introduced the opportunity directly to students. These presentations were held virtually across multiple accounting classes, giving students the chance to ask questions and learn about the internship.

Burton said the response from students was encouraging.

“I was so excited when I found out about it because to me, this is just a win-win opportunity for both H&R Block and our accounting students,” Burton said. “How often do you get a paid internship of this caliber?”

Students from both certificate and degree tracks expressed interest in the opportunity, she said, and the final cohort included a mix of students pursuing different academic pathways.

For Burton, the internship represents a powerful complement to classroom instruction.

“It gives them that piece we can’t really teach in the classroom,” she said. “How do you deal with others? How do you interact with customers? It gives them that experience while they’re also applying the concepts and theories of accounting that they’re learning.”

Students also gain exposure to workplace expectations and professional skills.

“They learn customer service, how to interact professionally, and even just how to work in an office environment,” Burton said. “It gives them practice with those skills in addition to applying what they’re learning academically.”

Burton, who has been with the College since 2005, says she can’t remember an internship like this in her entire career with Ivy Tech. 

“I’m really excited about it … and I think our students were just as excited,” Burton said. “Removing that barrier of having to pay the fee was great and probably meant the difference for a lot of those students.”

Student perspective: “A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity”

For Feisal Abdullahi Abdi, an Ivy Tech accounting student who participated in the internship, the experience has been transformative.

Abdi first heard about the opportunity when H&R Block representatives visited his Financial Accounting class to discuss how tax preparation aligns with accounting and how students could gain valuable hands-on experience with them.

“What interested me most was seeing tax preparers with minimal accounting knowledge charging high fees,” Abdi said. “After taking tax fundamentals and accounting courses, I realized I had the knowledge and skills to succeed in taxation. This felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that Ivy Tech provided."

He described the internship as a chance to apply classroom learning while developing confidence in professional settings.

“I enjoy preparing taxes and working with a diverse range of clients, from low-income to affluent individuals. I’ve gained extensive knowledge in taxation, and I'm now planning to become an Enrolled Agent,” Abdi shared. 

Abdi’s internship with H&R Block has also helped him grow personally.

“While I was initially shy and nervous, I now feel confident interviewing and communicating with clients,” he said. “As an immigrant born outside the U.S., it has been especially meaningful to serve the community. Helping clients receive the deductions and refunds they deserve has been incredibly rewarding. I’ve also improved my communication skills and learned how to work effectively while following tax regulations.”

Taylor echoes the same sentiment, expressing how rewarding it is to witness the students grow more confident throughout the internship. 

“Seeing the confidence displayed by some of the interns who were initially afraid to sit across the desk from a client is so rewarding,” Taylor said.

Abdi hopes to continue building on the experience by eventually earning CPA credentials. He also plans to launch his own tax and accounting services business.

He credits Ivy Tech for helping make those goals possible.

“Ivy Tech coursework truly turned my dream into reality,” Abdi said. “It provided me with the tools, knowledge and resources to succeed.”

Building a pathway for future professionals

For Trusler, the partnership highlights the growing demand for Ivy Tech students and the value they bring to employers.

“There’s a huge demand for our students,” she said. “This kind of opportunity helps employers see the talent pipeline we’re building.”

Programs like the H&R Block internship provide a pathway for students to enter the accounting field without needing a four-year degree before gaining professional experience.

It also offers employers the chance to develop future talent.

“This is a win for both parties,” Taylor said. “The college provides real-life experience, and H&R Block gains employees while building within the community.”

Early feedback from the partnership has been positive, and Ivy Tech leaders anticipate the collaboration will continue.

“Several students have expressed interest in working during pre-season, and several have also inquired about working next year,” Taylor shared, as H&R Block is open year-round. “We have a flexible work schedule, bonus incentives, as well as an ongoing career opportunity.”

Trusler said she hopes the program becomes a recurring opportunity for students.

“I measure success if they come back to hire more,” she said. “And I definitely think we’ll do this again next year.”

For Ivy Tech students, opportunities like this can be career-defining.

“I strongly encourage other Ivy Tech students to take advantage of opportunities like this,” Abdi said. “Hands-on experience is far more valuable than textbooks alone.”

If you are an employer interested in working with Ivy Tech to build a pipeline of talent for your company, visit the Connect with Talent page on our website. 

If you are a student, alum, or prospective student interested in all the employers we partner with or the countless rewarding career fairs we host every term, please visit HireIvy.