Los Angeles runs the same Big 4 and national firm recruiting as any other major metro, plus a niche almost no other city has: production accounting tied to the entertainment industry. If you're searching for a 2027 accounting internship in LA, standard public accounting is still the biggest and most structured path in, but it's worth knowing the entertainment-industry track exists before you assume Big 4 is the only option.
The two tracks look different in almost every way that matters: how you find openings, how structured the hiring process is, and how predictable the timeline is. Treat them as separate searches rather than expecting one to lead to the other.
Where accounting interns work in LA
| Employer type | What's distinct in LA | Recruiting timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Big 4 (Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG) | Large local offices, standard public accounting recruiting | Same national Big 4 timeline. Full breakdown in our Big 4 guide |
| National firms (RSM, BDO, Grant Thornton) and regional/boutique firms | A wider range of boutique and mid-size firms than most metros, including several with entertainment-industry clients | Mostly fall 2026 |
| Production and entertainment-industry accounting | Studios, production companies and specialized production accounting firms track budgets for individual film, TV and streaming projects | No fixed cycle, watch postings directly |
| Government and nonprofit | State and county agencies plus a large nonprofit sector post steady, lower-volume roles | Rolling through spring 2027 |
What production accounting actually is
Production accounting tracks the budget and day-to-day spending on a specific film, TV or streaming production rather than a company's overall books. It's a real accounting specialty concentrated almost entirely in cities with a large entertainment industry, and LA has more of it than anywhere else in the country. Some studios and dedicated production accounting firms bring on interns or entry-level staff this way.
This path is smaller and far less structured than Big 4 recruiting. There's no single campus pipeline feeding it, so openings tend to surface through direct company postings, industry contacts or entertainment-focused job boards rather than a standard fall recruiting season. If you're set on entertainment accounting, expect more direct outreach and networking than a typical public accounting search.
What accounting interns get paid in LA
Big 4 and large national firms commonly pay $25 to $35 an hour nationally, and LA postings tend to sit toward the higher end of that range given the area's cost of living. Regional, boutique and entertainment-industry accounting roles vary more by employer, so check the specific posting rather than assuming a fixed rate.
How to actually get one
For public accounting, the path is the same as anywhere: campus recruiting events, your school's accounting society, and a relationship with the firm's campus recruiter well before you formally apply. For production and entertainment accounting, lean on direct applications to studios and production accounting firms, and treat any personal connection in the industry as worth far more than it would be in a standard public accounting search.
Southern California schools like USC, UCLA and Cal State Northridge have established pipelines into the LA offices of the Big 4 and national firms, and their accounting programs often bring recruiters on campus directly. If entertainment accounting is your target instead, campus recruiting won't get you there. Industry-specific job boards, alumni working in production accounting and direct outreach to studios do more of the work.
Picking between the two tracks
Public accounting gives you a structured, well-documented path: a defined interview process, a predictable recruiting calendar and a track record of converting interns to full-time offers. Entertainment accounting is less predictable and harder to break into cold, but it puts you in an industry most accounting students never get exposure to, which can be a real differentiator later if you want to specialize in media and entertainment finance.
There's no rule against pursuing both at once. Apply to Big 4 and national firm internships through the standard channels while also reaching out to production accounting contacts, and let whichever path responds first shape your summer rather than committing to one before you've heard back from either.
For the national timeline and pay picture across firm types, see our accounting internships 2027 guide. If Chicago is also on your list, our Chicago accounting internships guide covers a market anchored by three headquartered national firms instead.
Accounting internships open now
227 roles live right now
Frequently asked questions
Which accounting firms hire interns in Los Angeles?
All four Big 4 firms run large LA-area offices, along with national firms like RSM, BDO and Grant Thornton and a range of regional and boutique firms. LA also has a distinct niche most other cities don't: production accounting and entertainment-industry accounting tied to film, television and streaming.
What is production accounting and is it a real internship path?
Production accounting tracks the budget and spending on a specific film, TV or streaming production, a specialized role tied to LA's entertainment industry. Some studios and production accounting firms bring on interns or entry-level staff this way. It's a smaller, less structured path than Big 4 recruiting, usually found through direct outreach rather than a campus pipeline.
What do accounting interns get paid in Los Angeles?
Big 4 and large national firms commonly pay $25 to $35 an hour nationally, and LA postings tend to sit at the higher end of that range given the area's cost of living. Regional and boutique firms and entertainment-industry accounting roles vary more, so check the specific posting rather than assuming a number.
When should I apply for a 2027 accounting internship in Los Angeles?
Big 4 offices in LA follow the national timeline, meaning some summer 2027 seats are already filled. National and regional firms recruit mainly in fall 2026. Entertainment-industry and production accounting opportunities don't run on a fixed academic-year cycle, so watch studio and production company postings directly rather than waiting for a single recruiting season.