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This position has closed. Baker Tilly removed this listing from their careers page on Oct 6, 2026. The interview prep below is still useful, and there are similar open roles at the bottom of this page.

Summer 2027 Public Sector Advisory Intern (Strategy & Operations)

Baker Tilly · Chicago, IL · $26.25–$88.20 an hour · Full time

Posted Sep 14, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 4, 2026

Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Why do you want to work with governments and public agencies?

What they are checking: Whether they have real motivation for public sector work, which moves slower than private business.

Tell me about a time you worked on a team with people who had very different opinions.

What they are checking: Ability to collaborate, which matters with public clients and many stakeholders.

Tell me about a time you made a recommendation and backed it up with evidence.

What they are checking: Whether they connect conclusions to evidence, which is the core of advisory work.

How do you handle a task where you're not sure what good looks like?

What they are checking: Whether they ask clarifying questions early instead of guessing and redoing work.

What would you do

A city wants to know whether its permit office is slow. How would you start figuring that out?

What they are checking: Basic process analysis and whether they think about data and people together.

How would you present findings to a group of elected officials versus city staff?

What they are checking: Awareness that different audiences need different levels of detail and framing.

A resident group contacts you directly during a project asking what you've found. What do you do?

What they are checking: Judgment about confidentiality and routing questions to the right person.

About the work

How would you find out how a city spends its money if you only had public documents?

What they are checking: Research skill with budgets, annual reports and council materials.

What Excel or data tools have you used to analyze information?

What they are checking: Practical data skills an intern will use on strategy and operations projects.

What's a public sector challenge you've read about recently, and how might it be solved?

What they are checking: Curiosity about government issues and the ability to think through solutions.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Baker Tilly from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by Baker Tilly.

Overview Baker Tilly is a leading advisory, tax and assurance firm, providing clients with a genuine coast-to-coast and global advantage in major regions of the U.S. and in many of the world’s leading financial centers – New York, London, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and Boston. Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP and Baker Tilly US, LLP (Baker Tilly) provide professional services through an alternative practice structure in accordance with the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct and applicable laws, regulations and professional standards. Baker Tilly US, LLP is a licensed independent CPA firm that provides attest services to its clients. Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP and its subsidiary entities provide tax and business advisory services to their clients. Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP and its subsidiary entities are not licensed CPA firms. Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP and Baker Tilly US, LLP, trading as Baker Tilly, are independent members of Baker Tilly International, a worldwide network of independent accounting and business advisory firms in 141 territories, with 43,000 professionals and a combined worldwide revenue of $5.2 billion. Visit bakertilly.com or join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. Please discuss the work location status with your Baker Tilly talent acquisition professional to understand the requirements for an opportunity you are exploring. Baker Tilly is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected basis, in accordance with applicable federal, state or local law. Any unsolicited resumes submitted through our website or to Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP, employee e-mail accounts are considered property of Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP, and are not subject to payment of agency fees. In order to be an authorized recruitment agency ("search firm") for Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP, there must be a formal written agreement in place and the agency must be invited, by Baker Tilly's Talent Attraction team, to submit candidates for review via our applicant tracking system. Job Description: Are you looking to gain experience and jump-start your consulting career? Do you want to build your professional network at a coast-to-coast firm? As a Public Sector Advisory Intern at Baker Tilly (BT), you will be involved in many types of client engagements, obtain hands-on work experience, and make a difference in the communities we serve. As one of the fastest growing firms in the nation, BT offers you upward career trajectory, flexibility in how and where you get your work done and meaningful relationships with clients, teammates and leadership who truly care about you and your development. You will enjoy this role if you: • Are considering a long-term career in Public Sector consulting and want exposure to the industry • Value your development and want to work for a firm whose owners have both their clients’ and employees’ best interests in mind and are transparent in their decisions • Want to grow professionally and develop your client service and technical skills to build a strong foundation now, for tomorrow You will have the opportunity to: • Learn and execute meaningful work engagements that have an impact on the business • Experience on-the-job training through real work engagements, showcasing how your academic experience translates to the professional environment • Participate in our intern orientation and training and development program designed to provide the tools needed to contribute to client engagements • Perform internal control risk, operations, and organizational reviews • Collaborate with experienced Staff, Seniors, Managers and Partners with specialized experience and technical knowledge within the public sector industry • Engage directly with a variety of public sector clients ranging from municipal governments to school districts to public power agencies. • Build friendships and strong work relationships while gaining valuable experience • Demonstrate your performance and ability to join Baker Tilly as a full-time consultant Successful candidates will be: • Enrolled in a Master of Public Policy or Master of Public Administration program, preferred • Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer-sponsored visa sponsorship, now or in the future • Candidates must be at least 18 years of age Successful candidates will have: • Bachelor's degree in finance, Public Policy, Accounting, or a related business major • A resume and unofficial transcript(s) as a required part of the application process. • Relevant internship, work experience and/or involvement with a professional organization desired • The ability to work effectively in a team environment with all levels of client personnel • Demonstrated skills in the areas of time management, communication, interpersonal skills, relationship building, collaboration, and problem solving • Organizational and analytical skills, initiative, adaptability • Proficiency with Microsoft programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) The pay rate ranges for this job position are listed below. Actual compensation is influenced by a variety of relevant factors including but not limited to applicant's skills, prior experience, qualifications, degrees, professional certifications, work arrangements and geographic location. Baker Tilly offers a comprehensive compensation and benefits package to eligible employees. In Austin, TX: pay rate range is $ 26.25 to $88.20 In Chicago, IL: pay rate range is $27.50 to $92.40 In Indianapolis, IN: pay rate range is $23.75 to $79.80