Transaction & Advisory Services Internship - Summer 2026

Location: Derby

Contract: Start date: Monday 22nd June 2026 – End date: Friday 28th August 2026

Closing date: 13th March 2026

Are you interested in becoming a skilled business advisor with strong analytical abilities and a passion for understanding how businesses really operate? If so, you might be the perfect candidate for our Transaction Services Internship Programme.

Our Transaction Services (TS) team plays a crucial role in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), supporting buyers, sellers, investors, and lenders by providing high‑quality financial due diligence. We help clients understand the true performance, value, risks, and opportunities within a business, enabling them to make confident and informed deal decisions.

As an intern, you will gain hands‑on experience working on real due diligence projects alongside our experienced and award‑winning Transaction Services team. You will build a strong foundation in financial analysis, commercial understanding, and investigative thinking, key skills used to evaluate businesses in fast‑moving transaction environments.

You will be based in Derby, where you will benefit from a thriving professional community and a strong regional business network that will support your development and provide excellent opportunities to grow your skills.

This internship is an excellent opportunity to gain valuable insight into the world of Transaction Services and potentially secure a full‑time graduate role with us. To be eligible, you must be enrolled in an undergraduate or postgraduate degree programme, and you must also be available to work from June to August.

The important work you will be doing:

• Analysing historical financial performance and understanding business trends

• Reviewing key financial information to identify risks, opportunities, and value drivers

• Investigating revenue, margins, cash flows, and working capital movements

• Supporting the preparation of due diligence reports used by buyers, sellers, funders, and investors

• Conducting market and sector research to support commercial analysis

• Assisting in the review of forecasts and understanding business assumptions

• Liaising with clients and other advisers to obtain data and clarify key points

• Supporting the project management of TS assignments alongside the deal team

You can expect to:

• Work on real due diligence projects that will give you deep insight into how businesses operate

• Build your technical knowledge using a wide range of financial and analytical resources

• Develop your commercial acumen by working with clients from a variety of sectors

• Strengthen your problem‑solving, teamwork, communication, and presentation skills

• Support the Transaction Services leadership team on wider team initiatives

Dates for your diary:

• Closing date: 13th March 2026

• Telephone interviews: W/C 23rd March 2026

• In‑person interview: 1st April 2026

Why PKF Smith Cooper?

• Our company culture, built on our values – Engage, Empower and Excel – encourages initiative, personal growth, and collaboration. Every team member is appreciated and celebrated; a notion embodied in our Kudos Reward Scheme.

• The firm’s Partners, who remain actively invested in the development of employees, will both support and champion your professional development and progression.

• We work with ambitious businesses of different sizes across a variety of sectors, so no two jobs are the same.

• We are multi-award-winning accountants and business advisors, ranked the 12th biggest firm by UK fee income in the Accountancy Age Top 50+50.

Why Derby?

At our headquarters, located in Pride Park, you’ll find our main office, featuring three floors of bright, open-plan workspaces, breakout areas, and modern meeting rooms. Fully equipped kitchens and dining spaces are perfect for spending time away from our desks, and you can even enjoy our private, on-site gym.

PKF International

As an active member of PKF International, we are part of a large global network of legally independent accounting firms.

Located in the 5 fastest growing global markets, we have ground presence in 150 countries and span across many jurisdictions.

An ambitious, future-focused network, PKF provides a comprehensive range of services. Operating in unison with member firms across the world, we are able to share our ideas, expertise, and specialist resources to better serve our clients, delivering highly-personalised services and global connectivity through our client-centric culture. 

What's in it for you?

Our benefits package has been designed around our people and shaped by our values. As part of Team PKF Smith Cooper, here are some of the things you can expect:

• A working environment that empowers you to perform at your best, through our flexible working policy and dress for your diary scheme

• Regular social events and annual, company-wide away days, giving you the opportunity to engage with colleagues across your division and office, as well as the wider firm

How to apply?

If you believe you meet our requirements, we encourage you to apply! Even if you don’t meet 100% of the criteria, please submit your application. To do so, upload your CV and a cover letter to our job portal.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to a member of the People team at [email protected] or by calling 01332 332021.

Please note that we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds; however, we are unable to accept applications from candidates who require a visa to work in the UK.

Also, we kindly ask that recruitment agencies refrain from contacting us unless we have directly reached out to you.