U.S. Embassy in Hungary

Financial Management Office (FMO)

The Financial Management Office provides a full range of financial services including the development of budgets and financial plans, control of obligations and expenditures, preparation and audit of payment vouchers, administration of payroll plans, salary and allowance payments, cashier operations, the purchase of foreign currencies, and disbursement of funds. It negotiates and administers agreements with other U.S. Government agencies through Department of State facilities and personnel.

Major duties:

• Supporting the preparation of the invoices for VAT (Value Added Tax) spreadsheet submission.
• Supporting ad hoc financial management projects and other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Skills and qualifications:

• Advanced Hungarian and English skills (reading, writing, speaking)
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (data entry, basic formulas, sorting/filtering, formatting
• Strong attention to details
• Good interpersonal and communication skills; ability to work effectively in a team.

How will this internship benefit the intern:
Interns gain hands-on experience in financial management, learning about budgeting, financial analysis, forecasting, and other key financial skills. Working in a real-world financial environment helps interns develop important skills such as data-analysis, problem-solving, communication, and software proficiency. Interns can build professional relationships with experienced colleagues, which can be valuable for future job opportunities and career growth.

Foreign Commercial Service Office (FCS)

The U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service combines both diplomacy and business with one goal: helping to strengthen the trade and investment relationship between Hungary and the U.S.

Major duties:

• Assist with collecting market intelligence to gain current information of the latest trends in priority sectors
• Participate in counseling U.S. and Hungarian firms on the best way to take advantage of opportunities
• Prepare market research reports, company profiles, and due diligence reports
• Help with promotion and recruitment of Hungarian business delegations to major U.S. and European trade shows
• Assist with counseling Hungarian companies thinking about investing in the United States
• Work closely with experienced business advisors to conduct market research and data analysis
• Strengthen event management skills by helping to organize business networking events
• Work in proprietary client tracking system
• Make direct calls to potential Hungarian partners for U.S. companies

Skills and qualifications:

• Professional working ability in Hungarian and English
• Familiarity with market research techniques and databases, ability to work both in a team and independently on projects, good writing and communication skills
• Skilled with Microsoft Office
• Good writing and communication skills
• Strong interest in commercial affairs, business development, and current events
• Ability to articulate business strategies in an appropriate manner and formulate concise solutions to complex problems

How will this internship benefit the intern:

The internship program is a great opportunity for a student to work in a professional environment together with Hungarian and American colleagues.  The intern will also have an opportunity to master their communication skills.

The intern can also gain unique experience and insight into U.S. – Hungary business relations. This can be achieved within the greater scope of diplomatic relations between the two countries, while fulfilling the required work experience in their studies. The intern may also be inspired by key businesses in the Hungarian market in their sector of interest.

General Services Office’s Customer Service team

The GSO Customer Service team assists U.S. Direct Hires and their family members with the provision of personal services related to their arrival and departure (i.e. cell phone service for family members; personal internet/cable/satellite tv set up; opening and closing local bank accounts; submission of personal VAT claims; and many others).

Major duties:

• Schedule and participate in check-in meetings with incoming diplomats
• Schedule appointments for residential internet installations
• Arrange local vehicle insurance and maintain tracking of policy renewals
• Issue, track, and collect equipment and official documents for diplomats
• Conduct research to gather and maintain relevant, practical information for incoming personnel
• Provide administrative support to the CSC, including liaison, translation, data management, and clerical tasks
• Other duties as assigned

Skills and qualifications:

• Language: Advanced Hungarian and English (reading, writing, speaking)
• Office etiquette
• Basic Microsoft Office knowledge (ability to draft e-mails and letters)

How will this internship benefit the intern:

The internship program is a great opportunity for the interns to work in a professional environment with Hungarian and U.S. colleagues.  The intern will have an opportunity to develop their communication and administrative skills, to follow and learn from professionals, and to improve their customer service skills. The intern will obtain practical experience in the field of customer service while gaining industry insight at an Embassy.

Regional Environmental, Science and Technology, and Health (ESTH) Hub Office

The Regional Environmental, Science and Technology, and Health Hub (ESTH Hub Office) has bilateral and regional responsibilities and is one of twelve ESTH Hub Offices that the U.S. State Department has established around the world. Its core mission is to promote U.S. engagement on energy, scientific, health, and technology issues and to strengthen regional and transboundary cooperation in Central and Eastern Europe, including the Caucasus.

Major duties:

• Follow energy, science and technology related articles in the Hungarian press and online media and prepare short summaries
• Follow the development of transboundary scientific and technology policy issues related to energy policy, nuclear energy, clean technology, space policy and AI
• Assist Hungarian and American colleagues as required with identifying, researching, and assessing significant developments in Hungarian politics and economy in the field of energy, biotechnology, health care, science and technology
• Assist with incoming delegations and planning section meetings and visits
• Assist with translation of documents, official Embassy functions, attending and reporting on briefings and meetings
• Assist with the section’s outreach efforts to Hungarian policymakers, scientific and NGO groups, institutions and business partners

Skills and qualifications:

• Ability to develop relationships with colleagues at the Embassy and members of the energy and science communities.
• Desirable Computer skills include strong capability in Word, Excel and Power Point
• Desired language proficiency: Good working knowledge in English and Hungarian.
• Proactive and able to work quickly and independently
• Research and writing skills critical
• Ability to use office equipment (copier, scanner)
• Having a background or interest in energy, science & technology, or health is a plus, but not required

How will this internship benefit the intern:

The internship program is a great opportunity for a student to work in a professional environment and with skilled American and Hungarian colleagues.  The intern can develop communication, business and planning skills, have broad insight into regional scientific and energy issues, improve their professional language skills, and gain a good introduction to the conduct of international relations. The intern’s support will help ESTH broaden our outreach, planning and research capabilities.

Human Resources Office (HRO)

HR supports Locally Employed Staff and U.S Direct Hires at the U.S. Embassy Budapest through Recruitment, Performance Management, Local Labor Law compliance, Employee Recognition, and Time and Attendance.

Major duties 

Recruitment:

• Complete research to collect information to support recruitment by using different websites. Identifying potential recruitment strategies (eg. university outreach)

• Assisting in drafting vacancy announcements, advertisements

• Assisting in interview scheduling and enrolment

HR Administration:

• Preparing different statistics/comparisons

• Assisting in drafting and translating documents

• Assisting in different fields of HR (payroll, performance evaluation, awards, position management, occupational health, filing, digitalizing etc.)

• File management and archiving

Skills and qualifications:

• Advanced Hungarian and English (reading, writing, speaking)

• Office etiquette, excellent interpersonal skills

• Basic MS Office knowledge (ability to draft e-mails and letters)

How will this internship benefit the intern

The internship program is a great opportunity for the interns to work in a professional environment with Hungarian and U.S. colleagues.  The intern will have an opportunity to master communication skills, to follow and learn the frequently changing laws, regulations and collect information and improve customer service skills. The intern can gain practical knowledge on the field of HR.

Political and Economic Section (POL-ECON)

Major duties and/or projects, a scope of work and related duties:

The intern will support the POL-ECON section by conducting research, preparing analytical materials, and drafting leadership profiles. The intern’s primary duties and projects include:

• Economic Research and Analysis:
  • Monitor and analyze current economic trends in Hungary, including GDP growth, inflation, unemployment, foreign investment, and trade developments.
  • Track and summarize key economic policy announcements and assess their potential impact on U.S. interests.
  • Prepare weekly or biweekly updates on significant economic developments for the Pol-Econ team.
• Development of Economic “Baseball Card:”
  • Compile and update a “baseball card” of Hungary’s key macroeconomic indicators, such as GDP, inflation rate, unemployment, major industries, and trade partners.
  • Update the “baseball card” as new data becomes available.
• Leadership Profiles:
  • Research and draft concise profiles of key Hungarian government leaders, including background, career highlights, policy positions, and relevance to U.S. interests.
  • Ensure profiles are factually accurate, well-organized, and suitable for use in briefing materials.
• Morning Note Preparation:
  • Draft a daily “Morning Note” summarizing the latest political, economic, and social developments in Hungary for Washington policymakers.
  • Monitor local and international news sources, government statements, and Embassy reporting to identify key issues and trends.
  • Ensure the Morning Note is clear, concise, and delivered on deadline, highlighting developments relevant to U.S. interests and policy priorities.
• Support to Pol-Econ Section:
  • Assist with ad hoc research requests on political or economic topics as assigned by section officers.
  • Attend and take notes at relevant public events, briefings, or meetings (as appropriate and permitted).
  • Contribute to section meetings by sharing research findings and insights.

Required qualifications to include:

• Language: Excellent written and spoken English is required.
• Knowledge, Abilities, and Skills:
  • Strong research and analytical skills.
  • Ability to summarize complex information concisely and clearly.
  • Familiarity with economic concepts and political systems.
  • Attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); experience with data visualization tools is a plus.

How this internship would benefit the intern:

The intern will gain hands-on experience in diplomatic reporting, economic analysis, and political research. This position offers the opportunity to develop practical skills in research, writing, and data analysis, while gaining insight into the work of a U.S. Embassy and the formulation of U.S. foreign policy. The intern will work closely with experienced diplomats and analysts, receive regular feedback, and contribute directly to advancing U.S. interests in Hungary.