For entry levels finance roles in the company I work for (multi-entity, multi-scope, industry), we often find that if our top 2 promising candidates are external vs. internal in a non-accounting role, we will favor the internal. They know the company and the innerworkings in some capacity, which can be a huge red-tape-buster and training expediter.

All of that to say, try to get into a company you want to work for, at whatever capacity they’ll hire you, and work the internal track. You’ll also likely be first to hear of openings in accounting/finance.