Feb. 18, 2026

This piece is sponsored by Eide Bailly LLP.

Internships are proven to lead to job offers.

It turns out they progress into leadership roles too.

For Aaron Clayton, what began two decades ago as a tax-season internship at Eide Bailly LLP while he attended the University of South Dakota has evolved into a rewarding career path and his latest milestone: becoming market leader of the Sioux Falls office.

“I hate to use cliches, but it really is the people who have kept me here at every stage,” said Clayton, a Parkston native.

“Early in my career, I had strong mentors and people who taught me what it was like to be a professional and part of a public accounting firm. And over the course of time, I’ve been able to take on that role for others, helping them be successful in their careers while getting a chance to work with all the great clients we have here.”

As market leader, Clayton leads a 140-person team in the Sioux Falls office that will grow by an additional 30 people this month, including interns.

“The appeal of the role for me was an opportunity to do something different and add value in a new way,” Clayton said. “We’ve evolved the market leader role to focus on market growth, leading people, client service excellence and strategic alignment with our firm’s management. Those are areas I really enjoy and where I think I bring strengths.”

About six months into the role, “there have been good opportunities to step back and look at where Eide Bailly is in the market and where we’re striving to be,” he continued. “The Sioux Falls office has always been really good at interacting with and serving clients, but there are still ways to continue to mature and new ways we can help clients be successful.”

Thinking back to when he began at the firm 20 years ago, “Eide Bailly was audit and tax services,” he added. “And because we’ve worked with some clients so long, that’s still how they view us, even though we’ve evolved to add other advisory services that can provide a lot of value, so we’re going to focus on telling that story in a more intentional way.”

For example, Eide Bailly’s experienced professionals have knowledge and industry depth in a number of areas critical to business success, including risk, fraud, succession planning, HR consulting, fractional CFO assistance and more. Its advisory services help organizations optimize their operations, improve processes, gain access to valuable data, increase efficiency and develop strategies to achieve success.

“There are so many ways we can be a partner in our clients’ success,” Clayton said. “I’m excited to introduce more area organizations to these resources.”

Clayton also is committed to being involved in the industry and community, serving on the state board for Junior Achievement of South Dakota, the Business Leadership Council of the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce, the board of the Healthcare Financial Management Association’s South Dakota chapter and the governing council of the American Institute of CPAs.

Eide Bailly supports its employees taking on that level of engagement, he added.

“Culture actually means something at Eide Bailly,” Clayton said. “I remember learning about it as a new college grad even when it wasn’t top of mind, and today I realize it continues because we’re committed to doing the right things for our people and our clients.”

Clayton’s former role as head of the audit department in Sioux Falls has been filled by Luke Johnson, a Garretson native and Tea resident who also joined Eide Bailly as an intern.

After that experience in 2009, he transitioned to full-time work while completing his master’s degree at the University of South Dakota. Throughout his career, he primarily has focused on supporting the utilities, manufacturing and distribution industries, as well as performing employee benefit plan audits.

In addition to continuing to serve assurance clients, Johnson’s role as the head of the audit department encompasses a wide range of responsibilities. He oversees training and talent development, leads recruiting efforts, mentors team members and provides career guidance for staff.

He also works closely with service line leaders to monitor and improve financial performance and overall production for the Sioux Falls audit team, in addition to helping manage risk, supporting firmwide initiatives and collaborating across service lines.

“What excites me most about this role is the opportunity to work more closely with our staff and help shape the growth and direction of our office and the firm,” Johnson said.

“While I had some exposure to these responsibilities before officially stepping into the role, the transition has still been a learning experience. It’s been rewarding to take on new challenges and gain a deeper understanding of how we can continue to strengthen our team and client relationships.”

Those relationships built – both within the firm and with clients – are his primary reason for continuing to grow at Eide Bailly.

“I’ve been fortunate to have incredible mentors throughout my career and continue to work alongside a talented, supportive team,” he said. “We have some incredible people in the Sioux Falls office and across the firm that have helped shape the culture here and strong values, making it an easy decision to stay.”

Join the team

Eide Bailly always is looking for talented individuals who want to grow their careers in public accounting. The primary campus recruitment efforts and interviews typically take place in early fall, where the firm connects with students and graduates interested in audit, tax and other advisory roles.

To learn about career opportunities, visit here.