Audit Trainee Review

An audit trainee to a specific team in the company. A normal day would include being at a client site carrying out Balance sheet audit work. Daily interact with colleagues and clients alike. Responsibilities range per client, as you develop responsibilities and hours will increase (especially in busy season Jan-March)

BDO provide two weeks training at the beginning of the course. We as an intake carried out 1 week training in Cambridge and another in Milton Keynes. You take three exams a year to study towards a CFA qualification. There aren't many internal training sessions after your two week induction. I learnt how to adapt into a working environment straight from school. Proactively using accountancy.

In audit work life balance can become difficult. My experience was I had to stay in hotels more than i was at home for being away at clients. You can get time back which means longer holidays but it comes at a social cost. You also have to consider the fact you study and work long hours which is a step up from education and college. If you get on well with you colleagues the experience can be worth it.

I personally didn't get on with my team. The majority of my team were from a prior company that BDO had merged with so I think they were still coming to terms with company changes. Due to this, I didn't feel as valued and tasks I was given weren't very taxing to begin with

The induction and two weeks were an invaluable incite into audit and accountancy, especially if you have not studied it before (which is more common than you may think). I didn't have the confidence to speak to HR or a manager if something wasn't as good as it could have been so I had a lack of support.

As explained above, there isn't a lot of internal training. You get the first two weeks of intense training and that was it. You get ongoing support for studying and do go to college every now and then a couple of months before an exam. Externally, theses training providers were very approachable.

I had an unlucky draw with my given manager. Other school leavers get on with their manager but it really does depend on the team you are put with. My mentor wasn't very proactive in meeting me as she was always busy.

£20,100 + time in lieu. Paid well for a school leaver programme - this assuming you work in the London office. My travel costs were the most expensive thing, and I made sure to take in lunch everyday as food prices can be high.

There's the work netball team and they do a football social away once a year. There is also the Christmas party. Because you're in a central location the night life can be very good.

No

I didn't complete the 5 years as a trainee. Audit isn't the industry I want to be in so BDO doesn't appeal to me as a company. I think they need to further develop their school leaver programme

Be prepared for your presentation when your being interviewed- make it interesting and engaging. Also prepare questions to ask back. It's an opportunity to make your first impression so do it well :)