Audit Trainee Review

I am an audit trainee. My main every day activities include completing audit testing. We complete testing on a variety of different sections of the audit and in many instances are introduced to new tests/ problems etc. Through interacting with my peers and asking questions throughout the day I learn and develop my knowledge and unserstanding of audit. Interaction with clients is essential for obtaining evidence for part of testing/ organising times of arrival for stocktakes etc. Additional to which, I am part of an intake of 7 others (a mixture of graduates and school leavers ranging across all the departments within BDO) and so interact socially with them both internally and externally.

I have developed so many new skills. I have become more skeptical and quizical. I have learnt the importance of developing my understanding through questioning and challenging answers so that I can apply myself better when faced with similar scenarios in the future. I have taken one exam so far and there are plenty more to come. My first exam was accounting. Initially the vast amount of information which had to be learnt in the short amount of time at college and before the exam was incredibly challenging as the topic and all the ideas were new. However, through the application of these concepts in my everyday role, this has become second nature to me and highlights how much I have learnt through on the job training.

The team I work within is incredibly friendly. Everyone is really approachable and happy to answer any questions. Coming to work is not a chore as most of the time it is like being with friends.

There is an internal award programme within the region where every month employees are nominated for the audit award. A slideshow goes out with the nominations and the winner and this is a great way for people to get regognised as even if they dont win, their hard work is regognised and praised internally.

There are three elements to my programme. The work element (my every day job). The exam element where we go to college and take exams over the course of our training and the competency element (which we complete within the first two years of the five year course). There is plentiful amount of support within the work environment as peer, managers and the team are always there to help etc. College work is more independent, but again if we are struggling or have any questions, peers are more than happy to sit down and explain. The copetency element is monitered by an external company and assesor and is perhaps the area where I feel I have less amount of support. Perhaps because there are no school leavers in the years above who have completed this element of the qualification and so if i need assistance, I have to email the assesor and it can take a while to get a response/ it is not very personable.

The training provider is BPP. I have only done one exam so far but we have received plenty of learning materials and there seems to be a great amount of suppport from the tutors (Via email outside of the classroom ) etc. Lots of online learning so a sufficient amount of material to practice in order to prepare for the exam.

Lots of support. there is a mentoring programme, I have an allocated buddy who I met up with for a coffee before starting so that I had a familiar face and I also have a counselling manager whom I have reguar meetings with and go to for the approval of holidays/ any issues etc.

I have moved to leeds for my job and so have to live independently paying for rent, bills, food, travel etc. The package is sufficient for basic living. However, due to the nature of audit and the need to travel, I often have to subsidise the travel costs before expensing them. I can not do this with the package I am on and so have had to get a credit card iin order to afford this. But I am being paid to learn and so feel like although I do not have any disposable income at the moment, it will be worth it when i qualify!!

Lots of opportunities to network and socialise. We have BDO events and other networking events with local firms a few tmes a year. We go for drinks once a month with the department and because the team is so youthful, there is always someone to socialise with.

Yes

It iis a great place to work. I have settled in so well and have learnt so much.

Be confident, be passionate - think about why you want to do it - what experiences you have had in the past and skills you have gained through these experiences and then apply them to the job you are applying for. Smile and be enthusiastic - It is a training programme to learn, so you will not have the knowledge at the moment but if you are enthusiastic and willing to learn then you have the qualities needed to learn, develop and contribute to the team at BDO.