Audit Assistant Review

Audit Assistant - Real Estate sector Daily tasks include; reviewing statutory accounts, auditing financial statements, client facing role with conversations about the clients accounting policies and discussing these. Daily interactions internally are mainly discussions with the audit team regarding approach to the audits and the conversations over the environment of the clients business. Daily interactions externally require me to obtain backing evidence for the clients accounts i.e. 3rd party bank letters and property valuations Responsibilities include specific areas in the financial statements which I have to audit. These are given to me prior to the audit commencing. I must also delegate work and help other team members on the audit.

I have just got my ACA CFAB qualification which is highly acknoledged in the market of accounting. This is from passing 6 ACA exams out of the 15 required to become a chartered accountant. Skills that have been improved and development mainly include the use of accounting softwares and reviewing of the financial statements. I have also developed my skills of delegation and team work as audit is primarily focused around these two factors.

Company culture at BDO is extremely socialable and my colleagues are highly respective of your level of grade and how competent you are with regards to your work. My school leaver programme is excellent for preparing myself in the financial market and challenges me every day with different clients, different sections of the audit & different accounting policies. All clients are different and so you learn all aspects of a clients financial controls and accounting which I really enjoy. The school leaver course at BDO surpassed my expectations as there is a great balance of the work, study and social life.

Considering I had come straight from my A-levels to a full-time job, I was quickly accepted and valued in the firm. For the first two weeks of the job, I studied at Cambridge university on an induction course to prepare myself in to the basics of audit and how to tackle certain areas of the financial statements and how to dicsuss issues with clients in role plays with senior staff. BDO also has a great recognition policy in which good work is rewarded with vouchers to individuals and audit teams where we are seen to have "delivered exceptional client service"

The structure of my studies is based on the ICAEW ACA scheme. This is split in to 2years over which 6exams are taken and at the end of this you are rewarded with the CFAB qualification. The remaining three years of the course you tackle the 9exams left to be exam qualified. We also need to gain a certain amount of technical working days in a qualified firm to be time-qualified. Once both of these aspects have been fulfilled, you are able to practice as a fully qualified chartered accountant. Training and studying is fit well in to the 5year programme with reasonable periods between each exam to allow you to focus on work and any hoidays you may want to reward yourself with. You are also assigned a Buddy and Counsellors in your department when you first join. These members of staff appraise you on your work from feedback given from other colleagues. They are also key when you first join to ask questions and walk you through the first stages of the job.

You are assigned a Buddy and Counsellors in your department when you first join. These members of staff appraise you on your work from feedback given from other colleagues and they are also key when you first join to ask questions and walk you through the first stages of the job. We have specific training on relevant sections of the audits which the juniors need more expsosure to, and Partners feed back market updated in our sectors which effect our work.

See above.

We are paid a competitive salary with promotions every year from first starting. BDO also have grade bands on work levels which range from 1-5. Staff members above the average 3 gain a bonus for their hard work.

BDO is an extremely sociable compmany and we strive to always act as One Firm. The company also has allocated volunteering days in the year which can be used to give back to the community.

Yes

Great firm to learn with and achieve the ACA qualification

BDO is a great firm to gain exposure to large clients but also have a great social experience also. In my opinion it is the best firm to study the ACA scheme for.