Audit trainee Review

My role on a day to day basis is working as an audit trainee in our Business Assurance department, working on a range of clients across a broad variety of sectors from not-for-profit to TMT and Real Estate. This job role heavily involves client interaction, as well as building a strong relationship with your colleagues. The main responsibilities of this role are to deliver exceptional client service, and to produce work of a high standard. Due to the audit teams being the face of BDO when visiting clients, it is imperative that you deliver and exceed expectations in all aspects of your work where possible in order to promote our core values at BDO. Every day, I am performing audit tests, analysing clients financial statements, discussing particular results/ movements in the clients figures as well as drawing up conclusions and identifying whether assurance can be gained over my standard of testing and results. On top of this, I also perform a lot of work outside of my normal working hours to promote the the school leaver scheme as well as improving BDO's exposure to potential recruits through pioneering a blogging website for the ICAEW. This is something which is recognised and appreciated by BDO, which for me is a great motivator to continue the hard work. I find that the daily tasks of an audit trainee on a school leaver programme can vary greatly. The exposure to client work I have been subject to over the past 12 months have taught me many skills, of which I feel would not be learnt in a classroom. My responsibilities are forever increasing inline with the improved experience I gain on each audit job that I partake in.

I have learnt a great deal since starting with BDO 12 months ago; mainly obtaining skills on how to perform and deliver exceptional results on each audit job. With interacting every day with clients, comes improving your professional manner as well as developing your team building and communication skills. My knowledge has grown at an exponential rate since commencing the CFAB qualification 12 months ago; with only recently sitting the Law and Tax exam of the Knowledge Level, I have a greater understanding of other aspects of an accountancy qualification rather than just the debits and credits.

I strongly believe that BDO is a top company to work for, the support from your peers and your senior management is both motivating and encouraging in all aspects of your work. Within BDO, your voice is heard as well as your opinions considered, a particular aspect I really appreciate when working in an industry where you need to have the confidence and courage to argue certain points in your work.

BDO make you feel like an employee with opinions and interests, rather than a cog in a machine that can get lost in transition. I thoroughly enjoy the working atmosphere and the recognition you get for your hard work, which is emphasised by having regular feedback opportunities and meetings to discuss your development.

The original induction when joining the firm was great; the first few weeks consisted of going to Cambridge University whereby you can meet trainees from all the other offices in the UK, as well as meeting senior management and delving deep into the knowledge sharing which BDO promotes. When you first join BDO, you are assigned a counselling manager and a 'Buddy' who are always contactable should you have any queries. I have had a few issues since joining BDO, but the friendly response I have had from my counselling manager and buddy has been second to none.

My training provider is always willing to give extra support when needed. For example, I have been struggling with the past 2 exams due to them being self-study, however when I have asked for help from both college (BPP) and work, I have received it. The greatest thing I like about BDO is the mutual support in this situation; for example, I have a lot of friends in the tax department who regularly offered their assisstance with my studying towards the tax exam should I have any problems and not understand some aspects of the work.

I find that your do receive a great amount of support from my employer when you make them aware that you are struggling. I have always found that they are willing to look at different options should the workload become too much around exam time etc. This flexibility has enabled me to perform well in both my exams and my daily role.

For someone of my age, the salary is very competitive. Obviously, living near London you are subject to higher living costs and especially travel costs should you live in London and commute back to Reading, however this is as to be expected and many people will experience this.

Outside of work I have a lot of contacts within the ICAEW, whereby I pioneer a blogging website, partake in careers events and publishing dialogues in national magazines and websites. I also partake in a lot of careers events for BDO itself as I enjoy the opportunity to tell others a year or two below me on the other options available to them rather than going to University. BDO is also a very socialable company; we run a football team where we play games each week, as well as many other sporting teams which incorporate a large number of colleagues across all departments within the firm. As well as this, BDO promote a lot of charity work whereby you are given X number of days of for during the year. This is a great opportunity to give something back to the community and raise money for charities and trusts.

Yes

I think that BDO is a great firm to work for and would recommend them to anyone considering a role in accountancy

I would recommend getting as much work experience as possible. I believe that many employers now look beyond grades, and look for that 'extra' special quality that an individual has to make them stand out from the crowd. When I was at college, I regularly voluntarily worked for a number of companies just to improve my contact network and gain that all important experience of working for different people and gaining a new set of skills. For example, I approached a small family run company that had been on a BBC1 Programme for some simple work experience, from that I have developed a great relationship of whom I keep in regular contact with, as well as using their company as the basis to my presentation when I had to attend my assessment day for my job at BDO.