Audit Trainee Review

Day to day I work on multiple clients. This will often mean not working in the office but being on-site at the clients offices. I will then work closely with the client to review their financials. Each audit is conducted by a team of people from BDO all with different levels of experience with work being assigned to you based on your experience and capabilities.

As part of the programme I am studying for my ACA qualification so I spend lots of time studying and acquiring new knowledge and skills. On a day to day basis the skill I have improved the most is probably Excel, this is an important part of the job and it is used daily so I am constantly learning new and faster ways to use it.

I really enjoy the programme. It is the right level of challenging. There is always something new to learn, or new people to work with. This means you can constantly be developing and learning new ways of doing things. BDO also provide a lot of support for my studies which I find important.

It is very well organised and structured. The programme has been running for a long time so it has proven success. There are always people to ask if you have any questions and there is always plenty of work to do so you're never bored. There is good timetabling so you know what is expected of you for months in advance.

Whilst out on site there is always someone more senior who has designated time for the week set aside for assisting you. In the office you also have your counselling manager who provides support and regular catch ups to check on how you are doing. You also have a designated 'buddy' from the intake above to help with any questions you feel you can't ask management.

BPP provide a lot of support. Whilst in college they always have time after class to help with any question or they are happy to help over email. They also regularly check up on how you are getting on and have access to your practice exam scores so can reach out if they notice you are not performing very well.

I have found the qualifications very useful. Especially my accounting exam, this has helped me understand the job which I wouldn't be able to perform without this knowledge. I still have 9 exams to take which as I progress will get harder and should be even more important in helping me do my job.

Yes, there are after work drinks once a month and also sporting activities which take place on a weekly basis. However, most of the time people we will independently set up social activities outside of work with the people they get along with. However, sometimes it is difficult to attend these social events due to not being in the office and working out on a client site.

Yes

It is a company with a good reputation. It fully funds an internationally recognised qualification with the ACA. It also provides challenging work which helps you to continually develop and learn new skills, it is also never boring as you are constantly working on new clients or with new people. There is also a good culture of hard working people who are always willing to help.

Make sure you do your research on the company and know exactly what role you are applying for and why you think you suit that role. Know what differentiates BDO from other accountancy firms like the Big 4. Apply early and be enthusiastic and try to put in a good quality application. Sometimes candidates will go for quantity of applications over quality. If you are really interested in BDO spend some time and make your application good.