Audit Trainee Review

Auditing of financial accounts for a variety of entities as part of their annual accounts submission. Covering corporate and not for profit charities. Involved in the process from the start of planning to the end of the completion and submission to companies house. Also involves a small amount of accounts preparation

I have developed a range of skills including excel skills, people skills, presentation skills. Understanding how to write reports, draft engagement letters and coach junior members of the engagement team. I am also responsible for reporting to multiple managers and so have improved my project management skills and organisation skills

The apprenticeship programme goes hand in hand with the ACA qualification which is a globally recognised qualification. The programme is insightful and has extremely benefited the skills I have developed. I would also say that it helps generate the skills needed in the workplace as well as part of the exams

The programme is well structured with 6 core steps on skills and behaviours, then 14 core exams which lead onto the final end point assessment 1 and 2 to complete both the ACA and the apprenticeship. The only improvement would be better communication on the timings and how to draft each skill and behaviour tasks

Although I did not need much support from my employer i am fully aware that it exists and is available at any time should I require it. My employer provides me with time off and all the equipment needed to complete the apprenticeship to the best of my ability. A

My training provide supports both the exams and the apprenticeship. I feel the support is there and they do offer email check ins and regular calls to catch up on the apprenticeship but I would say they could do with improving the exam aspect as I once went for help and didn’t get much support other than referring to an online skills portal that wasn’t useful

My qualification is vital to the role I complete at work, it provides the foundations to my audit work and when combined with the apprenticeship it offers a globally recognised qualification that helps in my day to day work. Anything from communication to drafting reports, the exam and apprenticeship covers all aspects

Pre COVID, there were many events, weekly football, annual uk football tournament, darts and snooker nights, curry night, Christmas party, summer party, Friday drinks, quarterly afternoon drinks, and much more. I would definitely say BDO offers a great experience outside of the office work too, it’s a work hard play hard mentality

Yes

Because BDO offers a strong salary further up the chain, it offers a great qualification and apprenticeship funded to gain global recognition. Bdo provides support for every aspect and offers the opportunity to gain valuable auditing and business skills that I would not have gained otherwise. The knowledge and experience is invaluable

I would say just to go for it, I took each step of the assessment in turn and didn’t think about the next until I was there. Having joined at 18, I had never done an interview, group exercise or presentation so it was daunting but bdo employees but me at ease and I had no issues. Think outside the box