Advisory Trainee Review

I provide advisory services to financial services firms. This includes providing reasonable and limited assurance on prudential and regulatory requirements, governance, risk, economic crime and regulatory conduct. We also provide internal audit services to clients. As well as carrying out the planning, fieldwork and reporting on the above engagements, my day-to-day also includes the admin behind projects (drafting engagement letters and performing client take on), scanning the regulatory horizon, and preparing proposals for new work.

Yes, the apprenticeship is focused on learning new skills and qualifying as a Chartered Accountant. This includes learning technical accounting, financial reporting, tax and audit skills, as well as ethics, company law and business strategy. The apprenticeship also develops soft skills such as communication, presenting, building relationships, leadership, business insight, problem solving and decision-making.

I really enjoy the programme. The work we perform is interesting, challenging and varied. I feel like I am learning every day, and am being prepared for my future career. I feel hopeful for my future. We are empowered to contribute new ideas and take on the challenges we want, which makes it feel like a career rather than just a job.

The requirements to qualify as a chartered accountant are strict and complex, including exam passes, professional work experience, development of professional skills, behaviours, and ethics. The apprenticeship programme is well structured to allow apprentices to achieve the requirements in all areas. In terms of the work itself, the programme is set up to give apprentices exposure to the range of services our department provides to clients by rotating us every six months. This enables us to develop skills in all areas before settling on a speciality towards the end of the programme. This gives us the opportunity to try new areas until we find the one that is right for us

More than enough. On project work, I have always found more senior staff from senior consultants to directors happy to help me with support and training. For the apprenticeship, we are given enough paid study leave for exams to enable us to succeed. The employer is always flexible when it comes to adjustments (e.g. to exam or project schedules).

More than enough. Our study leave comprises a mixture of self-study, classroom-based study (online live classrooms since COVID) and revision sessions. We are also given marked mock exams to enable us to pinpoint weaknesses before we reach the real exam. The learning material and the tutors are of high-quality. I have always felt well-prepared for my exams.

Each new stage of the qualification helps me to perform better in my role. Each new stage ramps up the difficulty. As well as technical skills (such as financial reporting and conducting audits), the qualification includes things like advising businesses which is crucial in preparing us for communicating with clients and writing reports. There are some modules which are not applicable to all roles (e.g. the tax modules are only relevant if you are in a tax service stream), however to train as a chartered accountant you need the ability in all areas a chartered accountant may work in, even if it is not directly relevant to the role.

Yes, BDO has a variety of extra-curricular activities, including charity volunteering opportunities, monthly drinks, football and other sports/fitness activities, quiz nights and other competitions. Each service line is given a social budget, and many have social committees to plan events. The team is always innovating new ideas, especially since COVID when traditional activities have been put on hold.

Yes

BDO is an exciting, meritocratic place to work. Staff are friendly and as an apprentice you are empowered to develop your skills and build your career. If you take the opportunities given, you can succeed. The work is interesting and the pay is good. The apprenticeship scheme is a no-brainer for graduates wanting a career in accounting/audit/tax/advisory as you get paid a good wage to develop yourself and gain relevant experience.

Apply early - like other professional services firms, the graduate scheme opens for applicants nearly a year in advance. On the assessment day itself, be professional but try to relax too. It can be difficult to get past the nerves, but even pretending to be confident will make you come across better.