Audit Trainee Review

I am an audit trainee which entails doing the planning, execution and completion of audits for companies and charities in a vide variety of sectors of business. I support my other trainees with providing advice and also support my seniors by undertaking time consuming tasks to speed up the audit process

I have learnt how to read and understand the figures in the financial statements in a more insightful manner so that I can make better judgements on a company. Also I have better knowledge of how to extract information from clients whether that be verbally or via emails to best help the audit.

I have enjoyed parts of my apprenticeship even if it is very challenging due to the stress of exams and work at the same time. I enjoy seeing different business sectors and how each company operates differently to get the best of their staff and thus improve efficiency of the firm

I would say the apprenticeship programme is very well structured as the ICAEW have a clear path of when to take your exams and so with these you then work around the timing of exams to undertake audit work. It has led to me getting good study leave when is needed for my exams.

I receive support via appraisals and the availability of my counselling manager to answer any questions I may have on my job. However not only them but also all my colleagues in the office and on client sites are helpful if I have any questions on a particular part of the audit

I receive good support as they provide study leave days which allow me more time to study for my exams and feel more prepared when the exams take place but also the fact that it allows me to completely focus on my exams rather than having work in my mind as well

BPP has helped massively with my training as the tutors are a massive wealth of knowledge on each exam you do so it allows for every question being answered. The material that they prepare is also updated every exam sitting so you feel confident that you are reading the most relevant info at the time of study

We have a social evening every month that is a great way to catch up and socialise with colleagues because in audit you rarely work with the same person twice so to catch up monthly with people is a nice event to look forward to and share any recent success you have had with them

Yes

BDO has been very fair with me and provided a great amount of help with my exams so that I can best finish my apprenticeship. They understand the need to progress through your job at each stage and regularly will challenge me with each new audit client I’m on at the time

Just be yourself as otherwise if you have a persona before you apply it is very hard to maintain this day to day so being yourself allows yourself to best express yourself and thus it allows for BDO to get the best out of you as you feel most comfortable with those around you