Audit Trainee Review

As an audit trainee, I spend my day at the client site working on the audit file. Usually I will be on each client for 1-2 weeks at a time so there is lots of moving around which appeals to me over being in the same office everyday! I work in teams of 2-3 people on site plus the audit manager and partner who visit the site occasionally to review our work. Working at the client site enables me to interact with different people at each site both within the audit team (as this changes on each job) and within client teams. Day to day responsibilities include working on different sections of the audit file, supporting the senior with any tasks and coaching any more junior members of the team where they need help.

I complete the Higher Apprenticeship in Audit Practise and have completed 3 of my 4 assignments so far. I also complete the CFAB (first 6 modules of ACA) within my first 2 year contract, of which I have passed 4 out of 6 exams. My final exams are in July 2015. BDO provide lots of training for all the trainees, we go on several training courses a year and have monthly updates within our department to train us on specific audit matters. My personal skills have improved massively since joining BDO, I have become a lot more confident, independent and have learnt to properly balance my own time between work, studying an personal time.

I really enjoy the school leaver programme. I enjoy working in audit because I am able to move around to different sites every couple of weeks and work on different types of clients each time. The team I work with is very approachable, we also have a lot of social events which are fun. The culture at BDO is very welcoming and very focused on you as an individual which makes you feel valued in everything that you work on. Working for BDO has exceeded my expectations as I did not think I would be valued as much as I am, I am trusted to work on complex tasks and really welcomed within the audit team.

Very. After each job, the entire team will receive a thank you from seniors/managers and sometimes the good work is rewarded with team meals and social events. We receive feedback after each job and continually have appraisals which focus on our development and recognise us when we have done well.

The programme is well structured. We have an initial induction of 2 weeks in Cambridge with all of the other trainees across the UK within our intake which teaches the key principles of auditing and about BDO. We have a clear structure of when our exams are and when to complete assignments which is balanced throughout the 2 years. We often have appraisals with our manager an have an assessor from college who is on hand to help with our apprenticeship.

Exams are either self study or in college. For self study exams we are assigned a tutor to contact with any queries and provides assistance straight away. For college study, we are taught by a tutor who is a point of call up to the date of the exam in order to help. As part of the apprenticeship, we are assigned an assessor who is there to help us and guide us through completing the assignments and is in touch throughout the programme to support us where they are able to.

From BDO I receive a lot of support, we have a line manager, a buddy, training courses, managers on jobs, colleagues more senior to us. All of these are there to provide as much support to us as possible and provide assistance where required. BDO as a company is very focused on the people, therefore there is a lot of support behind you whenever you need it.

At the moment, I still live at home however I am able to cover all of the costs I need with no shortage at the end of each month. I am able to go on several holidays a year, pay my bills and rent, pay for petrol and travel costs. There is a pay increase each year reflecting you moving up throughout the programme.

Outside of work, we often have social events including first Friday drinks, sports tournaments and away days. We also have the opportunity to complete 10 days paid community volunteering work per year which lots of the team do together.

Yes

Because of the culture and the people you get to work with.

Be yourself throughout the entire recruitment process. BDO offer all of the training you require to do the job you apply for and are mainly interested in you as a person to represent them as a firm. They want someone who is friendly, approachable and who will fit in within our team.