Audit Trainee Review

As an auditor, my average day involves going out to visit a client, understanding their business (from business processes to financial statements) and performing work on their processes/financial statements to understand the reliability of the information. Involves a lot of collaboration with others, as well as on the job coaching etc.

Loads! IT skills being the main one. I massively underestimated the ability of excel before I started work. The training sessions I have undertaken to become more proficient in excel have been so beneficial. I have also developed a lot of softer skills like the ability to talk to people with a range of experience (from FD to another junior).

I was trusted with important work from day one of starting at BDO - the work I do truly does make a difference and I feel like a valued member of the team. There is no sugar coating the fact that working and studying at the same time is tough, but it is super rewarding.

Despite the challenges Covid has thrown at us, the programme has continued to be organised in a positive way to give the right balance of work and studying. I feel equipped with the technical and practical knowledge to perform my job to a high ability, as a result of how well structured the programme is.

Support comes from every area of the business - buddies in the intake above, my cohort, my people manager, a career development coach, other managers in the team etc etc. There is always someone to turn to if things aren't going quite right or you feel like you need an extra stretch.

BPP provide an abundance of study material from course notes to question banks, model answers, multiple choice questions etc. The staff are well rounded with great technical knowledge as well as real life examples and no question is ever seen as a silly question (even when I know it is!).

The exams have massively helped me to perform my role better, giving me technical skills to apply to real life scenarios. The skills and behavious, whilst tedious at times, ensure I also have the softer skills to work well as a team, communicate well, problem solve etc - it makes you a more rounded person.

Lots! I have played netball, been go karting, been to networking dinners, won a national award, played darts, been to an escape room, had an away day, various Christmas parties etc. There really is something for everyone as long as you are willing to get yourself involved whereever it is possible.

Yes

There are so many opportunities to develop your career. BDO pride themselves in promoting their own staff so the sky really is the limit. You are supported by a team of people from your very first day and everyone is working hard to achieve a common goal - it really is a team effort.

Go for it! What is there to lose? BDO has the right balance between being a large well known accounting firm, and being small enough that you truly can make a difference. Hard work always gets noticed and rewarded and the people you work with always want you to succeed.