Audit trainee Review

In my role as an audit trainee I work as part of a wider team on the statutory audit of different entities. Daily tasks can vary dependant on the job but I am often supervising more junior colleagues with their work, liaising with staff at the audited entity as well as completing my own allocated audit work.

My excel skills have improved exponentially in my role. Using the application so frequently has allowed me to understand many of the features and shortcuts to allow me to work quicker and more efficiently which has boosted my overall productivity. More generally my IT skills have also improved through the various training sessions that have been provided in my role.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the program so far, although it is undoubtedly hard work, the rewards and exposure are second to none. Being able to have first hand experience with executives and other senior staff members of the audited entities I work on has provided an insite that you would not get in other roles.

From the beginning of the program there has been a clear path to qualification with all training provided with no assumed knowledge. Coming in as a school leaver with no accounting experience this was especially useful as I had not studied accounting before so being taught the basics before I started my day to day role was great. My People manager has supported me throughout the process with regular catch-ups and check ins to review my progress and set goals for the future.

BDO are very supportive when it comes to progressing through the ACA qualification. At each stage you are provided ample study leave to cover the required materials or attend college in person or online. During this time senior colleagues are more cognisant of your work load and aim not to give you as much.

BPP's support has been overall good, the class room tutors have been very knowledgeable and proved really valuable. The support outside the classroom however can sometime be a bit worse, there has been a few occasions where check in calls were missed by BPP tutors without reason and there was a period of around a year where I didn't hear anything at all.

My qualification undoubtedly helps me perform better in my role, as I have progressed through the qualification I have been able to take up more complex areas of the audit with confidence knowing that I have learnt this previously in my studies and complete the work to a good standard.

BDO has many different social events such as summer and Christmas parties, BBQ's and monthly office socials which are great for relaxing with colleagues. In addition there is a weekly 5-a-side football match which I found great for meeting new people especially when i started during covid and was working from home.

Yes

BDO has been a great environment to learn with a firm wide emphasis on quality. My exposure to senior staff both internally and externally has been unrivalled and the trust given to me to represent the firm in the right manor is very reassuring. The support I have been given to progress and learn both with my studies and professionally has great.

Advice I would give to someone applying to BDO would be to not neglect soft skills such as communication. The job at times can of course be technical but this is something you learn through study, communicating with others in an effective manor however is equally as important but often forgotten.