Junior Tax Associate Review

I am a junior tax associate working within mergers and acquisitions corporate tax. I have a portfolio of clients in different sectors and of different sizes. We provide compliance services. My job consists of calling HMRC and working on computations using tax packs to come to a draft tax liability. I also attend meetings and take notes to produce reports.

I've developed existing skills such as communication, teamworking, analytical and time management skills. I have also learnt new skills through communicating with clients for the first time as this requires a different style compared to communication within the team I work in. Technical skills I have developed relate to a tax software called alphatax, I am learning how to use this overtime and becoming more confident.

I enjoy certain aspects such as when I am working on clients which belong to an industry I am particularly interested in and would like to develop my knowledge in, such as clients within financial services who may be backed by private equity etc. I get to see interesting things and might come across clients I know of. Sometimes I may have to work on things which do not interest me as much due to the admin nature of the work, but it is still valuable to know.

It is well structured but there can be some confusion at times especially when your exams may need to be pushed back for any reason. Overall, it is still organised to an appropriate extent and you have a good idea of what you are working towards in terms of professional working experience and exams. It can be difficult to sit multiple exams at times though.

There is support available. Your people manager is your first point of contact. I found that some members within my team aim to provide as much support as they can and regularly check up on me. They have also considered workplace amendments where necessary, when I am experiencing some difficulty. However, in terms of exams, I sometimes feel there is very little flexibility in our pathways and can be difficult to get support easily.

BPP is great and they provide really great recap and revision sessions which definitely help you pass your exams. They also hold regular progress review calls where you can speak to the coach about any concerns you might have, such as health or personal concerns. They also provide advice on how to catch up with revision if you have been unwell or are feeling anxious and overwhelmed. They also provide regular check ins.

I have found that the knowledge I've gained from my qualification has made me understand conversations at work much more. Technical discussions and regular tax issues training sessions can be difficult to understand but the more I study, the more I am able to take away from these conversations. Things you learn in your qualification will help you perform better at work because you might be able to understand your clients better.

Yes there are lots of socials and sports teams. My employer also hosts regular netoworking opportunities for all graduates and trainees in their apprenticeship programmes so that we can share our experiences and build connections. There are regular social events held within my team and there are also lots of socials for everyone in the office to join and get to know people from across teams and floors.

Yes

I have made some great connections and there are some really supportive people in the team. Partners are also really approachable and great mentors. We are given a junior buddy, a senior buddy and a senior mentor as as well as a people manager and counselling partner. There are regular feedback sessions for us to share what works and doesn't work for us too.

Try to network with those who already work at BDO through Linkedin and find out more about a role your specifically interested in. Message those who work in the area you are interested in to find out some key basics about the role so you can ace your interview. Understand BDO's culture as it will help you network with the team.