Audit Trainee Review
at BDO
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Accounting
Birmingham
Review Submitted: April 2021
Overall Rating
4.5 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
4/5
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Overview of Role
5/5
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Skills Development
4.4/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
4/5
Auditing of financial accounts for a variety of entities as part of their annual accounts submission. Covering corporate and not for profit charities. Involved in the process from the start of planning to the end of the completion and submission to companies house. Also involves a small amount of accounts preparation
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
The apprenticeship programme goes hand in hand with the ACA qualification which is a globally recognised qualification. The programme is insightful and has extremely benefited the skills I have developed. I would also say that it helps generate the skills needed in the workplace as well as part of the exams
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
I have developed a range of skills including excel skills, people skills, presentation skills. Understanding how to write reports, draft engagement letters and coach junior members of the engagement team. I am also responsible for reporting to multiple managers and so have improved my project management skills and organisation skills
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
The programme is well structured with 6 core steps on skills and behaviours, then 14 core exams which lead onto the final end point assessment 1 and 2 to complete both the ACA and the apprenticeship. The only improvement would be better communication on the timings and how to draft each skill and behaviour tasks
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
Although I did not need much support from my employer i am fully aware that it exists and is available at any time should I require it. My employer provides me with time off and all the equipment needed to complete the apprenticeship to the best of my ability. A
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
My training provide supports both the exams and the apprenticeship. I feel the support is there and they do offer email check ins and regular calls to catch up on the apprenticeship but I would say they could do with improving the exam aspect as I once went for help and didn’t get much support other than referring to an online skills portal that wasn’t useful
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
My qualification is vital to the role I complete at work, it provides the foundations to my audit work and when combined with the apprenticeship it offers a globally recognised qualification that helps in my day to day work. Anything from communication to drafting reports, the exam and apprenticeship covers all aspects
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
5/5
Pre COVID, there were many events, weekly football, annual uk football tournament, darts and snooker nights, curry night, Christmas party, summer party, Friday drinks, quarterly afternoon drinks, and much more. I would definitely say BDO offers a great experience outside of the office work too, it’s a work hard play hard mentality
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend BDO to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Because BDO offers a strong salary further up the chain, it offers a great qualification and apprenticeship funded to gain global recognition. Bdo provides support for every aspect and offers the opportunity to gain valuable auditing and business skills that I would not have gained otherwise. The knowledge and experience is invaluable
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to BDO?
I would say just to go for it, I took each step of the assessment in turn and didn’t think about the next until I was there. Having joined at 18, I had never done an interview, group exercise or presentation so it was daunting but bdo employees but me at ease and I had no issues. Think outside the box
