Tax Associate Review
at BDO
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Accounting
Nottingham
Review Submitted: May 2021
Overall Rating
4.1 /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
4/5
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Skills Development
3.6/5
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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
Corporation tax compliance and dealing with tax issues for clients. A little bit of advisory. Managing internal and external relationships, including client relationships. Trying to earn new fees in connection with recognising opportunities to help out existing and new clients in relation to tax (as well as referring clients on to more specific areas of tax which we have within the firm).
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
I enjoy my job most days. The program itself has not been too difficult up until now but I'm aware that the final year becomes much more difficult. I enjoy the taking on of responsibility but sometimes the workload can get overwhelming.
The company culture is good but the balance between getting work done and having those non-work related conversations is not great, especially in lockdown. It usually goes one way or the other.
The company culture is good but the balance between getting work done and having those non-work related conversations is not great, especially in lockdown. It usually goes one way or the other.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
I've learnt a lot of new skills including skills surrounding tax law, accounting skills and I've learnt more about business as a whole from working with/for clients from many different sectors. As well as this, I've developed my confidence, managerial skills, communication skills, problem-solving and data analysis.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
The apprenticeship program is very well organised. We have regular 6 week calls with our training provider.
In terms of the organisation/structure of the firm, the hierarchy is clear, opportunities for promotion are vast and you are assigned a "buddy" from day one at the firm to help you learn.
In terms of the organisation/structure of the firm, the hierarchy is clear, opportunities for promotion are vast and you are assigned a "buddy" from day one at the firm to help you learn.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
3/5
We have fairly regular calls to check on wellbeing - in particular through lockdown. My colleagues are eager to help me whenever I ask for help. In terms of management is a fine line between letting new staff take responsibility on their own and having unrealistic expectations. Some managers manage that line well and some don't.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
I have regular 6 week catch ups as well as a 6 monthly review to ensure I'm on track to completing my off the job training hours and meeting my skills and behaviours in order to help me complete the apprenticeship. They also include catch ups around exams, when I expect to complete them, how I'm developing over time, etc.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
3/5
My qualification itself helps me build my knowledge on tax which is vital for performing better in my role. In terms of the apprenticeship side of the qualification, I don't think that it helps me perform better in my role itself but it does help me reflect on the skills that I have learnt and developed over time.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
4/5
Prior to covid there were a variety of extra-curricular activities to get involved in. One which I went to was a ball with the different accounting firms in the city of Nottingham. There's also various sports teams. I think the firm could do more on that side of things but they are limited by the size of the office being only approximately 80 employees.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend BDO to a friend?
Yes
Why?
I think that there are a lot of opportunities for growth within the firm, in particular moving up to higher authority positions once qualified. The pay is good in comparison to other jobs (I'm not sure about in comparison to other accounting firms) and you will adjust quickly to the work.
As with any job there are days where you don't want to be working and there are days that go fast.
As with any job there are days where you don't want to be working and there are days that go fast.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to BDO?
First of all I would learn more about the area that you are applying to. I applied for tax thinking it was effectively the same as being an accountant - it's not.
Other than that I would say that if you are successful then you should try and take every opportunity that is offered to you. That's when you really grow and start to specialise on certain areas. That can lead to the workload sometimes getting overwhelming but in my experience you can always get back on top of it either by getting around the busy season or by new and more junior staff joining the firm and delegating some work to them.
Other than that I would say that if you are successful then you should try and take every opportunity that is offered to you. That's when you really grow and start to specialise on certain areas. That can lead to the workload sometimes getting overwhelming but in my experience you can always get back on top of it either by getting around the busy season or by new and more junior staff joining the firm and delegating some work to them.
