Trainee Business Adviser Review
at BDO
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Accounting
Ipswich
Review Submitted: May 2023
Overall Rating
4.8 /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!
4.5/5
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Overview of Role
4/5
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Skills Development
4.8/5
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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
On a day to day basis, the job involves a number of roles which help us as trainees develop our knowledge and understanding of the profession we are looking to grow in. Tasks involve working on client work within weeks of joining to prepare their accounts, catch up meetings with your team and manager.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
I really enjoy the programme that I am a part of at BDO. It has a great mix of on the job learning and training by doing everyday tasks and also the AAT courses which are a part of the training programme. Both on the job learning and college goes well together as you can apply what you have learnt at college to your everyday work.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
As a trainee at BDO you develop many skills which help you grow in the professional world. I have found that personal skills such as confidence, communication and team work have been some skills which I have found have developed significantly since joining the firm. It also goes without saying that I have developed accountancy skills that link to my everyday work which has made me a valued colleague.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
The programme is well structured as it allows the trainee to give themselves enough time in-between each course and exam. We, as trainees, have the perfect amount of time to revise for an exam and enough time after the exams we sit before we have to start the next unit of study.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
BDO offers us plenty of support for our studies which really gives us as trainees a lot of confidence when learning at college and sitting exams. They give us full days off work as 'study days' which are used to allow us to learn the content we need to learn in order to pass our exams. Overall, support from outside of exams is also excellent as you really feel like you can go to any colleague with issues that may be concerning to you.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
5/5
The training provider is very supportive in helping us pass our exams and achieve our qualification . They make sure we have enough learning time at college in which we can ensure we're understanding the content and ask any questions which may be concerning us. We also can contact the tutor outside of college time with any queries we have relating to our learning.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
The qualification which we earn through our training provider is very helpful to use in our everyday roles and responsibilities. BDO try and ensure the courses we are sitting can be applied with different clients we are working on during that time. This deepens our understanding of the content we are learning and insures it is being applied to everyday scenarios.
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
There are plenty of extra-curricular activities within BDO which you can get involved in. Each team has a budget which they can spend on team building social events which is a great opportunity to socialise with people you are working with everyday. There is also plenty of sporting events that you can get involved ( 5 a side etc.)
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend BDO to a friend?
Yes
Why?
I would recommend BDO to a friend as from my experience, I have found they are a great firm to start your career with giving you plenty of support with your studies and everyday roles and responsibilities. You are able to get started on real client work and well as working on a variety of clients, as soon as you join and this helps you broaden and develop your knowledge of the overall accountancy profession.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to BDO?
Before you apply at BDO I would ensure you make yourself aware of all the services that BDO offers and also ensure that the firms values align with your own. Knowing BDO as a company and what they do if very useful in the application process so ensure you are familiar with lots of their products and processes. Also make sure you apply in the role which you think suits you best, whether that be Tax, Audit or Advisory.
