Anna, an Audit Trainee at BDO in Birmingham

Anna is an Audit Trainee at BDO in Birmingham, where she’s been making strides in her career for over a year. Her role involves a mix of office work and site visits, allowing her to collaborate closely with her team and the audited entities. Anna’s passion for problem-solving and her proactive approach to balancing tasks have been key to her success. She’s also taken advantage of BDO’s extensive support and training opportunities, which have helped her grow both professionally and personally.

Can you describe a typical day in your role at BDO?

Most days of the week, I attend the office or an audited entity site so that I can work collaboratively with my team. As a junior team member, you tend to change projects every few weeks, so working in person with your team is a great opportunity to develop a better understanding of each project and get to know colleagues and their working styles. I complete various areas of the audit file, applying knowledge from my ACA studies, and all team members are happy to coach me through any new and complex areas. There may be meetings to attend throughout the day either with your team to catch up or the audited entity to comb through any queries (these can be on Teams or in person).

What do you enjoy most about your daily routine at BDO?

I enjoy how collaborative the job is. There are lots of opportunities to engage in discussions with your team and the audited entity. While we work hard, it is always nice to get to know people on a personal level, especially before/after work or at lunchtimes. I enjoy problem-solving, which is a useful skill in auditing. Whether it is getting to know the audited entity in the planning phase or working out some testing in the execution phase, there is plenty of opportunity to apply this skill day-to-day.

How do you balance your work tasks throughout the day?

It is useful to contact the Manager a week or so prior to being booked on a project to set expectations so that I can ensure my work allocation is sensible going into a booking. A lot of Managers create a project plan listing allocations and expected time for each task, so I refer to this. Along with the project plan, I check in with my Seniors throughout the booking to discuss priorities so that I can create a personal to-do list from this.

How has BDO supported your career progression so far?

BDO sets Graduates up for success from day one. I completed several residential training courses (Open Door 1 & 2 and Starting Out Strong) throughout my first year to ensure my practical knowledge was up to scratch for my day-to-day job. This complemented the knowledge picked up from my ACA studies. I was encouraged to attend a Success Conversation with an Audit Manager towards the end of my first year too, which was an open conversation to support my career progression at BDO.

What opportunities for advancement have you experienced at BDO?

During my probationary period, I attended monthly meetings with my People Manager. We discussed my project bookings in these meetings to ensure my experience was varied and interesting, particularly during my first year. My People Manager and other Managers are always open to discuss my portfolio. I have been fully supported to pursue my passions alongside the audit job itself. This involved becoming a Peer Group Leader (collecting feedback from my audit trainee peers to pass onto senior colleagues to action), training as a Mental Health First Aider, and becoming involved in a few Early in Career events.

How do you see your career developing at BDO in the future?

My experience at BDO has been broad because I have been supported in pursuing other passions (eg becoming a Peer Group Leader, Mental Health First Aider, and attending Early in Career events) as well as the day-to-day audit job. These opportunities have strengthened my audit knowledge and transferable skills. As a result, I have become a better auditor and grown to enjoy the job more. Equally, I am opening my options to potentially be more involved with the training, coaching or Early in Careers side of BDO audit. I am confident that BDO will support my career path.

Anna’s journey at BDO is a testament to the firm’s commitment to nurturing talent and providing a supportive environment for career growth. Her experiences, from becoming a Peer Group Leader to training as a Mental Health First Aider, highlight the diverse opportunities available at BDO. Anna’s story shows how BDO’s collaborative and dynamic work culture can help individuals develop their skills and pursue their passions, setting a strong foundation for a successful career.