What was the interview process like?

The process was really enjoyable, each step of the way, because I felt like they encouraged me to be myself the entire time. Every person I met at BDO made me feel at ease and this made BDO stand out from my other interviewing experiences with other firms.

How much responsibility do you have?

We are given responsibility from the start; with every single project the responsibility changes to cover different areas of the audit. You’re not just ticking boxes and sending it to
your manager for them to review – you own your work and need to be able to discuss it with clients and senior members.

What do you most enjoy about your role?

I love that each day can be entirely different from the last, whether I’m working in the office or if I’m on a site with the client. You speak to different people every day, so there’s never a dull day. You are also given the opportunity to work on different industries to increase your exposure to different markets.

What has been your biggest challenge?

Starting a job in auditing requires you to take accounting exams. I did social sciences at university, so this was a big learning curve. However, everyone in the office is really supportive to those of us without accounting backgrounds to ensure we understand what we’re doing. I’ve never felt at a disadvantage for not previously studying accounting or finance at university.

Describe your biggest achievement?

I was nominated for a quarterly award within London Audit Group to acknowledge my attitude and performance on a challenging client project. It felt great to be recognised at such an early stage in my career, when I was really just enjoying the work that I was doing with my colleagues and clients.

How have you found the experience?

I think what has exceeded my expectations the most is the people that I work with. Everyone that I’ve met, all the way up to partners, have been so friendly and willing to help me learn. I knew that I would be busy with work and study but I had no idea of how many friends I would make along the way.

What is the office atmosphere like?

The office is in a hot desk formation, even partners hot desk with us, so it is a nice balance between socialising and focusing. There are also comfortable areas to sit in for casual catch ups or informal meetings; we have flexible working environments to best suit the work you need to achieve.

How promising are the graduate prospects?

The prospects are virtually endless – it just depends what you think fits you! I’ve met a lot of people who have chosen to stay at BDO, who have progressed into management roles because they enjoy the company and the work we do. You will gain invaluable networking opportunities at BDO which will set you up to support your career.