Location: Reading
School: Maiden Erlegh
A levels:
Business
Chemistry
Physical Education
Studying towards the ACA and being a part of the BDO school leaver programme has really helped me to build my confidence. I have to meet lots of deadlines too, which has developed my ability to manage vast workloads and to prioritise projects.

Why I chose accountancy

Becoming a chartered accountant had always been an option for me as I enjoyed studying business studies and finance at school. For me the ACA qualification stood out among other professional qualifications because of its prestige and recognition around the world.

Why join a school leaver scheme?

After careful consideration I decided that while university would be fun, the BDO school-leaver programme would be a more sensible option for me. Not only am I earning money, but I’m able to put theory into practice on a daily basis which will benefit me in the long run!
As an audit trainee for BDO, my typical working day involves interacting with clients and working as part of a team where I am jointly responsible for testing the balances of financial statements.
As I gain more experience I will be given more responsibility and more complex audit tasks. It’s challenging when I am faced with a piece of work I haven’t tackled before, but BDO is incredibly supportive as an employer and support from colleagues is always available.
One of my highlights so far this year, as well as the experiences and skills I’ve gained, is taking part in BDO’s National football tournament where the offices all enter teams. It’s a great chance to meet people from across the firm and to catch up with my peers who started the programme at the same time as me!
For students looking at a career in chartered accountancy, my initial advice would be to search for Inside Careers’ School Leaver jobs to find an environment  that’s right for you.