Emily Cooper is a trainee at BDO, who was a participant on that firm's Summer School programme. She talks about her experience below:
What made you consider a career in accountancy?
I had always been curious about a career in accountancy because Economics and Maths were subjects at school that really interested me. Most of my research suggested a career in financial services would be suited to me.
Was there anything in particular which drew you toward BDO?
A school leaver from BDO who was a student at my secondary school came back to give a presentation on BDO’s summer school programme. Her presentation was really informative and made me seriously consider pursuing a career in accountancy, particularly at BDO.
What was the application process like?
To apply for the BDO summer school programme, I had to complete an online application form. I then completed some online ability tests before being invited to the BDO office for my interview. Thankfully, I was successful and was offered a place on the summer school programme.
How did you find the summer school programme?
Summer school was a fantastic opportunity to gain an insight into what working in accountancy would entail. It also really helped me to get a feel for BDO as a firm. The whole experience confirmed that a job at BDO would definitely be something I’d be interested in and therefore I was thrilled to be given an offer to join the school leaver programme. It’s definitely something I would recommend to others, especially if they hadn’t necessarily considered a career in accountancy.
What happened next?
At the end of the summer school programme, I had another interview with a partner. A week or so later, I received a call to let me know I was being offered a place on the School Leaver programme! I was absolutely delighted and couldn’t wait to join.
What is your career highlight, so far, at BDO?
Particular highlights from my first year on the BDO School Leaver programme would include passing my completed exams first time and being nominated for the Apprentice of the Year award at the 2017 Target Jobs Awards.
Do you have any advice for anyone else considering a career in accountancy?
One piece of advice I would give to new joiners is that the quote ‘What you put into things is what you get out of them’ really applies to the school leaver programme at BDO. It can be tough at times but if you are willing to work hard then you will succeed and be able to reap the rewards in the future. At BDO, your hard work definitely does not go unnoticed.
What made you consider a career in accountancy?
I had always been curious about a career in accountancy because Economics and Maths were subjects at school that really interested me. Most of my research suggested a career in financial services would be suited to me.
Was there anything in particular which drew you toward BDO?
A school leaver from BDO who was a student at my secondary school came back to give a presentation on BDO’s summer school programme. Her presentation was really informative and made me seriously consider pursuing a career in accountancy, particularly at BDO.
What was the application process like?
To apply for the BDO summer school programme, I had to complete an online application form. I then completed some online ability tests before being invited to the BDO office for my interview. Thankfully, I was successful and was offered a place on the summer school programme.
How did you find the summer school programme?
Summer school was a fantastic opportunity to gain an insight into what working in accountancy would entail. It also really helped me to get a feel for BDO as a firm. The whole experience confirmed that a job at BDO would definitely be something I’d be interested in and therefore I was thrilled to be given an offer to join the school leaver programme. It’s definitely something I would recommend to others, especially if they hadn’t necessarily considered a career in accountancy.
What happened next?
At the end of the summer school programme, I had another interview with a partner. A week or so later, I received a call to let me know I was being offered a place on the School Leaver programme! I was absolutely delighted and couldn’t wait to join.
What is your career highlight, so far, at BDO?
Particular highlights from my first year on the BDO School Leaver programme would include passing my completed exams first time and being nominated for the Apprentice of the Year award at the 2017 Target Jobs Awards.
Do you have any advice for anyone else considering a career in accountancy?
One piece of advice I would give to new joiners is that the quote ‘What you put into things is what you get out of them’ really applies to the school leaver programme at BDO. It can be tough at times but if you are willing to work hard then you will succeed and be able to reap the rewards in the future. At BDO, your hard work definitely does not go unnoticed.
Olivia Penny is a Trainee Business Adviser at BDO, working on their school leaver programme. She talks about her experiences below:
Was there anything in particular which drew you to BDO?
Before applying, I took the time to research BDO and fully understand their core values. This helped me to fundamentally understand who BDO is and what they stand for. From this research, I knew that the qualities I possess such as honesty and integrity aligned well with the culture of BDO.
What was the application process like?
The first stage was to complete an online application form. I then completed some online ability tests before being invited in to attend an interview. I was successful and was offered a place on the summer school programme within hours of my interview.
How did you find the summer school programme?
The summer school programme is a great opportunity to learn more about BDO and how the business operates. Importantly, it also helps you learn about yourself, your career ambitions and what you want to achieve. It gives you the chance to observe how various teams work, as well as being able to immerse yourself in the role. The summer school programme will give you a much broader understanding of the accountancy profession, the different types of work people do and the huge career potential ahead of you.
What happened next?
Following a successful summer school experience, I was offered a position immediately on the BDO School Leaver programme. I was delighted. I am now a trainee business adviser working within the Business Services and Accounting stream at the London, Baker Street office, and am currently working towards my AAT qualification.
Do you have any particular highlights from your time, so far, at BDO?
I really enjoy visiting clients. It exposes me to a new work environment and allows me to interact freely with clients to learn more about their business, as well as understanding how your work adds direct value. For example, introducing clients to new work programmes such as Xero, which has helped improve the efficiency of my work when processing invoices and producing VAT returns, and reports, demonstrating to the client how they are meeting their individual targets.
What experience have you gained from your time at BDO?
I have worked with a variety of clients in numerous sectors including charities and retail. This has really opened my eyes to the wide range of work that BDO provides, and has made me realise that accountants are genuine business advisers that guide, challenge and help businesses succeed. It has also helped me identify the sectors I would like to gain experience within in the future. The support of my team has been crucial in order to both develop my on-the-job skills, as well as technical knowledge, which has allowed me to perform highly during my AAT qualification. Monthly meetings with my counselling manager allow me to discuss my individual career ambitions, which have enabled me to work on clients more suited to my interests and skills. Similarly job reviews from other members of my team has been critical in enabling me to improve my work capabilities, allowing me to gain more responsibility as I progress over time.
Do you have any advice for anyone else considering a career in accountancy?
Accountancy offers so many opportunities. I would definitely recommend that students do their research and look at work experience programmes to help them get ahead of the game. Getting involved in extracurricular activities, such as the Duke of Edinburgh award or sports teams, is a great way to demonstrate the specific skills and strengths you have during an interview process. I would also highly recommend applying to the BDO summer school as this will give you an experience edge and boost your confidence.
Was there anything in particular which drew you to BDO?
Before applying, I took the time to research BDO and fully understand their core values. This helped me to fundamentally understand who BDO is and what they stand for. From this research, I knew that the qualities I possess such as honesty and integrity aligned well with the culture of BDO.
What was the application process like?
The first stage was to complete an online application form. I then completed some online ability tests before being invited in to attend an interview. I was successful and was offered a place on the summer school programme within hours of my interview.
How did you find the summer school programme?
The summer school programme is a great opportunity to learn more about BDO and how the business operates. Importantly, it also helps you learn about yourself, your career ambitions and what you want to achieve. It gives you the chance to observe how various teams work, as well as being able to immerse yourself in the role. The summer school programme will give you a much broader understanding of the accountancy profession, the different types of work people do and the huge career potential ahead of you.
What happened next?
Following a successful summer school experience, I was offered a position immediately on the BDO School Leaver programme. I was delighted. I am now a trainee business adviser working within the Business Services and Accounting stream at the London, Baker Street office, and am currently working towards my AAT qualification.
Do you have any particular highlights from your time, so far, at BDO?
I really enjoy visiting clients. It exposes me to a new work environment and allows me to interact freely with clients to learn more about their business, as well as understanding how your work adds direct value. For example, introducing clients to new work programmes such as Xero, which has helped improve the efficiency of my work when processing invoices and producing VAT returns, and reports, demonstrating to the client how they are meeting their individual targets.
What experience have you gained from your time at BDO?
I have worked with a variety of clients in numerous sectors including charities and retail. This has really opened my eyes to the wide range of work that BDO provides, and has made me realise that accountants are genuine business advisers that guide, challenge and help businesses succeed. It has also helped me identify the sectors I would like to gain experience within in the future. The support of my team has been crucial in order to both develop my on-the-job skills, as well as technical knowledge, which has allowed me to perform highly during my AAT qualification. Monthly meetings with my counselling manager allow me to discuss my individual career ambitions, which have enabled me to work on clients more suited to my interests and skills. Similarly job reviews from other members of my team has been critical in enabling me to improve my work capabilities, allowing me to gain more responsibility as I progress over time.
Do you have any advice for anyone else considering a career in accountancy?
Accountancy offers so many opportunities. I would definitely recommend that students do their research and look at work experience programmes to help them get ahead of the game. Getting involved in extracurricular activities, such as the Duke of Edinburgh award or sports teams, is a great way to demonstrate the specific skills and strengths you have during an interview process. I would also highly recommend applying to the BDO summer school as this will give you an experience edge and boost your confidence.