Max, an Audit trainee at BDO, has always had a keen interest in finance, influenced by his parents' business and their bookkeeping activities. Choosing the School Leaver Apprenticeship programme at BDO, Max has been able to dive straight into the industry, gaining valuable experience and developing his skills. His story highlights the opportunities and support BDO provides to its employees, enabling them to grow and succeed in their careers.
What drew you into the world of accounting initially?
From a very young age, I have always been interested in finance and what is going on in the news with companies, specifically accounting, due to my parents having their own business which they had to do bookkeeping for. I wanted to continue my studies within finance, so I picked subjects at secondary school that would help prepare me to go into college. Once at college, I was finally able to complete an accounting A level, which reinforced my belief of wanting to go into accounting. I found myself wanting to go straight into the industry after completing A level.
What made you choose an apprenticeship at BDO over other firms?
Two of my teachers from college both played a significant role in applying and choosing which firms I wanted to join. My accounting teacher, Penny, would inform us about when accounting-related apprenticeships were open for applicants and suggested that I should talk to one of my economics teachers about BDO. When talking to my economics teacher, Amanda, she was able to tell me which firms looked good from her perspective. Her husband currently worked at BDO and was able to answer my questions about the industry and the company. Using my own research and the feedback from those around me, I was able to see that BDO's positioning in the market is unique compared to others. This meant that I would still be able to work on large engagements and collaborate with different grades within the company. This made me feel that the teams I would be working with would almost be like a second family away from home, where everyone helps one another to progress in their career and looks out for one another.
What does a typical week look like for you?
A typical week of work involves collaborating with the rest of the team (whether in person or over Teams) to discuss the plan of action for the week. This includes deciding which areas of the file we will focus on completing, allocating different tasks to team members, and suggesting who is the best person to reach out to for support if needed. When completing the assigned tasks, this mainly involves creating or completing Excel workbooks, Word documents, and other questionnaires by recalculating, verifying, assessing, and agreeing to support and explanations provided for selected samples.
On a bi-weekly basis, I will also look at the coursework required as part of the apprenticeship and make amendments to my submission based on the feedback provided by the college.
How has BDO supported your growth and development, both in terms of training and personal balance?
BDO has provided me with multiple forms of training, such as in-person, online, and pre-recorded videos. This ranges from general audit work, technical areas that require specialist knowledge within the Insurance industry, soft skills, best practice, and Excel shortcuts and formulas. Some of this training is mandatory before joining an engagement, but there is also a vast bank of material that can be watched and enrolled in at any time.
School leavers are taught on the basis that they have no prior knowledge of accounting. By allowing everyone to have a level playing field, the cohort can bounce questions off one another about both college and work.
Like any job there are some days that are busier than others, but at BDO work life balance matters and you are encourage to maintain a healthy balance between work, and the things you love to do outside of the firm.
It sounds like you enjoy the hybrid working approach at BDO a lot, how does this impact your personal and professional life?
Hybrid working was one of the main factors that allowed me to accept the apprenticeship opportunity that BDO provided because it meant I did not have to move out of my parents' home in the Southwest at 18 years old to work in London. By cutting out my commute to and from the office, I can go to the gym in the morning or over lunch and meet up with friends after work. However, it is important to mention that hybrid working is a luxury, and some jobs will have mandatory office or onsite days where they would like all team members to come in on the same days each week. The required days will vary for different engagements and depend on the stage of the engagement.
What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned so far?
Specialising in Insurance companies has taught me about the different types of companies within the insurance market, such as brokers, MGAs, and Friendly Societies. When checking the news and seeing events like the Baltimore bridge collapsing or the 2021 Suez Canal obstruction, I can relate these events to my work. When reviewing areas such as claims, I get to examine documentation around these large global events and understand how much they can change the outcome of an insurer's performance for the year.
How do you like to spend your time outside of work?
Outside of work, I like to spend my time going to the gym three days a week and going on long walks and hikes with my partner and our four-and-a-half-month-old Sprocker Spaniel puppy, Daisy. Over the weekend, we do our long walks and hikes, typically going to either National Trust sites nearby or the Brecon Beacons. I do this either with my group of friends or my partner. Some of the places we have hiked include Lud's Church, Thor's Cave, Pen y Fan, and half of The Ridgeway National Trail. My favourite hike so far was Mt. Sulur in Akureyri, Iceland, as it was the first hike where there was still snow on the mountain even in August.
What do you think sets the audit profession apart as a career choice for school leavers?
For anyone interested in the world of accounting, I would always advise that if you are unsure of which area of accounting you want to go into, audit is an excellent step in the right direction. It allows you to get exposure to many different types of accounting, both by working with our internal areas and getting a sneak peek into what it is like working in the finance department at the entities you are auditing.
The vast amount of exposure to different types of accounting, provides you with a more well-rounded understanding of what you might enjoy and find interesting. I also believe that BDO does well to accommodate the interests of its workforce and to bring up areas you would like to get some exposure to, where possible.
While working at BDO, you will also get to meet other people within different streams, such as Tax and Advisory, which allows you to gain some knowledge of how their work differs from your own.
Looking ahead, where do you see your career path leading after your apprenticeship at BDO?
At BDO, there is a policy that allows qualified members of staff to potentially do a secondment to either a different office (locally or internationally) within the same department, or to a different area of the business. However, this is done on a case-by-case basis and is subject to vacancies in the other areas. Because of this, I can see myself either becoming an Assistant Manager within FS Insurance Audit, or taking up a secondment somewhere like Hong Kong or Singapore.
What makes your experience at BDO beyond the ordinary?
I know it sounds cliché, but it is the people—from the very top at Partner level to first-year school leavers. Everyone in the Insurance department operates as a unit and will jump at the opportunity to help and improve one another. This environment allows you to truly blossom into the best possible version of yourself, not just with technical knowledge but also soft skills.
Max's experience as an Audit trainee at BDO showcases the firm's commitment to providing a supportive and enriching environment for its employees. By offering diverse opportunities and fostering a culture of respect and personal growth, BDO has enabled Max to develop his skills and build a promising career in Audit. His story is a clear example of how BDO helps its employees succeed, ensuring they are well-prepared for the future.