A bit about us

Big experience. Personal backing. That’s Beyond the Ordinary.

Ready to take what you’ve learned at university and put it into practice? Spend a year getting real experience with BDO on our Advisory Industrial Placement – with the opportunity to build your skills, work with clients and potentially return on our Graduate Programme.

The programme starts on Monday, 20th September 2027 for an organisation-wide induction (you need to be able to attend).

A bit about Advisory

In Advisory, you’ll get involved in client work and build experience across different projects and challenges. That could mean helping organisations navigate change, working on business restructuring or supporting due diligence for acquisitions. And with specialist areas spanning Mergers & Acquisitions, Forensic Accounting and Valuation Services, Business Restructuring, Transaction Services, and Financial Services Advisory, you’ll get to see the business from every angle.

You’ll be trusted to get involved, try new things and take on more as your confidence grows. And you’ll have people around you to answer questions, give you feedback and help you make the most of your year.

It’s big experience with personal backing – and a year that could give you a head start on what comes next.

And a bit about the programme

During your placement, you’ll work alongside experienced colleagues and build your skills through Advisory projects. You’ll get a closer look at how organisations work, contribute to client challenges and start finding out where your own strengths and interests could take you.

Your placement can take you further towards becoming professionally qualified. During your year with BDO, you can:

• Sit three professional exams
• Log six months of practical work experience with the relevant Professional Body
• Return to BDO on the Graduate programme and complete your remaining exams and training in 2.5 years, qualifying around six months sooner because of your placement experience.

You can also apply to return to your placement team, with the chance to secure a graduate offer before your final year at uni.

You’ll also have opportunities to learn directly from experienced colleagues and senior leaders. Students talked about being trusted early, contributing ideas and working with partners and directors – while still having approachable people around them when they needed support.

As for you

You’re curious, resilient and ready to try new things. You enjoy solving problems, thinking things through and working with other people.

You don’t need to arrive knowing everything about Advisory. Bring your energy and willingness to get involved, and you’ll have experience, feedback and support to help you build from there.

Join us in one of the following teams;

- Risk Advisory Services - London

- Business Services & Outsourcing - London

- Business Services & Outsourcing - reading

One thing to note: you’ll need to live within a commutable distance of the office you apply to. Relocation support is not provided, so please consider this carefully before applying. Time together in person matters – whether that’s in the office or with clients – for your learning, building relationships and getting the most from your placement.

Is it for you? To apply, you’ll need:

• To be a second-year student on a four-year undergraduate degree, seeking a third-year work placement
• On track for a minimum 2:2 degree in any discipline (obtained or predicted)
• Three A-levels or equivalent at grades A*-C (excluding General Studies and Extended Projects) or four Scottish Advanced Highers at grade A-B. Please note: we do not use UCAS points. You'll be asked to provide evidence if you're successful in securing a placement with us
• GCSEs at grade 4 and above in Maths and English, or Scottish National 5 grade A-C
• The right to work in the UK

How the interview process will go

We want you to know what to expect, so here’s the typical process:

• Online application form.
• Online assessments.
• Video interview.
• Virtual assessment centre and interview.

We’ll keep you updated at each stage and share tips to help you prepare. And just so you know: we don’t use AI in any part of our candidate screening process. Every application is reviewed by a real person.

What you get in return

Our benefits are designed to support your life in and outside of work, with options including additional leave, gym membership and employee discounts, alongside pension, health and wellbeing support and a range of protection benefits.

Salary

£28,800 - £29,700 dependable on location

Closing date for applications is Sunday 15th November 2026.

Before you go

A year at BDO is a chance to do more than get a feel for working life. You’ll work on client challenges, take on responsibility, make progress towards a professional qualification and build experience that could count towards your future Graduate Programme.

And while you’re getting stuck into all of that, you’ll have people around you to help you learn, build confidence and work out where you want to go next.

Big experience. Personal backing.

That’s Beyond the Ordinary.

Apply now.

Our organisation is distinctive because we preserve and build on the strengths of our culture and the characteristics that make us successful and different. We look for people from all kinds of backgrounds who share these same qualities.

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