Rating

9/10
  • 1. Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
  • I participated in the two week work experience programme. I was working in the outsourcing department. I spent my first week with the managerial reports team and the second week with the financial reports team. During my time there I spent time using new accounting software to do bank reconciliations, creating expense claims, VAT returns, posting receipts, creating client folders, etc. The programme also involved preparing a presentation during the second week on "the use of technology in accountancy". On the final day we presented to the other interns and people from different departments. I also presented in the team meeting on an educational topic of my choice. I also went on a client visit to London so that I could experience the variety of tasks associated with being an accountant.

    8/10

  • 2. Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
  • I developed my presentation skills during the programme whilst preparing and delivering two presentations. I also had to quickly get to grips with using the new accounting software systems such as Xero and Quickbooks. You do not need any specific pre-existing skills when going onto the internship as you can learn, develop and enhance the skills whilst on the placement. You can learn as much as you want to on the programme if you ask questions. You can also develop your interpersonal/soft skills whilst on client visits or just simply meeting different people in the firm for the first time.

    8/10

  • 3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
  • I very much enjoyed my time on the two week work experience placement. All of the people in the firm are very friendly which makes the initial process of meeting people and settling in very easy. The people at the firm made the programme very enjoyable for me as I felt I was able to ask them any questions I did have. A lot of the tasks are predominantly data entry so are not hugely entertaining, however, with the limited level of subject specific knowledge and qualifications that a year 12 student possesses, it is very difficult for the tasks to be of an adequate difficulty.

    9/10

  • 4. How valued do you feel by BDO?
  • I felt very valued by Moore Stephens. I participated in the work experience at the Thames Valley Office in Reading where there was only four of us on the programme at the time. Therefore, the team was able to devote a lot of time towards caring for you and ensuring you were getting the most out of the programme

    10/10

  • 5. How well organised/structured is your programme?
  • I was very impressed with the organisation of the programme and how well it was structured. When I arrived and had a meeting with my mentors they gave me a planned schedule of all the tasks and times I would be completing them throughout the two weeks. However, the schedule was flexible to your needs/wants because they want to tailor the programme to meet your individual needs

    10/10

  • 6a. How much support do you receive from your training provider?
  • I was working in the outsourcing team which was quite small. This meant I was always in close proximity to the training provider and could speak to them if I felt like I needed to discuss something. The training provider was very friendly which meant that I felt very comfortable asking or questioning anything about the programme.

    10/10

  • 6b. How much support do you receive from your employer?
  • I was working in the outsourcing team which was quite small. This meant I was always in close proximity to the training provider and could speak to them if I felt like I needed to discuss something. The training provider was very friendly which meant that I felt very comfortable asking or questioning anything about the programme

    10/10

  • 7. How well does your salary/package meet your costs?
  • I received a £50 voucher to "Oracle" the local shopping centre where I could buy lunch. This was easily sufficient because I was taken out to lunch on a few of the days and on the first day you get lunch provided whilst you meet your mentor for the first time. You can also receive up to £100 to cover transport costs if you bring in all your receipts on the last day.

    7/10

  • 8. Are there many opportunities outside of work?
  • Whilst on the two week programme the nearest you will get to anything of this sort outside of the office is a client visit. However, with regards to the area, there are plenty of places to go on your lunch break.

    9/10

  • 9. Would you recommend BDO to a friend?
  • Yes


  • 9b. Why?
  • I would recommend Moore Stephens to a friend because the people working there are very friendly and welcoming and it is a very beneficial programme in terms of giving you an insight into accountancy which would help you to decide whether or not it is a career path you would want to pursue/ go down in the future.


  • 10. What tips or advice would you give to others applying to BDO?
  • Get in contact with the company if you have any doubts about the application process because they would not look down on you for it and would be more than willing to help


Details

Work Experience

Accounting, Finance

South East

July 2018


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