My experience as an undergraduate at BDO has been smooth and streamlined. Every step of the way, I’ve had someone mentoring and supporting me, whether that was a buddy to guide me through onboarding or a manager to discuss my weekly goals, challenges, and overall progress with.
From my induction, I was supported in learning how to use BDO’s systems, understanding what was expected of me in my role, and how I could embed the BDO values. That early foundation helped my role feel structured and manageable, with clear expectations set early on. Beyond this, my learning continued daily. What has helped me most is having the freedom to communicate with different people in my team to gain a variety of perspectives. This has been further supported by exposure to different clients, where working across a broad range of sectors — from construction to not‑for‑profits — has provided valuable opportunities and helped broaden my experience. Overall, this has made my journey as an undergraduate much more hands‑on and practical.
I believe knowledge is so important in shaping your career. Starting out, I didn’t have the same expertise as others, and there was a lot for me to learn. The opportunity to gain hands‑on practical experience while learning was so valuable. Working with a variety of individuals and managers, I was able to gain exposure to different views, skills, and work styles.
From a student perspective, there has been a clear understanding that I was still studying at university, and this has been reflected in the flexibility BDO offers. Support through flexible working days, exam leave, and study leave has made the firm’s commitment to my studies very evident and has made me feel genuinely valued and supported. My managers were also always just a message away and consistently took the time to help, which really showed me that BDO values its people.
Coming into my first corporate job, I was a little anxious and wanted to make a good impression. The nerves didn’t last long, as after the first few days it became clear that everyone, from my managers to coworkers, was genuinely human at their core. I found the people around me inherently helpful and approachable, and I quickly felt comfortable communicating with them openly. There was a clear understanding I was still studying and new to the corporate world, which made settling in much easier.
From day one, there was also a strong sense of belonging. Although there were many unfamiliar faces and a lot of nervous energy at the start, every interaction was met with genuine care. I soon realised that I could approach anyone on a human level, and that sense of connection helped fast‑track relationships and made me feel part of the team early on.
Culture has been a big part of my experience at BDO. The firm offers a range of bonding days and social events, which have given me the chance to connect with people I might not otherwise interact with. Those experiences have also strengthened relationships within my own team, as it’s been nice to get to know people beyond our day‑to‑day work and learn more about their lives, interests, and personalities outside of the office.
Studying commerce and working in audit and assurance aligns closely with my interest in helping people and their businesses by providing value through financial work. I gain a lot of fulfilment from the variety of work, clients, and sectors. I have gained exposure to the education, construction, and not‑for‑profit sectors, among others. Every client is different, and that variety has continued to inspire my learning and development.
Being involved in work that is new and challenging has made my day‑to‑day experience particularly rewarding, and the human culture at BDO has made that experience even more positive.