Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background?
My name is Keval. I’ve spent my life living in London and have a degree in Economics from UCL, and I’m an easy-going but hard-working and driven individual. I love football and have a big interest in technology – both in terms of current tech and how things will advance in the future!
What is your role and how long have you been at BDO?
I’m a third-year audit trainee. I’ve been at BDO for just over two years now.
What first inspired you to apply for a role with Technology Risk Assurance (TRA) and BDO?
The ‘technology’ aspect of TRA intrigued me as I was very keen to be involved in learning and understanding more about technology. I had heard of BDO previously due to it being a prominent accountancy and business advisory firm within the industry with a good reputation. I also had ambitions to gain professional qualifications and working at BDO has allowed me to progress towards that goal.
A friend of mine also had a week-long internship at BDO and had a positive experience which encouraged me from the start.
What kind of training have you received? How has this helped your professional development?
There was a lot of training at the beginning of my time at BDO which consisted of formal training along with shadowing other members of the team to learn the day-to-day work. Since then, there have been frequent training sessions within TRA to keep the team informed on the latest rules/regulations which will impact our work and ways in which we can maximise efficiency.
Alongside TRA-specific training there have been a few key general audit-related sessions which have been a good way to help members of the team, including myself, to understand how different areas of BDO come together to work on an engagement. Overall, the training has been helpful to develop key skills in terms of things to look out for when on a client engagement, as well as areas where I can look to improve.
What excites you about the work you are doing?
Being in the TRA team allows me to work with many different clients and this also means I get to work alongside many different members of the team. The team is always growing and it’s great to build relationships both internally and with clients to ensure smoother engagements. There is plenty of variation with options within TRA to suit different skills and interests.
What is the company culture like?
The culture at BDO is great. Everyone is friendly and approachable – you can easily have a conversation with anyone at any level, whether they are a new graduate or a partner. Everyone is always willing to support each other, and this is the case between teams too, not just within my department. BDO has a big focus on supporting employees – both in terms of improvements in relation to the work but also work-life balance, being yourself, mental health and much more. This has been especially evident during the pandemic, where people have required support more than ever.
Finally, any tips for members wanting to apply to TRA?
- Read up on and think about BDO’s values and whether you feel they are a good fit for you, as these are key within TRA.
- Always be willing to learn from others to improve your knowledge and skills – this is a very important attitude to have which will allow you to remain self-aware and ambitious.
- Confidence is key to helping you to get out of your comfort zone and move forward with opportunities to help you achieve your goals.
Let us know where you've secured your work experience, internship or graduate role. We want to celebrate your success with a gift from us and exclusive invitations to evening networking drinks throughout the year.
