2027 Audit Technology School Leaver Apprenticeship Programme

About Us

Big ambitions. Personal investment. That’s Beyond the Ordinary. Ready to start your career, learn by doing, and see where your ambitions could take you? Welcome to the Audit School Leaver Apprenticeship at BDO.

The programme starts on Monday, 20th September 2027, for an organisation-wide induction (attendance is required).

We are the only UK mid-market organisation with over £1bn in turnover and 8,000 people. Audit at BDO offers the chance to build experience from day one. Our Audit teams cover specialist areas including Pension Audit, Public Sector, Not-for-Profit, Financial Services, and Technology Risk Assurance, allowing you to learn how different organisations operate from the inside out.

You will be trusted to contribute early, but you won't be expected to know everything immediately. You will learn alongside experienced colleagues, build confidence through practical experience, and have support available to answer questions and aid development. It is a place to turn big ambitions into a career, with people personally invested in your growth from the start.

Technology Risk Assurance Team Overview

Audit at BDO provides the opportunity to take on meaningful work early in your career. As the only UK mid-market organisation with over £1bn in turnover and 8,000 people, you gain the scale and breadth of a major professional services business while working with clients where your contribution makes a real difference.

We have roles within our Data Analytics and IT Controls teams.

What the Technology Risk Assurance Controls Team Does

The Controls team helps the audit team identify and assess risks associated with the client's finance applications. We focus on IT systems and processes related to access, change management, and automated interfaces between systems. When we find weaknesses in the client's IT environment, we provide recommendations to management to strengthen processes and controls. Additionally, we work closely with the financial audit team to explain IT-related risks that impact our audit approach and may require extra testing of financial statement integrity.

Key responsibilities include:

• Testing of IT General Controls over financial applications.
• Cyber Security Risk Assessments.
• Testing of Database and Operating Systems controls.
• Assessment of automated controls operated by the business.

What the Technology Risk Assurance Data Team Does

The Data team uses data analytics to support audits by examining entire populations of financial data, moving beyond reliance solely on traditional sample-based testing. By combining technology, data analysis, and audit expertise, we help provide efficient, high-quality assurance across various financial statement areas.

Key responsibilities include:

• Exploring and analysing data to help understand how businesses operate and identify potential risks using tools such as Alteryx, Databricks, Python, SQL, SAS, amongst others.
• Checking and validating financial information to support the audit process.
• Working closely with colleagues across audit teams to solve problems and deliver successful outcomes.
• Presenting insights in a clear and engaging manner to help teams focus on key areas of risk, including building visualisations and dashboards.

About You

You should be curious, resilient, and ready to learn. You enjoy solving problems, thinking through issues, and getting involved. You do not need to arrive with all the answers; bring your ambition and willingness to learn, and we will give you opportunities to build your experience, confidence, and skills.

Join us in one of the following areas:

• Controls – Birmingham, London, Reading, or Manchester
• Data – Birmingham or London

Please note: You must be able to live within a commutable distance of the office you apply to, as relocation support is not provided. Time spent in person—whether in the office or with clients—is valuable, offering more opportunities to learn from your team, build relationships, and maximize collaborative effectiveness.

Entry Requirements

To apply, you will need:

• Three A-levels (or equivalent) at A*-C (excluding General Studies and Extended Projects), or four Scottish Advanced Highers at grade A-B (or equivalent, such as a BTEC Extended Diploma). Please note: we do not use UCAS points. Evidence will be requested if successful in securing an offer.
• GCSEs at grade 4 and above in Maths and English, or Scottish National 5 grade A-C. Evidence will also be requested if successful.
• Commitment to balancing study and professional work.
• The right to work in the UK. (We are unable to provide visa sponsorship for these roles as they do not meet the current minimum salary requirements for sponsorship set by the Home Office. Applications from candidates with their own legal right to work within the UK must cover the duration of their 4-year training contract and employment.)

Interview Process

We want you to know what to expect from the typical process:

1. Online application form.
2. Online assessments.
3. Video interview.
4. Virtual assessment centre.
5. Final interview in person.

We will keep you updated at each stage and share preparation resources. Furthermore, please note that we do not use AI in any part of our candidate screening process; every application is reviewed by a real person.

Benefits and Compensation

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

Salary: £26,615 - £28,275, dependent on location.

The closing date for applications is Sunday 15th November 2026.

Final Thoughts

Starting your career is a significant step. At BDO, you will have the chance to learn by doing, work with clients, and build strong foundations for your future. You bring the big ambitions, and you will have people around you investing in your learning, confidence, and development from the start.

Big ambitions. Personal investment. 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.