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BDO UK

Beyond the Ordinary

Professional Services4 apprenticeship typesIntake2027 intake
FollowCareers siteWebsite

BDO UK runs four-year School Leaver Apprenticeship Programmes in Audit, Audit Technology (Technology Risk Assurance), Tax and Advisory for A-level leavers, each leading to a professional qualification (ACA, CA, CFAB, ATT/CTA, CISI or similar) with paid study leave, full tuition and a permanent role on completion. The 2027 intake is recruited across up to 15 UK offices, with induction on 20 September 2027 (30 August 2027 in Scotland).

Programmes

4 tracked · status for the next intake that is recruiting

Apprenticeship types

4 offered · degree apprenticeships first

  • Audit School Leaver Apprenticeship Programme

    Level and degree status not published

    Audit · 4 years

    More about this programme: Audit School Leaver Apprenticeship Programme
    Qualification
    ACA (ICAEW), CFAB, or ICAS CA / ICAS-Robert Gordon University Graduate Apprenticeship, depending on team and location
    University or provider
    ICAEW / ICAS; Robert Gordon University (Scotland)
    Business areas
    Audit
    Locations
    Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow, Guildford, Ipswich, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Nottingham, Reading, Southampton

    Specialist audit areas include Pension Audit, Public Sector, Not-for-Profit and Financial Services. Edinburgh and Glasgow start 30 August 2027. BDO does not name the apprenticeship standard or level.

    Source for Audit School Leaver Apprenticeship Programme

  • Audit Technology School Leaver Apprenticeship Programme (Technology Risk Assurance)

    Level and degree status not published

    Technology Risk / Data Analytics · 4 years

    More about this programme: Audit Technology School Leaver Apprenticeship Programme (Technology Risk Assurance)
    Qualification
    Audit qualification route; some TRA trainees take the ICAEW Certificate in Finance and Business (CFAB) first
    University or provider
    ICAEW
    Business areas
    Audit, Technology Risk Assurance
    Locations
    Birmingham, London, Manchester, Reading

    Controls team: Birmingham, London, Reading or Manchester. Data team: Birmingham or London (tools named include Alteryx, Databricks, Python, SQL, SAS).

    Source for Audit Technology School Leaver Apprenticeship Programme (Technology Risk Assurance)

  • Tax School Leaver Apprenticeship Programme

    Level not published

    Tax · 4 years

    More about this programme: Tax School Leaver Apprenticeship Programme
    Qualification
    ACA/CTA joint programme or ATT then CTA (CA/CTA in Scotland)
    University or provider
    Not published
    Business areas
    Tax
    Locations
    Birmingham, Gatwick, Guildford, Ipswich, London, Manchester, Reading, Southampton

    Tax practice spans 13 specialist areas, e.g. Employment Tax, Private Client, Tax Dispute Resolution.

    Source for Tax School Leaver Apprenticeship Programme

  • Advisory School Leaver Apprenticeship Programme

    Level not published

    Advisory · 4 years

    More about this programme: Advisory School Leaver Apprenticeship Programme
    Qualification
    ACA or CISI (team-dependent); a Level 4 Management Consultant apprenticeship is available from 2027
    University or provider
    Not published
    Business areas
    Business Restructuring, Business Services & Outsourcing, Risk Advisory Services
    Locations
    Birmingham, London, Reading

    Teams for 2027: Business Restructuring (Birmingham), Business Services & Outsourcing (London and Reading, rotational), Risk Advisory Services (Birmingham, London, rotational).

    Source for Advisory School Leaver Apprenticeship Programme

BDO UK does not publish the standard for any of these.

Entry requirements

Does not use UCAS pointsA levels from CCC
A levels
Three A-levels (or equivalent) at A*-C, excluding General Studies and Extended Projects
UCAS points
Not used ('Please note: we do not use UCAS points')
GCSEs
GCSEs at grade 4 and above in Maths and English (or Scottish National 5 grade A-C)
Equivalents
Four Scottish Advanced Highers at A-B, or equivalent such as BTEC Extended Diploma
Other
Right to work in the UK for the whole 4-year contract (no visa sponsorship); must live within commuting distance of the office (no relocation support); Edinburgh/Glasgow roles require residence in Scotland

As BDO UK publishes them; requirements differ between programmes, so check the advert before you apply.

Application process

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

    Online application form

    When: Open from late September 2026; closes Sunday 15 November 2026

    Every application reviewed by a person; no AI screening

  2. 2

    Online task-based assessment

    Puzzle-style quantitative and inductive reasoning tasks

  3. 3

    Video interview

  4. 4

    Virtual assessment centre

    Case study presentation and group exercise

  5. 5

    Final interview in person

    At the office applied to

Typical timeline

Opens
Late September (2027 adverts posted 28 September to 2 October 2026)
Closes
Sunday 15 November 2026
Assessment
Not published
Offers
Not published
Starts
Monday 20 September 2027 (Edinburgh and Glasgow: 30 August 2027)

Windows for the 2027 intake, September 2026 to August 2027

  • Open, closes 15 NovAdvisory School Leaver Apprenticeship Programme

  • Open, closes 15 NovAudit School Leaver Apprenticeship Programme, Tax School Leaver Apprenticeship Programme

  • Open, closes 15 NovAudit Technology School Leaver Apprenticeship Programme

Locations and universities

Locations
Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow, Guildford, Ipswich, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Nottingham, Reading, Southampton
Universities and training providers
ICAEW (ACA, CFAB), ICAS (CA; ICAS-Robert Gordon University Graduate Apprenticeship), Robert Gordon University, CIOT / ATT (CTA, ATT), CISI

Salary and benefits

Starting salary
£26,615 - £28,275 depending on location
Progression
Not published
Notes
Same range quoted on all four 2027 school-leaver adverts
Benefits
  • Paid study leave and fully funded tuition
  • Permanent role on completing the programme
  • Dedicated manager, mentoring and networking
  • Additional leave options, gym membership and employee discounts
  • Pension, health and wellbeing support and protection benefits

Cohort size and intakes

Intake years
2027 intake
Cohort 2027
Not published

What stands out

Explicitly ignores UCAS points and asks for three A-levels at C or above instead; its current Managing Partner started as a school-leaver apprentice.

Sources

Where every fact above comes from
  1. 1
    careers.bdo.co.uk/early-careers

    Accessed · Live 2027 school-leaver adverts.

  2. 2
    careers.bdo.co.uk/school-leavers

    Accessed · Four 2027 programmes listed; Managing Partner started as a school-leaver apprentice.

  3. 3
    careers.bdo.co.uk/qualifications

    Accessed · ACA/CA/ICAS RGU GA (Audit), CFAB for some TRA trainees, ACA/CTA, ATT/CTA, CA/CTA (Tax), ACA/CISI/IFoA and Level 4 Management Consultant apprenticeship from 2027 (Advisory).

  4. 4
    careers.bdo.co.uk/recruitment-process-early-career

    Accessed · Virtual assessment centre with case study and group exercise; in-person final interview.

  5. 5
    bdouk.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/BDO_Early_in_Career

    Accessed · Locations, entry requirements, salary £26,615-£28,275, closing date Sunday 15 November 2026, start 20 September 2027.

  6. 6
    bdo.co.uk

    Accessed · Tagline 'Beyond the Ordinary' from careers.bdo.co.uk.

Apprentice Atlas is not affiliated with BDO UK. This information comes from BDO UK’s own pages and job feeds, linked under Sources. Report an error or ask for a takedown.