Hi, I’m Emily. I work as an Assistant Auditor at BDO in Perth.
I joined BDO through the High School Leaver Program straight after finishing Year 12. Now I’m working full-time, building my career and studying towards my Chartered Accountant (CA) qualification at the same time.
Back in high school, I knew I was interested in accounting, but I wasn’t convinced university was the right next step for me. Then I found BDO’s High School Leaver Program.
The chance to start working straight away, keep studying and gain professional experience at the same time felt like a much better fit.
Of course, there was one fairly big unknown. I had no idea what working in accounting would actually be like.
If you’re in Year 12 and wondering the same thing, here’s what surprised me, what my days look like now and why I’d choose this path again.
What I though before I started
I had a pretty stereotypical idea of accounting. Lots of spreadsheets. Lots of numbers. Lots of sitting at a desk.
I also assumed that, as someone coming straight out of school, I’d spend a long time doing basic admin before I was trusted with anything important.
That definitely wasn’t the case.
One of the biggest surprises was how quickly I got involved in real client work. From the beginning, I was learning on the job, helping with client engagements and contributing to work that had a purpose.
And the whole “accounting is just maths” thing? Also not quite right.
Basic maths skills are useful, but so much of the job is about problem solving, communication and understanding how businesses work. You’re asking questions, investigating information, spotting things that don’t quite add up and working with different people.
There are numbers, obviously. It is accounting. But there’s a lot more going on behind them.
What my days look like
One of my favourite things about audit is that there isn’t one standard day.
During a typical week, I might review financial information, test transactions, attend team meetings or speak with clients to gather information.
And I’m not always sitting in the BDO office either. Some days I’ll work from our office, while others might be spent at a client’s workplace. I’ve even attended stocktakes, where we physically count inventory and compare it with what’s recorded in the company’s systems.
Getting out and seeing how different businesses operate makes the work much more interesting. It also helps you understand the story behind the numbers, rather than just looking at them on a screen.
So far, I’ve worked with clients across industries including mining, retail and construction. Every organisation works differently, which means there’s usually something new to figure out.
That variety is a big part of what keeps the work interesting for me.
Working and studying at the same time
I’m also studying towards my CA qualification while working full-time.
I won’t pretend that balancing both is always easy. There are definitely busy periods, and I’ve had to become much better at managing my time and staying organised.
But BDO provides plenty of support, which makes it much more manageable.
For me, studying while working also means a lot of what I’m learning makes more sense. I’ve always learned best by doing, so being able to see concepts from my studies playing out in real client work helps everything click.
The experiences that have helped me grow the most have been the client engagements themselves.
Every audit brings different questions and challenges, and working through those has taught me things I never could’ve picked up from a textbook alone. I’ve become more confident speaking with clients, asking questions and working through problems for myself.
Why I’d choose this path again
Looking back, joining BDO through the High School Leaver Program was one of the best decisions I could’ve made for myself.
A big part of the appeal was being able to start building my career immediately, rather than waiting until I’d finished a university degree.
By the time I finish my studies, I’ll already have around four years of professional experience behind me. When I was deciding what to do after Year 12, that was a huge drawcard.
But the head start isn’t just about what goes on your CV.
The program has pushed me outside my comfort zone too. I’m much more confident speaking with people, asking questions and taking on new challenges than I was when I first left school.
It’s pretty cool to look back and see how much has changed in a few years.
If I could give one piece of advice to students considering this pathway, it’d be this: you don’t need to have your entire career mapped out at 17 or 18.
And your next step doesn’t need to look the same as everyone else’s.
There isn’t one “right” way to start a career. Be willing to learn, ask plenty of questions and take opportunities when they come up. You might be surprised where they lead.
Rapid Fire Questions
Favourite thing about your team?
The balance between working hard and having fun.
One word to describe BDO?
Supportive.
Best piece of advice you’ve received?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. It’s the fastest way to learn.
Most unexpected thing you’ve learned?
That accounting and auditing are just as much about understanding businesses and people as they are about numbers.
One skill you’ve developed since starting?
Problem-solving. Instead of immediately asking someone for the answer, I’ve learned to work through issues myself and think critically about what’s causing the problem.
If you could go back to Year 12, what would you tell yourself?
Trust your own path. Not everyone needs to follow the same route after Year 12 to build a successful career.
Want to learn more?
Find out more about BDO’s High School Leaver Program, what’s involved and how you, like Emily, can start building your career straight from school.
