BDO LLP is an accountancy and business advisory firm, we provide integrated advice and solutions to help businesses navigate a changing world. Our clients are Britain’s economic engine – ambitious, entrepreneurially-spirited and high growth businesses that fuel the economy.

We share our clients’ ambitions and their entrepreneurial mind-set. We have the right combination of global reach, integrity and expertise to help them succeed.

BDO LLP operates in 17 locations across the UK, employing 5,000 people offering tax, audit and assurance, and a range of advisory services. BDO LLP has revenues of £590m and is the UK member firm of the BDO International network. The BDO global network provides business advisory services in 162 countries, with 80,000 people working out of 1,500 offices worldwide. It has revenues of $9bn.
 

Overview

BDO’s National Pensions Team is based at Guildford but covers much of the country.  It has some 200 pension scheme clients ranging from large DB schemes with assets of up to £600m to small individual schemes.  Much of the audit work is undertaken in the office, but visits to clients are required, potentially to any part of the UK.  

A pensions audit assistant will be part of a team and will undertake or assist in undertaking audits of variety of pension schemes, both in the office and at clients, ensuring that all aspects of the audit are completed to a high standard, on time and within budget. The individual will be supported, developed and supervised by senior members of the pensions audit team.
 

Responsibilities
Auditing Tasks 

• Involvement in the planning, execution and finalisation of the audit assignment.
• Complete work outlined in the audit programme. 
• Record and document work undertaken and conclusions reached, using BDO’s computerised audit tool and supplemented by documentary e-files and appropriately structured work papers.
• Liaise with third parties to ensure external confirmations of client balances are received and checked on a timely basis. 
• Identify matters arising on an audit for inclusion in notes for Partner. 
• Active engagement with client staff /administrators (face-to-face, email and telephone) in the gathering of appropriate audit evidence. 
• Identify potential areas of error or omission by the client and notify BDO colleagues.
• Provide a high level of client service; identify and understand client needs, including sometimes providing initial solutions to client challenges, then communicating these needs and solutions to the senior or manager

Accounting and Systems Tasks 

• Analysis and summary of accounting data from clients’ books and records and preparation of SORP-compliant draft pension scheme accounts for some smaller pension schemes. 
• Assist in the review of draft financial statements to help identify and correct typographical or other errors.
• Identify and document Management Letter Points to help advise clients on areas of weakness within their schemes. 
• Active adherence to budget and timetable, bringing matters to the attention of the senior or manager, particularly when actual time is in excess of budget. 

General Duties 

• Provide onsite and offsite assistance and project management support to Audit Seniors, Managers and Partners. 
• Gain an understanding of client structures, finance team roles and sector/industry issues. 
• Ensure compliance with internal (audit methodology and risk management) and external (regulatory) requirements
• Attend relevant internal and external client meetings. 
• Prepare and gain a working knowledge of the Firm’s software tools.
• Archiving of electronic audit files and file set-up for new assignments
• Act as a representative of the Firm whilst on client premises. 
• Carry out ad hoc assignments as may be reasonably required.
• Undertake any training or development co-ordinated by your group.
• Participate in group, stream and firm-wide activities.

Requirements

• Minimum 18 months experience in auditing or accounting.
• Minimum 2 A-levels grade C or above (or equivalent)
• Maths and English GCSE grade C or above (or equivalent).
• Would suit those studying towards AAT or ACCA (or already qualified) 
• Proficiency in Excel; working knowledge of Word and Powerpoint
• Pensions and/or auditing experience preferred but not essential. (Training and support will be given)
• Enthusiastic, motivated and self-confident with strong organisational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to communicate effectively; both verbal and written communication
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment
• Ability to deliver excellent client service 

We are happy to consider both flexible or part time working opportunities.

Our Agency Policy

BDO has a commitment to building relationships directly with candidates (and agencies) in our local markets and as such, we do not accept speculative CVs from agencies. We work closely with our preferred suppliers to support us in sourcing quality candidates but we only pay agency fees where we have a signed agreement in place and an agency has been instructed by a member of the BDO Resourcing team. We do not pay agency fees where speculative and unsolicited CVs are submitted to BDO by any means other than through our recruitment portal. For any CVs which are submitted without instruction from the BDO Resourcing team, BDO reserves the right to contact and work directly with these candidates without payment of any agency fee.