2026 Advisory School Leaver Apprenticeship Programme

BDO UK LLP; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading advisory firm in Birmingham is offering a School Leaver Apprenticeship Programme. You will engage in hands-on experiences across various teams while studying towards a recognized qualification. Ideal candidates possess strong A-levels and a commitment to balancing studies with work. This is a four-year programme leading to permanent employment.

Benefits

Mentoring and community support

Flexible working options

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Three A-levels (or equivalent) at A*-C, excluding General Studies.
• GCSEs at grade 4 and above in Maths and English.
• Right to work in the UK without requiring visa sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Support bold decisions and shape businesses and careers.
• Work on high-profile financial operations and business-critical deals.
• Develop management and commercial skills during a four-year programme.

Skills

Curiosity

Problem-solving mindset

Logical thinking

Collaborative approach

Education

Three A-levels at A*-C or equivalent

GCSEs in Maths and English at grade 4 and above

Job description

Overview

A bit about us
Big enough to matter. Personal enough to care. That’s BDO.

Want to support bold decisions that shape businesses and careers while building a future that’s anything but ordinary? Welcome to the Advisory School Leaver Apprenticeship Programme at BDO.

The programme starts on Monday, 21st September 2026 for a firm-wide induction (you’ll need to be able to attend).

At BDO, no two days are the same. You could find yourself working on high-profile financial operations and business-critical deals – from restructuring companies to performing due diligence for acquisitions. With support from industry-leading professionals, you’ll gain hands-on experience and valuable insight that sets your career apart.

You’ll get access to big opportunities: complex projects, real responsibility, and wide exposure. And you’ll also get the personal support that makes a difference: joining as part of a trainee cohort, studying alongside peers across the firm, and having access to mentoring and community that help you succeed.

And a bit about Advisory

Advisory at BDO is where variety thrives. The work is dynamic, the clients are ambitious, and the teams are collaborative. Over four years, you’ll develop management and commercial skills while studying towards a recognised qualification (ACA or CISI). You’ll be supported by experienced mentors and guided to balance your work, studies and wellbeing.

All you need to bring is curiosity, a problem-solving mindset, and a commitment to doing things right. When you complete the programme, a permanent role is waiting for you.

As for you

You’re curious, resilient, and ready to learn. You bring logical thinking, a data mindset, and a collaborative approach. We’ll help you build your communication skills and confidence so you can thrive in any team.

Join us inone of the following teams;

• Business Services & Outsourcing - London

• International Institutions & Donor Assurance - London (second language desirable for this team)

• Risk Advisory Services - Birmingham

• Risk Advisory Services - Manchester

• Financial Services Advisory - London

One thing to note: you’ll need to live within a commutable distance of the office you apply to.

Relocation support is not provided, so please consider this carefully before applying. Time in the office matters; for your learning, for building relationships, and for being part of our culture.

Is it for you? To apply, you’ll 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, for example, BTech extended diploma). Please note: we do not use UCAS points. You’ll be asked to provide evidence if you’re successful in securing an offer

• GCSEs at grade 4 and above in Maths and English, or Scottish National 5 grade A-C. You’ll also need to provide evidence if successful

• Commitment to balance 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 who have their own legal right to work within the UK must cover the duration of their 4-year training contract and employment)

How the interview process will go

We want you to know what to expect, so here’s the typical process:

1. Online application form.
2. Online assessments (with the option to sit these in our office, where we can provide a laptop and space if you don’t have access to one).
3. Video interview.
4. Virtual assessment centre.
5. Final interview in-person.

We’ll keep you updated at each stage and share resources to help you prepare. And just so you know: we don’t use AI in any part of our candidate screening process. Every application is reviewed by a person.

Before you go

We’ve got 18 offices across the UK, but wherever you join us, you’ll be part of a team that cares. You’ll learn by doing, be supported by people who’ve been in your shoes, and build skills that actually matter. We’re serious about your well-being, flexible about how you work, and offer benefits that support you inside and outside of work.

Big enough to open doors. Personal enough to walk through them with you.

Go Beyond the Ordinary with BDO.

Apply now.

Our firm 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.