2027 Tax Industrial Placement Programme

BDO UK LLP; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Additional leave

Gym membership

Employee discounts

Pension

Health and wellbeing support

Protection benefits

Job summary

BDO is offering a Tax Industrial Placement that turns university learning into real client experience. You’ll work on tax projects, develop technical and commercial skills, and take on more responsibility as you grow.

The placement starts 20 September 2027, with an organisation-wide induction. You’ll sit three professional exams, log practical work experience, and have a clear route back to our Graduate Programme if you perform well.

Qualifications

• Be a second-year student on a four-year undergrad degree, seeking a third-year work placement.
• On track for a minimum 2:2 degree in any discipline.
• Three A-levels or four Scottish Advanced Highers (A*-C or equivalent).
• GCSEs at grade 4+ in Maths and English.
• The right to work in the UK.

Responsibilities

• Sit three professional exams.
• Log six months of practical work experience with the relevant Professional Body.
• Return to BDO on the Graduate programme and complete remaining exams and training in 2.5 years.

Skills

Curious mindset

Resilient

Willingness to learn

Education

Second-year undergraduate student on a four-year degree (placement year)

On track for a 2:2 degree in any discipline

Three A-levels (A*-C) or four Scottish Advanced Highers

GCSEs in Maths and English (grade 4+)

Right to work in the UK

Job description

A bit about us

Big experience. Personal backing. That’s Beyond the Ordinary.

Ready to take what you’ve learned at university and put it into practice? Spend a year getting real experience with BDO on our Tax Industrial Placement – with the opportunity to build your skills, work with clients and potentially return on our Graduate Programme.

The programme starts on 20th September 2027 for an organisation-wide induction (you need to be able to attend).

A bit about Tax

BDO’s Tax practice spans 13 specialist areas, including Employment Tax, Private Client and Tax Dispute Resolution. Our tax professionals work with clients ranging from FTSE 100 companies to high-growth start-ups, giving you the chance to experience different businesses and challenges.

You’ll learn by doing, get involved in client work and take on more responsibility as your confidence grows. And you’ll have people around you to answer questions, give you feedback and help you make the most of your year.

It’s big experience with personal backing – and a year that could give you a head start on what comes next.

And a bit about the programme

During your placement, you’ll build hands‑on experience in Tax, working with clients and colleagues while developing your technical, commercial and relationship‑building skills.

Your placement can take you further towards becoming professionally qualified. During your year with BDO, you can:

• Sit three professional exams
• Log six months of practical work experience with the relevant Professional Body
• Return to BDO on the Graduate programme and complete your remaining exams and training in 2.5 years, qualifying around six months sooner because of your placement experience.

You can also apply to return to your placement team, with the chance to secure a graduate offer before your final year at uni.

Along the way, you’ll work closely with experienced colleagues, build relationships with clients and explore where your interests could take you. You’ll be trusted to get involved while having people around you to support you as you learn.

As for you

You’re curious, resilient and ready to try new things. You enjoy getting into the details, thinking logically and solving problems.

You don’t need to arrive knowing everything about Tax. Bring your energy and willingness to learn, and you’ll have experience, feedback and support to help you build from there.

Join us in the following teams;

- London Tax Group - London

- Corporate Tax - Manchester

- Corporate Tax - Glasgow

- Bristol Tax

- Southampton Tax

- Birmingham Tax

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 together in person matters – whether that’s in the office or with clients – for your learning, building relationships and getting the most from your placement.

Is it for you? To apply, you’ll need:

• To be a second‑year student on a four‑year undergraduate degree, seeking a third‑year work placement
• On track for a minimum 2:2 degree in any discipline (obtained or predicted)
• Three A‑levels or equivalent at grades A*-C (excluding General Studies and Extended Projects) or four Scottish Advanced Highers at grade A-B. Please note: we do not use UCAS points. You'll be asked to provide evidence if you're successful in securing a placement with us
• 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
• The right to work in the UK

How the interview process will go

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

• Online application form.
• Online assessments.
• Video interview.
• Virtual assessment centre and interview.

We’ll keep you updated at each stage and share tips 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 real person.

What you get in return

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

Salary

£26,615 - £29,700 depending on location

Closing date for applications is Sunday 15th November 2026

Before you go

A year at BDO is a chance to do more than get a feel for working life. You’ll work with clients, take on responsibility, make progress towards a professional qualification and build experience that could count towards your future Graduate Programme.

And while you’re getting stuck into all of that, you’ll have people around you to help you learn, build confidence and work out where you want to go next.

Big experience. Personal backing.

That’s Beyond the Ordinary.

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.