Commercial Training Schemes with BDO Stoy Hayward

After completing her A Levels, Anisa Mistry joined BDO Stoy Hayward’s Commercial Training Scheme. So what made her choose an early start to her career over three years at university?

“Obviously it wasn’t a decision I took lightly,” Anisa says. “I did consider going to university, but there were so many advantages of going straight into a training scheme – avoiding all the student debt, getting a head start on graduates, learning and earning at the same time – that it just seemed the most appealing option.”

Her decision to train at BDO Stoy Hayward was equally well thought out. Having researched the training schemes on offer at a number of major accountancy firms, she was attracted to BDO’s integrated programme. “What I found was that at most other firms, you have to fit studying around work. BDO stood out for me because they give you the time to invest in your studies, typically a week out of every month. So it’s a genuine in-house training programme.”

The set-up of the scheme is something else that’s impressed Anisa. As she explains, “the training’s incredibly structured and you immediately get the opportunity to apply what you’ve learnt. The support you’re given is invaluable too – not just from your personal mentor, but all round the firm. Your first job can get a bit daunting at times, but it’s such a supportive, down-to-earth place that there’s always someone you can turn to if you’re not sure what to do. And that’s true at all levels. It’s a very relaxed atmosphere to work in, where you’re not expected to know everything or do everything yourself.”

The route Anisa has taken, Tax, is a four-year course. She’s currently gearing up for her accountancy exams at the end of her first year, after which she’ll spend two years studying and working towards gaining the ATT qualification. Finally, after taking four tax papers at the end of her fourth year, she’ll be a fully qualified Tax Specialist. At which point, of course, her peers at university will be pretty much where she is now.

To find out more information and to apply, visit our website: www.bdo.co.uk/careers