Experiences and Insights: Doing an Articleship in BDO India's Internal Audit
Introduction:
Doing an articleship in internal audit at BDO India can be a valuable experience for aspiring finance and audit professionals. This article explores the key aspects of what you might expect during your articleship, including learning opportunities, the work environment, challenges, career advancement, and lessons learned from personal experiences.
Learning Opportunities
The articleship at BDO India provides a wealth of learning opportunities. Clients across various sectors offer exposure to diverse business environments and challenges, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of internal audit. You will engage in actual audit assignments, where you will develop skills related to auditing standards, financial reporting, and analytical techniques.
Soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving are also honed through collaboration with colleagues and clients. Building a robust network within the industry can benefit you for future job prospects and enhance your profile when pursuing professional qualifications like CA Chartered Accountant.
Experiences from Personal Accounts
However, the experiences vary depending on the location. For instance, the articleship experience in Pune BDO was not positive as the partner completely disregarded classes. During my time there, I felt like I was waiting to complete the articleship with as little hassle as possible. When some articles tried to advocate for class attendance, they were met with severe backlash from the partner, who even increased their workload and assigned even more difficult tasks. This stark contrast highlights the importance of the working environment and support from management.
Work Environment and Culture
Despite the challenges, BDO promotes a collaborative work culture emphasizing teamwork and mentorship from experienced professionals. While the workload can be demanding during peak audit seasons, BDO generally strives for a reasonable work-life balance. However, personal experiences sometimes tell a different story. In Pune, the work-life balance was notably strained, with Saturdays and Sundays being working days, which if not adhered to, could result in deductions in pay.
Comparative Analysis with Other Firms
It's worth noting that these experiences in Pune BDO are an exception compared to other firms, especially the Big Four. Articles from Big Four firms generally have a more favorable experience, with the ability to do classes and even receive compensatory time off. In contrast, BDO articles, particularly in Pune, faced a more challenging environment with limited support and less favorable working conditions.
Conclusion
An articleship at BDO India in internal audit can be a robust platform for building a career in finance and auditing, offering a mix of challenges and growth opportunities. However, the experience can vary significantly based on location and the support one receives from management. Choosing the right environment is crucial, as it can significantly impact one's professional journey and well-being.