Student Careers

As a trainee, you are looking for the best opportunity to grow and to learn – and BDO offers many opportunities to do just that. We offer our Audit Trainee Accountants opportunities to work on audit clients in several industry sectors, from Financial Services and Natural Resources to Public Sector, Real Estate and Construction, Technology, Media & Telecommunications, Consumer Businesses or Mid-Market/Entrepreneurial businesses. In our larger offices, your traineeship will combine your preferred prime sector exposure, together with some cross-exposure from other industry sectors to give you broad experience during your contract, ensuring you emerge as a CA(SA) with the appropriate experience and training to take your career to the next level. In our smaller offices in Durban, Pretoria and Port Elizabeth, you will have more general exposure and you will work on a range of clients across different industries.

Our Vacation Work Programme is the ideal opportunity to gain first-hand experience of what it means to be a CA(SA) and to learn about the world of work. Students from 1^st year to CTA can apply to join the office closest to them and experience what it is like to work at BDO.

Once you have completed your studies, it is time to take the next step on your path towards becoming a CA(SA) - your training contract. A training contract is signed with an auditing or registered training firm (as approved by SAICA) to complete your qualification. It’s best to research a number of firms before you make a decision as they vary widely in culture and trainee experience.

At BDO we also offer specialised traineeships for those wanting practical experience in Tax, Risk Advisory, Wealth Advisory and other professional careers.

BDO offers bursaries to those students intending to qualify as a CA(SA). They range from full bursaries to partial bursaries covering tuition and books. BDO is also a funder to Thuthuka, SAICA’s bursary fund for previously disadvantaged students. To find out more about how you can benefit from this particular bursary fund, visit www.saica.co.za.

At BDO we make it our business to help you grow – your career as well as personally. Developing strong relationships with colleagues, clients, service providers, regulators and other stakeholders, is at the forefront of our exceptional client service approach. Many of our clients and staff have been with BDO in excess of 10 years – testimony to the level of personal attention and care we give to developing and nurturing relationships.

We believe that ‘play’ is just as important as ‘work’ – with many opportunities to participate in sporting, charity and other social events. A number of internal programmes drive our unique culture, which can be felt as soon as you visit for your first interview.