BDO's 2027 school leaver apprenticeship programmes close for applications on Sunday 15 November 2026, giving A-level leavers under a week to apply for paid four-year roles starting in September 2027.

The accountancy and business advisory firm lists the programmes on its official careers site, with salaries of £26,615 to £28,275 depending on location. Apprentices work towards a professional qualification while gaining hands-on experience in client work.

What the programmes offer

The school leaver apprenticeships run for four years. Apprentices in audit work towards ACA, CFAB or ICAS qualifications, with the Robert Gordon University route available in Scotland, and gain experience across BDO's audit practice.

Tax apprentices join a practice covering 13 specialist areas, including employment tax, private client and tax dispute resolution. Advisory apprentices work in areas including business restructuring, transaction services, forensic accounting and valuations, and risk advisory services. An audit technology stream is also open, with roles in controls and data.

The programme starts on Monday 20 September 2027 with an organisation-wide induction that apprentices must attend. Audit roles based in Edinburgh and Glasgow start earlier, on 30 August 2027.

Where the roles are based

Audit school leaver roles are available in Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow, Guildford, Ipswich, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Nottingham, Reading and Southampton.

Tax and advisory roles are offered in a smaller set of offices, including Gatwick, Guildford, Ipswich, London, Manchester, Reading and Southampton for tax, and Birmingham and London for advisory. Applicants need to live within a commutable distance of the office they apply to.

Who can apply

Applicants need three A-levels, or equivalent, at grades A* to C, excluding General Studies and Extended Projects, or four Scottish Highers or Advanced Highers at grades A to B, or an equivalent such as a BTEC Extended Diploma. BDO says it does not use UCAS points.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK for the full four-year programme. BDO states it cannot provide visa sponsorship for these roles because they do not meet the Home Office minimum salary requirements for sponsorship.

How to apply

Applications are made through BDO's careers site, where each vacancy lists its location, salary and closing date. The closing date for the school leaver apprenticeship programmes is Sunday 15 November 2026.

BDO also runs graduate programmes and industrial placements with separate deadlines, so applicants should check the vacancy they are interested in rather than assuming one date covers every route. The firm's 2027 Tax Industrial Placement Programme, for undergraduates seeking a year out, carries the same 15 November closing date and pays £26,615 to £29,700 depending on location.