Student Development Executive

An accountancy and business advisory firm, providing the advice and solutions entrepreneurial organisations need to navigate today’s changing world. We work with the companies that are Britain’s economic engine - ambitious, entrepreneurially-spirited and high growth businesses that fuel the economy -and directly advise the owners and management teams leading them. Learning and Development (L&D) is more than just a function, it’s a key enabler of our people strategy. It supports our ability to attract, develop and retain talented people who take pride in their work and successfully deliver for our business. Effective L&D underpins quality and productivity by supporting our people to develop the necessary knowledge and skills to perform their work, helping them reach their personal and professional potential. Our firmwide L&D function works hand-in-hand with the business to pinpoint and address learning needs, developing and delivering innovative, high-quality and commercially viable learning and development opportunities that enable both individual growth of our people and achievement of our firm’s strategic priorities, all whilst adhering to the regulatory standards expected of us as a professional services firm. Our team of L&D professionals spans across a number of BDO offices, with a significant presence in our vibrant London office. Regular travel to London and other locations will be required. Are you ready to broaden your horizons and make a significant impact in the world of Learning and Development? We are seeking a talented, high-performing and ambitious senior manager to join our team in one of our leadership positions, as Head of Learning & Development (Head of L&D). We’ll help you succeed The work we do is underpinned by quality. You’ll help deliver accurate and transparent reporting to all relevant stakeholders as you provide long term value. The Head of L&D role is a senior leadership role responsible for managing the firmwide L&D function. Initially, the role will primarily focus on supporting the Audit stream, with a view to expanding across other streams over time, with future activities informed by a detailed learning needs analysis exercise to be performed shortly. Reporting to the Director of L&D, this role involves collaborating with other central teams to deliver effective, high-quality learning aligned with strategic priorities. Strategic Influence: Play a key role in shaping L&D strategy, ensuring learning meeting individual and business needs, supports strategic priorities and meets compliance requirements. Professional Growth: Leading the day-to-day operations of the L&D function, collaborating with the Head of Professional Qualification, Head of Talent & Leadership and other people teams to ensure our learning offering is cohesive and aligned with strategic objectives. Developing and maintaining L&D curriculums (firmwide and stream-wide), informed by the learning needs analysis, including core technical learning, skill learning, milestone programmes and ad hoc programmes. Managing priorities to ensure delivery of agreed curriculums on time and to expected quality standards. Balance people, quality and growth aims as appropriate. Supporting with regulatory compliance including developing responses to formal and informal queries and directly engaging with the firm’s regulators where needed. Ongoing engagement with central teams and the individual streams to identify emerging L&D needs and develop effective responses (at either the firmwide or stream-wide level). Maintaining quality assurances procedures for learning and development across BDO, to ensure learning meets the needs of the learner, support BDO commercial aims and meets expected quality standards. Overseeing the operation of systems, controls and processes across the learning cycle, proactively assess and manage risks, and drive continuous improvement as part of the firm’s System of Quality Management. Establishing metrics to measure learning effectiveness and managing risk, monitoring these regulatory and reporting to those charged with governance as appropriate, to support effective operations and achievement of strategic outcomes. Handling budgeting and ongoing financial management, providing clear justification for deviations from budget and actively managing commercial risks. Providing insight into the latest thinking and best practice across L&D, making recommendations to the Director of L&D around L&D strategy and supporting operational transformation / efficiency across the function. Advocating L&D activities and promoting a strong learning culture. Role modelling BDO Values and representing BDO at networking and other business events, ensuring a clear learning narrative in the marketplace, contributing the learning discussion, and influencing the future landscape. Over time, the remit of this role will evolve, informed by the detailed learning needs analysis, and it is expected to broaden to include both firmwide and other stream (Tax, Deals, Consulting, Risk and Outsourcing) learning. The responsibilities outlined however are applicable to both the immediate role and any future evolution. Experience as a Senior Manager, preferably with a Learning & Development background. Strong understanding of Audit and the regulatory environment (particularly important given the immediate focus of the role). Proven ability to influence and drive forward strategic projects. Strong project management skills and ability to prioritise. Commercial mindset with a focus on operational excellence. Commitment to quality and excellence in delivery. We’re committed to agile working, and we offer everyone the opportunity to work in ways that suit them, their teams, and the task at hand. At BDO, we’ll help you achieve your personal goals and career ambitions, and we have programmes, resources, and frameworks that provide clarity and structure around career development. Our agile working framework helps us stay connected, bringing teams together where and when it counts so they can share ideas and help one another. BDO’s people represent a wealth of knowledge and expertise, and we’ll encourage you to build your network, work alongside others, and share your skills and experiences. At BDO, we help entrepreneurial businesses to succeed, fuelling the UK economy. Across the UK thousands of unique minds continue to come together to help companies we work with to achieve their ambitions.