Audit manager Tim Everitt, who works for accountancy and business advisory firm BDO in Bristol, has been named as one of the profession’s best and brightest talents.
At the age of 24, Tim, pictured, is one of the youngest rising stars named in industry journal Accountancy Age’s ‘35 under 35’, which showcases the next generation of managing partners, CFOs and entrepreneurs based on their achievements and skills. 
He joined BDO’s award-winning school leaver programme when he was 18 and has risen through the ranks to become an audit manager, building a “reputation for excellent leadership and strong commercial understanding.”
His client base includes large international companies such as high street opticians Specsavers and US electronic test and measurement group Agilent Technologies. As a result, Tim regularly travels throughout Europe, the US and Asia.
BDO Bristol partner Andrea Bishop said: “Tim is an integral part of the audit team, as well as the wider firm, and he thoroughly deserves this recognition. He can always be relied upon to deliver exceptional client service even in the most challenging of circumstances.
“He is continually looking for ways in which BDO can improve our offering to clients and has played a key role nationally in terms of knowledge sharing and staff development.
“I’m also delighted that he has received this recognition as one of our many rising stars who joined the firm as part of our school leaver programme. He epitomises the kind of talent we look to recruit and his success will hopefully inspire students who are currently studying for their A-Levels to consider the merits of a career in accountancy without going down the traditional university route.”
With the average graduate leaving university with debts of around £30,000 and graduate unemployment still a concern for many, the BDO School Leaver programme is becoming an increasingly popular option for ambitious students looking for an alternative step onto the career ladder.
Those who enrol become a fully qualified accountant in five years – a year less than a graduate given that the average university degree lasts three years and it takes an additional three years to qualify as a chartered accountant.
Tim Everitt says he has no doubts about pursuing a career in accountancy without going down the traditional university route.
“One of the best things about the programme is that you instantly have the advantage of working with real experts on real business projects from day one. I have learned a lot about the accountancy profession and business as a whole and have been lucky enough to travel around the world at the same time – it was definitely the right decision for me.”
