BDO

The overview

BDO is an accountancy organisation that provides audit, tax and advisory services. It is not one of the Big 4 companies working in this area, but is sometimes referred to as the fifth. Its clients include Orange, Krispy Kreme and African Mining & Exploration PLC. They operate in a range of sectors, including financial services, hospitality and media, and non-profit organisations.

The firm belongs to a global accountancy network, BDO International. Streamlining all member firms under the BDO International umbrella title has been a major project in recent years, for which BDO and others involved have won awards.

BDO is not one of the Big 4 companies working in this area, but is sometimes referred to as the fifth.

BDO’s revenue is principally generated in Europe and the US and Caribbean region. The organisation’s operations in audit and accounting are by far its greatest source of revenue worldwide, bringing in almost three times as much as the tax and advisory service lines.

Awards and rankings

• GOLD award for Best Implementation of a Rebrand, Communicate Magazine Transform Awards 2011 (Communicate Magazine is a trade magazine in the field of corporate communications).
• Best tax team in a large firm, Taxation Awards 2011
• Tax award of the year (Global Firm), British Accountancy Awards, 2011 (as BDO LLP)
• Ranked 239 in The Guardian UK 300 2011 (new entry). Ranked 9 among accounting and financial management employers.

Salary and benefits

BDO says little about its graduate salaries others than they are ‘highly competitive’, and that they depend on the business area and location you are working in. According to a membership survey carried out by the Association of Graduate Recruiters and published in the summer, the median predicted graduate starting salary on offer from accountancy or professional services firms in 2010–2011 was £26,500.

Salaries are reviewed annually, and during and beyond the trainee period good results and performance in professional exams will be rewarded with bonuses and salary increases.

Core benefits include:

• 25 days’ holiday
• Joining the optional company pension scheme
• Life assurance cover
• Income protection insurance

Culture and values

BDO’s claim to be both a ‘successful and enjoyable place to work’ is reflected in its sociable reputation, policies and business. Although it is often classed as a medium-sized firm, it is the world’s fifth largest accountancy network and the opportunities for trainees to complete secondments in other business areas and in international offices reflect this.

Four core values

BDO’s culture is based upon four central working principles. These are:

1. Strong personal and client relationships
2. Mutual support
3. Honesty and integrity
4. Personal responsibility

Employees focus on long-term client benefits, not short-term gains.

The firm places particular emphasis on positive client relationships and sees positive relationships between staff as a cornerstone of excellent client service. The company’s graduate induction course and training programmes encourage employees to develop friendships and internal networks.

The principle of mutual support is put into practice by encouraging employees to ask for advice when they need it. New graduate recruits are allocated instant access to staff at all levels of the company through the formal support system set up for each trainee.

BDO’s other core values include personal responsibility and honesty and integrity. These values are central to the way the company does business, with employees focusing on work that brings long-term benefit to the client rather than simply a quick profit. Trainees are expected to ‘positively influence’ their colleagues. This means that graduates are encouraged to contribute their opinions and not shy away from taking the lead in implementing new methods that improve performance.