Could be better - Audit Trainee BDO Employee Review

1.0
Nov 6, 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

It is a good place to get qualified and gain exposure to a lot of different businesses and assignments. One of the two partners in the office is very good and approachable etc. The other tends to bark orders across the office, pick a favourite member of staff to constantly talk to and praise and give the better assignments to which is unfortunate (he does change favourites every now and then so if you are not the current favourite you might be picked next time).

Cons

There is a lot of gossip, backstabbing and rumours which the managers tend to be involved with which isn't very professional. Unfortunately this can significantly affect peoples performance appraisals which are largely based on peoples opinions of staff as oppose to facts which for those that the managers have taken a dislike to can be pretty demotivating particularly if you have put in a lot of extra hours to finish jobs properly and don't get any credit for it. I have always been fine but I know someone who this happened to a lot and in the end the managers told them that they shouldn't put in extra hours anymore because the ratings given were just for the person really. In my opinion this is outrageous and undermines the feeling of success others might get from doing well if the managers are happy to tell you outright that their process is unfair. Long working hours when you start to senior audits. Staff turnover among qualified staff is very high.

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5.0
Jun 2, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Strong team culture and they offered great flexibility throughout the internship.

Cons

High workload during busy season (although that is expected)

2.0
Jun 5, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

There actually are great people, but you play manager roulette.

Cons

BDO is notorious for promoting people who just never leave. The middle of the road, not great, not awful, people get promoted over and over again. There have been changes every 3 seconds since the ESOP. Terrible communication around change (non-existent). My manager's favorite term was "We are building the plane as we fly it". After 4 years, I was hoping to have more plane built. It was never built.

2
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