Toxic office culture full of Big 4 rejects, no work life balance but decent exit opportunities. - Auditor BDO Employee Review

1.0
Jan 23, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

-Decent exit opportunities after leaving (to big 4 or industry). -Support with work is available if you reach out, particularly for juniors. -The pressure is slightly less than that of a Big 4 Audit firm. -Office Culture may be fun for some especially if you fit the anglo, male Australian stereotype.

Cons

-Low compensation and high turnover rate. -Can be cliquey with office gossip being a norm. It can feel like a (private) high school popularity contest. Can recall incident when coworker's sensitive discussions with management seemed to be spread to other employees (who should not have been aware). -Lack of work-life balance, however, this is a norm for audit. Management has not yet embraced the idea of working from home. -Management seems more concerned with productivity than mental health. -Office politics and being 'liked' by management is important, which can favour those who share the same interests as the culturally Anglo-dominated leadership. These politics can also impact the clients you get, as managers choose their own team for 'fun' international or interstate trips. -While there is diversity at the company, it does not seem to be integrated into the workplace culture. The culture is very Anglo-centric. The diversity society only consists of a parents group and women's group (which doesn't seem to address women of colour issues) , and is lacking compared to other professional services firms.

Explore other reviews about BDO

5.0
May 27, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Work life balance and range of opportunities

Cons

Tools available and total pay

1.0
Jun 22, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Compensation is OK. There are some really nice people in the organization to work with, but you have to find them.

Cons

If you are not part of the SWC "club" (company name prior to them joining BDO), good luck. Poor leadership!!! Practice lead talks to everyone like they are talking to a CEO, not relatable in most cases. No clear employee development plans. You are held accountable for things completely outside of your individual control. They stress incorporating AI into work strategy, but have no plan on what that looks like or how to do it and want everyone to formulate it because leadership has no roadmap. One has no control over where you want to take your career, yet you are expected to know everything, about everything. As a result, you become an expert of nothing! Work assigned rarely leverages skills, almost as if they throw darts to see who works on what.

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