BDO Australia Graduate Programs & Internships

What it does: BDO is one of the world’s leading accounting, audit, advisory and consulting organisations.
Staff stats: BDO’s global network extends to over 167 countries and territories, with over 88,120 people working out of 1,809 offices.
The good bits: Supportive work environment,  large firm with a family culture feel, excellent access to Managers and Partners and career progression
The not-so-good bits: Additional hours during busy periods, potential business travel
Hiring grads with degrees in Accounting, Finance, Business, Commerce, Law, IT, STEM

The BDO story

Like many businesses of its type, BDO is the result of numerous mergers. In 1963, several accountancy firms from Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, the UK and the US came together to create a multinational that was originally known as Binder Seidman International. A decade later, it became known as BDO, an abbreviation of Binder, Dijker and Otte & Co (three of the core firms that merged to create the business). 

At BDO we are passionate about creating opportunities for individuals to grow and flourish early in their careers with an array of career paths available. Our Graduate, Undergraduate and Vacation programs provide an opportunity to invest in your future today!

We are committed to providing an environment that empowers our people to work to their full potential and pursue their career interests no matter where it may take them.

When you join BDO you quickly discover how we are different - we are all about our people. Our employees benefit from working for a global firm with a people-first culture.

Our people identify career development, empowerment, collaboration, flexibility, and service delivery as core 

• Flexibility - your career with us is just one important aspect of your life. Find out more about our BDO B-Well initiatives
• Career development – we provide buddy and mentor programs, along with professional development opportunities to support your growth
• Empowerment – an environment where working directly with clients is encouraged
• Collaboration - a culture based on our values of ONE, BOLD, HUMAN, STRIVE and HEART
• Inclusion and diversity – a feeling of belonging and respect
• A growing global firm – a strong local presence together with global reach and global opportunities. Currently rated #5 in the AFR Top 100 Accounting Firms.

If you have any questions about how our BDO Culture can be a fit for you, reach out to our team on student.careers@bdo.com.au

The culture

Though not one of the ‘Big Four’ accountancy multinationals, BDO is a serious challenger. It plays in the same space as the top-tier firms but prides itself on having a “successfully different” culture to the Big Four. BDO argues it is different because of its people and the organisation's “relationship-driven culture", whilst still having access to local and global resources. "Relationships, resources and responsiveness are the bedrock of our brand promise. BDO staff can expect a collaborative culture where you’re a name not a number”.

Social contribution

BDO Australia embraces Corporate Social Responsibility. It seeks to make a social contribution both by supporting worthy causes and allowing staff to donate their time and expertise to organisations that are seeking to make the world a better place. Globally, BDO is “committed to making a real difference in the following areas: community, charity and care”.

At BDO, we value the difference and unique perspectives that every individual brings to BDO.

As a firm, we are committed to a diverse and inclusive culture, where everyone - regardless of gender, ethnicity, age, ability, sexual orientation, religious belief and other characteristics - can be themselves at work and fulfil their personal potential in an environment that brings out the best in them and their colleagues.

While this is primarily about our people, it is also important in helping us to deliver our vision of exceptional client service by ensuring that we provide the right environment for our people and the right people for our clients.

The three priorities in our national strategy are:

• Gender diversity, with a focus on women in Partnership and leadership
• Improved decision-making through increased awareness of the impact of unconscious bias
• Ensuring flexibility is embedded in all parts of our culture and becomes integral to how we operate internally and how we serve our clients.

We recognise and celebrate a range of events throughout the year, such as International Women’s Day, Harmony Day, NAIDOC Week, Wear it Purple Day, and International Day of People with Disability.

BDO Australia is a member of Diversity Council Australia (DCA), an independent not-for-profit leader in diversity and inclusion research, education, and advocacy, and and is proud to be named an Inclusive Employer for the second time running for 2021 - 2022. BDO exceeds the DCA National Index Benchmark on at least five out of six of the following measures: Awareness; Engagement; Inclusive Organisational Climate; Inclusive Leadership; Inclusive Team; and/or Exclusion. Individual BDO team members can sign up to DCA for free to access all the benefits of our membership, including webinars, events, thought leadership, case studies, and research.

The vibe of the place

BDO does have a workplace culture that’s different to that of its Big Four competitors. It’s a company that devotes a lot of attention to nurturing its people. You can expect to feel valued and to be given the tools needed to reach your full potential.  

Star Rating: 4.6

From the Employer:

"BDO Student Recruitment

There are many world-class accounting firms, and BDO is one of them, however, few offer culture as rich in professional opportunity, personal fulfilment and long-term growth. At BDO, exceptional client service underpins our belief system and all aspects of service delivery to our clients.

BDO’s global network extends to over 167 countries and territories, with over 88,120 people working out of 1,809 offices.

We offer ongoing training to develop your technical abilities and build your consulting, leadership and management skills. Our international network provides exceptional opportunities to travel, work, and learn with secondment prospects available globally.

We welcome your individuality, ideas, passion and drive. To ensure you continue to enjoy what you love doing, we offer a number of initiatives that contribute to flexible working options and your health and well-being while at work."