AN EXCEPTIONAL FIRM EXCEPTIONAL PEOPLE

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1 AN EXCEPTIONAL FIRM LOOKING FOR EXCEPTIONAL PEOPLE Find out what it s like to be BACKED BY BDO

2 BDO We want you to join our team & create New Zealand s strongest accounting brand: Backing our clients and building richer relationships #BUILTBYGRADS You have so many options available to you when you finish your study. We know that there are many world class accounting firms for you to choose from. We want you to choose BDO. We believe that we offer a workplace like no other in our market, and clients that you will love working with. We believe our teams combine hard work and fun at just the right level. But we want you to experience that for yourself and become part of this great network. We know that you can write anything in a brochure so we have asked our Grads to tell you themselves what it s really like working at BDO. Check us out on Facebook or at #builtbygrads and find out what our grads love about working at BDO. 2 3

3 REACH The world s 5th largest full service Audit, Tax and Advisory firm with more than 50,000 people in 150 countries GROWTH The fastest growing business services firm in NZ BACKED BY BDO We support over 19,000 SME, mid-market & corporate clients across NZ, helping them achieve their business success 750+ STAFF 92 PARTNERS 15 OFFICES WHO ARE WE? You might not realise this, but BDO is actually one of the largest accounting & advisory networks in New Zealand. We have 15 locations from Kerikeri to Invercargill and have over 750 staff and 92 Partners nationwide. If you re keen on international opportunities, you ll love that BDO has over 1,400 offices in over 150 countries worldwide. A lot of our people have taken the opportunity to work for BDO overseas and returned with great work & life experiences to share with us. Aside from the numbers, BDO is a great firm with a fantastic culture. We have a work environment that supports individuals and teams through social activities, sports and community events. Our people are committed to the learning and development of their colleagues and also to having fun. Friday night drinks, social sports teams, fun runs, Community Days, team lunches and staff parties are all a part of working at BDO. Each team has its own particular vibe and we all come together on a regular basis for full firm events. 4 5

4 BUSINESS ADVISORY SERVICES Professional Services When you re choosing a Firm, you also need to choose a service line. BDO specialises in a range of different service lines, the main ones being Business Advisory Services, Audit and Tax. In case you want to know a bit more, here s the inside info. In Advisory, we work alongside businesses to help support and manage their financial affairs. We look after the basics such as tax compliance, day to day accounting requirements, payroll and preparing financial statements, right through to the more complex stuff such as growth strategies, tax planning and asset protection. Working in BAS I am part of a great team who are always willing to help out when needed. I also get the chance to work on a variety of different clients which keeps my job interesting and allows me to gain some really good experience Melissa Purcell We take our time to get to know our clients really well, comparing where they are now with where they want to be, and taking a good look at how they are currently doing things so we can offer real value. One of the best bits about working for BDO is that you work with these clients from day one. This means you get to see and hear first-hand how the work that we do helps our clients. To excel in BAS you need to not only understand financial concepts, but also be a great communicator, be able to work with and without guidance and as part of a team. 6 7

5 AUDIT Professional Services To be great at Audit you need to have an eye for detail as well as being very thorough. Audit is like CSI for accountants. At BDO you ll undertake audits for a wide range of clients from smaller and mid-market sized firms through to corporate and listed companies. We pride ourselves on providing an excellent Audit service and have one of the biggest Audit teams in the country. As auditors, we look to see if the clients statements about their financial position are true, fair and accurate. We work closely with their finance team and other key people to get to know their business well and understand the risks they face. We then identify any weaknesses in their financial statements, business systems or culture, and so advise them on suitable solutions. If you choose Audit at BDO you ll spend a lot of time at our clients premises, which is a great way to absorb the atmosphere of the business and get a sense of its culture, how the people like to work and what motivates them to perform. These are great things to learn about business as a new grad. The people make BDO. Everyone is extremely friendly and helpful which made the transition into full time work and auditing really easy Kelsi Osborne 8 9

6 TAX Professional Services If you are creative and enjoy problem solving, then Tax is for you. You will be responsible for an array of matters, from assisting individuals and liaising with Inland Revenue, to complex crossborder transactional work. Our tax practitioners undertake a variety of work on a daily basis where no one day is the same. As a graduate in our tax team, you will hit the ground running from your first day where you will be expected to make valuable contributions to the work our team undertakes. In addition to compliance work, a small glimpse of the work undertaken by recent graduates includes preparation of transfer pricing reports, involvement with mergers and acquisitions, tax due diligence reviews, and preparation of various tax opinions and tax structuring advice. We add value to our clients businesses, while helping them achieve their short-term goals and longterm vision. Life is awesome at BDO! The exposure to quality work and personal development here is unreal. I get challenging work with great guidance along the way. Most importantly I got a sense that everyone has my back and wants me to succeed Star Ren 10 Each team understands the importance of developing your career, and is committed to your training and development. As a graduate you will be supported by a friendly and approachable team, and be mentored by an experienced member of the team to aid you in every step of your professional development. 11

7 BDO PATHWAYS To Success Graduate - Jenna Murray Business Advisory Services We recently chatted with Jenna Murray from BDO s Christchurch office about her role as a Business Advisory Services Graduate. Jenna explains what it s like working in a BAS role and why she enjoys working for BDO. What does working in a BAS Role actually involve? BAS involves taking care of a client s monthly and/or annual accounting needs and tax compliance requirements. You may also be in contact with clients on a regular basis. As no two entities are the same, the role can vary from day to day therefore being organised and structuring your day and workload to get the job done is key. Most importantly, a BAS role involves building on existing relationships, really understanding the client and their needs and what the numbers actually mean in order to provide valuable information and service. What is it like working for a large accounting firm such as BDO? It s fantastic, BDO is large enough to provide great support, structured training, variety in work and the opportunity to learn from really experienced people yet it has such a culture where you always feel included. Having worked in businesses before it was important for me to find a firm which had a great atmosphere and respect for their employees. I enjoy the many sporting activities organised by the firm as you get to know other colleagues outside the office environment. Our Partners in Christchurch provide the chance to attend BDO bootcamps at the gym, they are great fun and involve everyone in the team from Grad to Partner! What do you enjoy most about your role? I like that I am constantly learning, I m never bored and once I ve reached a certain level I m given more complex clients and responsibilities. I also really appreciate the opportunities provided. An area I find interesting is Maori business and I have found the managers and Partners to be very supportive. I have been able to join in on meetings, be responsible for certain clients and travel to conferences and Hui s. What is one key tip you would give graduates looking at a career at BDO? The first few months of working can be a real learning curve so make sure you speak up and ask lots of questions, our team even has a saying no question is a dumb question. BDO provides a buddy to help you settle in so make the most of this support to ensure you have a good grounding in your new role. Also make use of the opportunities made available to you

8 BDO PATHWAYS To Success Assistant Manager- Sangita Patel Business Advisory Services BDO Wellington s Sangita Patel started as a graduate and worked for four years before progressing to a BDO Assistant Manager role. We chatted with Sangita about her career choices and why she feels BDO is the right place for her. How did you come to be an Assistant BDO Manager? Key things that have helped me to progress to an assistant manager role at BDO are working hard to build on what I had learnt at university and building effective working relationships with my colleagues and clients. What sets BDO apart from other accounting firms? I think BDO s culture is what sets us apart from other accounting firms. At BDO it s all about working as a team, everyone is very sociable and easy to get along with. We ve also built a culture where we take the time to get to know each of our clients to provide them with tools to reduce time spent on compliance so they can focus on what they do best. What are the challenges and opportunities you face on a daily basis? Dealing with a range of clients means dealing with a range of accounting and tax issues. While this can be a challenge, it s a great opportunity to learn. On a daily basis I get the opportunity to get to know my clients businesses and build relationships which is what I enjoy the most. How do you see your career developing with BDO? I ve always had plenty of support to develop my career while working at BDO including a secondment to Sydney. I believe there is further opportunity for me to become a Manager and the possibility of further secondments throughout BDO s international network. What is the one key tip you would give graduates looking at a career at BDO? Don t be afraid to ask questions, make the most of your opportunities and take the time to build relationships with your colleagues because they will all become good friends

9 BDO PATHWAYS To Success Partner - Matt Coulter Audit W e recently chatted with Partner, Matt Coulter, to get his take on what it means to be a BDO Partner and part of the BDO community. Matt is an Audit Partner with the BDO Napier office. What does BDO mean to you? For me, BDO means a collection of offices that come together as one to provide the best possible infrastructure, support and advice. Even though each office is independent, Partners, associates and staff always make time to assist each other. Whether it be providing assistance in their area of expertise, or simply being there for a 5 minute phone call; to me BDO means we re better together. How did you come to be a BDO Partner? After completing my law and commerce degrees at the University of Canterbury and working for 18 months in Christchurch, I moved to Napier. I had four interviews with the largest 16 four firms in town and BDO stood out as being the right size and fit for me. I worked in the audit and business advisory teams for three years before moving to the UK to work and travel for two years. I used this time to gain experience in the much larger UK market and develop my audit and management skills. After regular contact with the BDO Partners in Napier, I returned to BDO when I moved home and was promoted to Associate after 14 months and Partner after another 15 months. That has always been a goal of mine so it was great to get this opportunity in such a short timeframe. What do you enjoy most about your role? I enjoy learning new things. The audit world is constantly changing so there s always something new to learn. I also enjoy the contact with other colleagues around the country, but most importantly I enjoy learning about our clients businesses, how they work, and what their challenges, goals and aspirations are. From finding out the inner workings of a rugby union, learning more about wool, and finding out about the great work our many not-for-profit clients do each day, every client is unique! What is the one key tip you would give graduates looking at a career at BDO? Take the opportunity and if possible try to learn as much as you can across a range of service lines. There is a need to specialise, but the wider your knowledge and experience, the better you ll understand your own role and be able to provide a more complete service to your clients. Plus, for me, the more different skills you learn, the more interesting your work life will be! Also make sure you get to know your colleagues, and always take part in social events. 17

10 BDO PATHWAYS To Success Senior Analyst - Nick Milojevic Corporate Finance Nick Milojevic works in the Corporate Finance Service line in BDO s Auckland office. We had a chat to Nick about his time at BDO and what it s like working in a Corporate Finance role. What do you think is the best thing about working at BDO? It will sound cliché but it s the people; both the staff and clients! BDO provides an excellent environment to learn and develop in a supportive environment. With an international footprint offering secondment opportunities, and an exciting client base where you become a part of some great growth stories, it is a fantastic place to begin your career. How did you get into Corporate Finance? After studying accounting and finance at university, I joined the BDO Audit team. Here I gained valuable technical and client relationship skills, and an insight into how great companies operate and grow. Not long after sitting my final CA exam I moved into the Corporate Finance team where experience in audit is relevant in transactions, and there is a chance to further utilise my finance background. What interests you about the Corporate Finance service line? Corporate Finance is about addressing real-world issues that companies come across, and BDO s complete offering means there is opportunity to develop skills in a range of finance areas. This means whether it s a valuation to inform on an appropriate share price in a sale, due diligence to assist an acquirer determine if the deal is right, or financial modelling to secure debt facilities for a client, no day is the same. What is one key tip you would give graduates looking at a role at BDO? Invest in yourself and seize the opportunities. Take the time and read over that cover letter once more, jump at the opportunity to take on challenging work and commit to it. Knowledge is power and through investing in challenging yourself and learning from it, you ll get great experience which will propel your career forward. With diverse service offerings, great clients, and offices in over 150 countries, the opportunities at BDO are abound - chase them

11 YOUR CAREER And Development On your first day at BDO, you will be assigned a buddy to support and mentor you while you settle into your new role. You ll participate in a number of different training programs to ensure that you are learning and developing and are able to effectively manage the transition into professional life. Regular learning and development sessions will equip you with the skills and knowledge to excel in your career and develop exceptional client relationships. When you re ready to commence your postgraduate qualification and begin your journey to becoming a Chartered Accountant, BDO will ensure that you are supported through your studies. We provide a great range of assistance for our graduates including: Payment of approved professional qualifications Paid study leave Mentoring External Study Support Programs Payment of professional membership fees Our secondment programs also provide you with the opportunity to expand your horizons and experience new cultures while gaining great experience working in a new and exciting role. So if you re looking for a firm with an international reach that will provide excellent support in your career development, choose to be Backed by BDO

12 EXCEPTIONAL CULTURE The Place to Be Here at BDO, we like to think that our culture is what sets us apart from other big Accounting firms and makes us such a desirable place to work! In the office you ll experience an open-door culture where you are encouraged to ask questions and your contribution is valued. From the first day, you ll be involved in a variety of real client work and will receive help and support from your Partners and team every step of the way. BDO promotes a collaborative working environment that allows you to develop strong networks with your colleagues and learn from each other s experience. But life at BDO is about more than just work. There are plenty of opportunities to get out of the office and socialise, play sport, volunteer in the community and get to know your colleagues a bit better. We hold a number of social events throughout the year including Christmas parties, Midwinter events, and fun runs and like to encourage our team to get out of the office and have fun. 22 The best part about working at BDO is definitely the people and the culture, I just love how friendly and open everyone is. I haven t been with the firm for very long and have already made heaps of friends and feel like part of the team. The atmosphere is awesome, everyone is supportive and always happy to help with any questions I have or anything I get stuck on. Even though I haven t been here for very long, I ve already taken part in lots of social events like bowling, a corporate fun run, our community day, Christmas parties, and have even climbed the Auckland Harbour Bridge. We also have drinks after work on a Friday night which is a great chance to catch up with everyone and make new friends Michael Nelson 23

13 REWARDS And Benefits As a Grad you re going to make a lot of decisions based on cash! We know that, so we aim to compete with all the other big Firms in terms of starting salaries, but we also feel that our culture, teams and client work make up a big part of the picture. We ll provide paid study time and pay for tuition support and all your professional exams fees. We d love to talk to you about working for us and what we can do to help you achieve the goals you have for work, whether it s earning cash, advancing your knowledge, travelling, being part of a team or just getting work experience

14 HOW TO APPLY Graduate Recruitment Season Applications for graduate positions open in the last week of February and close in mid March each year. Check our website for details and apply online at Apply early positions are limited and we consider applications as they are received. I really enjoy the warm and friendly culture at BDO, I think it transforms it into a more effective working environment. The variety of clients I have worked on has also been a big positive - with no two companies being the same, and them all providing different challenges and learning outcomes. BDO has also put on a number of social events which have been a great way to let some steam off and get to know my workmates better. George Mulvey 26 Other Career Opportunities Check our website for current vacancies, these are updated regularly. Connect With Us We ve got a lot more to show you. facebook.com/bdonewzealand/ twitter.com/bdonewzealand linkedin.com/company/bdo-new-zealand 27

15 #builtbygrads