Secondments at BDO
BDO promotes internal and international secondments within our Firm. We believe this is a great way to learn about different areas of our business and different clients while not having to leave BDO!
We have people from overseas come and work for us, and our people go off and away to other BDO locations too.
Check out comments from some current or recent secondees to BDO below...
Emily Hepburn: On Secondment from London to BDO (Auckland)
An overseas secondment is a fantastic opportunity to experience living and working in a different country knowing that you will be looked after while you are away and that your career will not will not be held back as a result of the experience. It’s a chance to meet new people, experience a whole different range of clients and develop an understanding of the systems and approaches used by a different country.
I'm currently on a 6 month secondment from London to the Auckland office in New Zealand. Some things are different but the people are the most important thing and I’ve found the staff in Auckland to be really friendly and welcoming. The 6 months are going far too quickly! I’ve already worked on assignments and clients that I would not be exposed to back in London so it’s been a fairly steep learning curve but certainly interesting.
I would definitely say an overseas secondment is worthwhile it’s important to consider how long you want to go for and to time it so you get the most experience possible. It can take a long time to organise an overseas secondment so I would recommend applying with plenty of notice.
Jim Malbon: On Secondment from the UK to BDO (Auckland)
One of
the main things that initially attracted me to BDO was their international scope. As a keen traveller, I always envisaged working for a firm that would allow international travel. After recently qualifying in the UK, I became eligible for an International secondment and chose the Auckland office in New Zealand as my destination. I had heard that the countryside is beautiful, the weather is good and that the people are friendly - so far I have not been disappointed!
BDO were extremely helpful in helping settle into my new surroundings by taking care of many arrangements for me. From a work perspective, things have been just as smooth. In audit I have been able to use my skills and knowledge acquired in the UK as well as picking up new knowledge from working on different clients here. As such I felt part of the team here very quickly, mainly from knowing that not only was my secondment going to be beneficial for me, but for BDO also. In fact, the 4 months that have passed by so far have gone very quickly and I greatly look forward to the rest of my time here! I am sure on my return to the UK I will have taken a great deal of knowledge and positive new experiences from both work and life from my time here in Auckland.
Jo-Anne Boshoff: On Secondment from South Africa to BDO (Auckland)
My secondment from BDO Spencer Stewart (Cape Town) South Africa to BDO (Auckland) New Zealand has been 14 months that I will never forget.
I was given an opportunity not many South Africans do: to gain work experience while exploring probably one of the most beautiful countries in the world! I also learnt a new culture and lifestyle, and gained unforgettable life experiences. It was very easy to adapt in the working environment, due to international audit software and approach with minimal differences, but also in a social environment – seeing that we share the same passion for rugby :)
This is an experience I would definitely recommend!!
If you're interested in secondments, please contact our HR team who can provide you with more information.