Graduate CAreers

our values

Our firm undertook a thorough and comprehensive process to identify and establish our core values. This process involved a large number of people, from all parts of the firm.

Our core values represent the principles we are committed to upholding. They define what we stand for as a firm. They guide us in our day-to-day decisions and behaviours.

Our core values are shared by everyone in the organisation and are fully integrated into our business strategy, processes and decision-making.

Our firm is distinctive. As we grow we want to build on the strengths of our culture and the characteristics that make us successful, different and make BDO an enjoyable place to work.

Living up to our core values helps us achieve this.

1. Honesty and integrity

This goes much further than strict adherence to professional standards.

It is about openness and prudent judgement. It is about being trustworthy and straightforward in all of our working relationships.

This means, we:

  • Give advice we believe in
  • Behave ethically and stay true to our standards
  • Avoid conflicts of interest
  • Behave honestly with regard to our fees and how we charge our time
  • Agree clear expectations
  • Adopt a truthful and straightforward approach, even if the message is difficult
  • Speak up if we think something is wrong, without fear of recrimination
  • Respect confidences
  • Consult and communicate in an open manner
  • Seek out, and give, honest and constructive feedback
  • Appraise people objectively and treat them fairly

2. taking personal responsibility

We treat each other as equals. We all have a strong sense of responsibility to colleagues and the firm.

Everyone has the right to operate with flexibility and freedom. We appreciate and recognise every individual’s strengths. We can be ourselves.

This means, we:

  • Ensure we are accessible and quick to respond
  • Adopt a proactive approach
  • See our clients and communicate with them on a regular basis
  • Give high quality, constructive and tailored advice
  • Inform our clients of relevant developments that might interest them
  • Think about the needs of our clients
  • Take the time to understand our clients’ aspirations and service requirements
  • Analyse why client relationships succeed or fail
  • Develop and demonstrate expertise
  • Seek out, and respond to client feedback
  • Ensure we provide the best match of skills and personalities on our teams
  • Build relationships at all levels

3. mutual support

We treat each other with consideration and respect. We have a strong ethos of sharing and consultation.

We go to great lengths to help each other out. We stand up for each other. We do not have a blame culture.

This means, we:

  • Make time for any colleague who wants to talk through an issue
  • Help each other out by freely giving advice and sharing workloads
  • Ask for help when we need it
  • Share ideas, opportunities, knowledge and resources
  • Try to understand each other’s points of view
  • Accept that people will sometimes get things wrong
  • Learn from our mistakes
  • Support others when they are in difficult personal circumstances
  • Consult and involve others in decisions
  • Show consideration for people’s needs inside and outside work
  • Maintain a sense of humour and a positive attitude
  • Act as one firm

4. strong and personal client relationships

Our client relationships are more than just business partnerships. We aim to understand people as well as business, and build long-standing relationships based on mutual respect and trust.

We care about the success of our clients. We are committed to delivering value. We adopt a professional approach. It is important that our clients enjoy working with us.

This means, we:

  • Operate in a flexible way within agreed parameters
  • Demonstrate faith and trust in each other
  • Delegate and encourage people to take responsibility as early as possible
  • Give others the freedom to try things out and support without interfering
  • Nurture independent thinking and ideas
  • Value individuality
  • Show initiative and challenge our own comfort zones
  • Create and make the most of opportunities
  • Adopt a proactive approach to problem solving and improvements
  • Lead by example