Experience is similar to all other public practice firms with focus on non-public clients - Senior Accountant BDO Employee Review

1.0
3 Oct 2011
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Few to none public company clients (excluding Calgary/Edmonton, Toronto, and Vancouver) This allows employees to gain valuable experience on smaller files.

Cons

Following are not representative of all offices across Canada, but apply to many: Less than average work life balance (as with all public practice) Compensation package not competitive to other public practice firms or industry Poor benefits package Poor focus on staff retention Poor employee policies Poor overtime policy Poor CA student support policies (compared to other public practice firms)

Explore other reviews about BDO

5.0
2 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Strong team culture and they offered great flexibility throughout the internship.

Cons

High workload during busy season (although that is expected)

2.0
5 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

There actually are great people, but you play manager roulette.

Cons

BDO is notorious for promoting people who just never leave. The middle of the road, not great, not awful, people get promoted over and over again. There have been changes every 3 seconds since the ESOP. Terrible communication around change (non-existent). My manager's favorite term was "We are building the plane as we fly it". After 4 years, I was hoping to have more plane built. It was never built.

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