Unappreciated and demoralising - Senior Associate - Advisory BDO Employee Review

2.0
Jul 5, 2020
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Get to make small talk with clients when you mention you're working at the same building as Atlas bar Many different options of bubble tea near office area Lucky to have close relations and guidance from some seniors and managers.

Cons

Allocation of staff is ridiculous. If you do well, you're one of the top picks when it comes to booking. Schedule gets jam packed for the next 4-6 months, meanwhile under performing staff of the same position as you gets to skive and has that same few months without any bookings. You're literally working hard so you can earn money for their salary. Even when serving notice, schedule was packed until the last working day while others were happily sitting in office and asking you why are you still on fieldwork. Promotions are seemingly not linked to performance appraisals, but based on how desperate they are to retain staff. Team was going through quite a bit of turnover, having lost some very experienced seniors. Colleague got promoted only having worked for 5-6 months (also fresh grad) and clearly not prepared for the role, didn't even go through a face to face talk with appraiser. Zero office culture. Even after close to 2 years, if someone asks me how it's like, there is nothing to be said. Feedback channels are close to non-existent, comments given are simply swept under the rug as " it's the same with the big 4". You're just another employee that can be easily replaced.

Explore other reviews about BDO

5.0
Jun 8, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

It was a good place to work

Cons

Can be busy at times

1.0
Jun 22, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Compensation is OK. There are some really nice people in the organization to work with, but you have to find them.

Cons

If you are not part of the SWC "club" (company name prior to them joining BDO), good luck. Poor leadership!!! Practice lead talks to everyone like they are talking to a CEO, not relatable in most cases. No clear employee development plans. You are held accountable for things completely outside of your individual control. They stress incorporating AI into work strategy, but have no plan on what that looks like or how to do it and want everyone to formulate it because leadership has no roadmap. One has no control over where you want to take your career, yet you are expected to know everything, about everything. As a result, you become an expert of nothing! Work assigned rarely leverages skills, almost as if they throw darts to see who works on what.

See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All