BDO Employees' Secondment Experience

Australia

Lara Iannucci, Senior Accountant (BDO Canada)

It has been almost a year now since I started my work at BDO Kendalls, Sydney, Australia. Originally I was a bit scared to leave the only home, and home office, I had ever known but the fear never lasted longer than the flight. From the moment I had exited the security gates at Kingsford International Airport and spotted Kim (whom I had never met) waving with car keys, a blue BDO bag full of gifts, and waiting to drop me off at my new apartment (which I had never seen) BDO and it’s fabulous network of people have been there to assist me every step of the way. Imagine my delight to land in a new place, across the globe from home, with everything in my hands and finding a smiling face waiting just for me…

“Now that’s Rock Star!”

Almost immediately I was given everything and the means to everything that I would need. The people who are BDO wasted no time in helping me create a new and wonderful life for myself in a situation that could have been otherwise overwhelming. I didn’t just find an office and job ready to accept me… I found a wonderful job working with people who were just like me, living far away from home and eager to make a friend, and equally friendly Australians.

Who would have thought that you could travel 15562 kilometres away and still be with good friends?

I have learned so much being able to audit in a country that has already adopted IFRS and will be able to take this knowledge and use it back home. I have been able to travel around Australia and enjoy the warmer weather. Every weekend feels like a holiday, every place is a new place, and the little cultural quirks form a mysterious personality waiting everywhere to be discovered.

I have gained so much and sacrificed so little.

It is wonderful and rare that BDO makes so much effort to develop their employees not just as workers but as people. By allowing me to leave my “comfort zone” without losing the career and lifestyle that I value, BDO has given me the keys to an amazing experience.

Kristy C. Kwan, Senior Manager (BDO Canada)

Being a CA doesn’t mean I just stare at numbers all day!

When I think about my time with BDO, it’s not the numbers and financial statements that come to mind – it’s the people.

My day involves more than just sitting at a desk and looking at numbers. Training and mentoring staff are major parts of my job. We have formalized mentoring and coaching programs in addition to informal mentoring relationships. Our open door policy helps to foster a supportive and positive work environment.

Once I obtained my CA, I was lucky enough to go on a secondment to work in the BDO office in Sydney, Australia, where I was able to meet new people and experience a different culture. Going to Sydney was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made – some of the people I met were amazing and the local wine was even better!

After having my CA for a year, I was promoted to manager and my favourite part of client work became the client relations side. Three years after that, I was promoted to senior manager and I have been involved with proposal presentations, client training sessions and board meetings.

As chair of the social committee, I get involved with putting on monthly events such as the Valentine’s Day Chocolate Fondue, Battle of the Bands (featuring Rock Band for PS3) and the Photo Scavenger Hunt. We try to find excuses to wear costumes as much as possible!

I’ve always been a people person and working for BDO has given me the opportunity to play to my strengths.

Czech Republic

Katerina Sava, Senior Accountant (BDO Canada)

My transfer from BDO Czech Republic to BDO Dunwoody, LLP in Toronto was a smooth and pleasant experience. One of the main reasons was that BDO is a global company using unified auditing software and audit approach. Also BDO shares the same values world wide – to establish and carefully maintain close, mutual beneficent and highly professional relationship with the clients. During my 5 years with BDO Czech Republic I earned valuable work experience thorough the use of CaseWare and Compass. These skills along with my management experience helped me a lot to quickly establish myself in the new team and become a valuable team member. Of course there are a few differences, mainly due to the local environment and law regulations. Because I enjoy discovering different countries and environments, the transfer was very interesting and an enjoyable experience.

Denmark

Henrik Paulsen, Senior Accountant (BDO Denmark)

"The exchange with the BDO Toronto office has given me an experience of a lifetime. It has given me a lot of new knowledge, which I can use in my job back at BDO ScanRevision in Denmark. Also on a personal side, I have gained a lot. I have had the chance to travel around Canada, where I have been skiing and rafting in Canada's beautiful nature. But the greatest gain has been all the new friends I have made during my stay in Toronto. They really made my stay worthwhile..."

Netherlands

Trevor Campbell, CA, Senior Accountant (BDO Canada)

“My secondment to BDO CampsObers in Eindhoven, Netherlands was amazing. It was very interesting to see the different dynamics in play in other BDO offices around the world. I received a lot of exposure to IFRS and foreign GAAP standards, which will assist me in my work back home. I worked with great, helpful people and was given the chance to explore many parts of Europe I had never been to. All the staff and partners at the Eindhoven office were very kind, and treated me like I was one of their own. For anyone considering a secondment, I would highly recommend it.”

Singapore

Andrea Franco, B.Comm (Hons.), Senior Accountant (BDO Canada)

“My six month secondment to the BDO Raffles office in Singapore was a unique experience, to say the least. I have always loved to travel so going on a secondment through work sounded like a very exciting opportunity. My office was very encouraging and helped me through the process, which resulted in a smooth turnaround time. It was intriguing to literally be on the other side of the world, immersed in a completely different culture and yet have a sense of familiarity with the work I was doing. It was challenging and pushed me to learn and grow in leaps and bounds. I had a great time getting to know the BDO employees there, both in and out of the office. On top of that, I was able to travel to a number of countries around Singapore since it was very inexpensive. The chance to open my eyes to the culture, history and beauty of Asia is something I will never forget. My trip was truly unforgettable and it shaped me both professionally and personally. I recommend this to anyone willing to take on a challenge that takes you out of your comfort zone and leaves you with an enriching and memorable experience.”

Switzerland

Khaleel Ayoubi, CA, Manager (BDO Canada)

I've always been a big fan of travelling and getting a taste of what life in other parts of the world has to offer. Despite having been to some amazing places, something I had never been able to experience was what it was like to live and work in a different country and culture. It was something I had always wanted to do. And so, part of the appeal of the CA designation to me was the international recognition it carries with it, as well as the flexibility it provides you in your career. After obtaining my CA designation with BDO, I was able to use its expansive international network to see this goal of mine through. And off to Zurich, Switzerland I went.

Having never even been to Zurich before picking up and moving there, the whole experience was both exciting and a bit nerve-racking. As I write this, it's been over a year since the day I stepped off the plane. Today, I can look back at some of the challenges I faced at first – a significant language barrier, for example – with a fond recollection of things I know have helped me grow as a person, and which have made the experience, so far, something truly special.

Career wise, I would recommend working abroad in a heartbeat. The experiences you gain are invaluable. Working in Switzerland, I have had the chance to develop some new skills I may not have otherwise had the opportunity to. I have worked with large clients reporting under IFRS, US GAAP and Swiss CO, and have even completed the official reciprocity course for "Foreign Accountants." I have had the opportunity to help run large, international engagements which require dealing directly with staff and partners from all over Europe and the world simultaneously. These opportunities have given me the chance to gain an intimate understanding of both the subtle and pervasive differences which exist in the international business world.

And if you're worried about "falling behind" during your time abroad, don't be! I left my home office in Vancouver as a senior accountant and, after being promoted while working in Switzerland, will be returning as a manager.

I can't only focus on the work aspects, however – the life experiences are endless too. Living in Zurich so far has been a time I will never forget. From sitting down to a traditional fondue dinner in the Alps after a day of skiing to weekend trips in places like Rome, Paris, Stockholm, Munich and London to shopping in nearby Milan to taking in New Years Eve in Berlin – for me to say that the things you may be afraid of at the beginning are worth it is an understatement, to say the least.

United Kingdom

Assia Saad, Senior Accountant (BDO Canada)

"When I first joined the BDO Montreal office, I was hoping one day to go abroad. Once I decided to join the UK office on secondment, I had all the support I needed especially from my coach and the HR team who helped me through the process. The BDO Gatwick office arranged for my arrival and first accommodations, which was really helpful. I also received useful advice from my colleagues regarding how to find a flat, the best areas to live in…etc. Living abroad has been a great experience for my personal life and my career. London is one of the biggest business cities, which is beautiful and full of history. I'm planning to travel in Europe as much as possible, since it is so easy to travel around. If you want to travel, to know different cultures, to have an international career, a secondment is the best choice. In brief, it’s a once in a lifetime experience!"

Cheryl Bailey, Tax Manager (BDO Canada)

My secondment to BDO Stoy Hayward in the UK for 6 months in 2006/07 was an excellent experience. I was welcomed into the firm and was given the opportunity to work with a great team in Birmingham. Working in another firm within the BDO network provided me with international experience in my practice area of taxation. I enjoyed the challenge of working in a foreign country and learning about their tax system. I believe that I've made contacts and connections within the BDO International network that will further my career at BDO Dunwoody LLP.

Christine Tran, Senior Tax Accountant (BDO Canada)

Although I have always wanted to live and work abroad, I had been hesitant to go on a secondment with one of our other BDO offices because I was not sure how it would fit in my career path at BDO. When the occasion arose to work in the UK with the London Tax Group, I decided to take a chance. After a few months working in the London office, I feel like this was by far one of the best decisions I have ever made. Within a short amount of time, I have had the opportunity to work with a wide range of clients on various tax-related projects. I have also been exposed to different aspects of the tax practice. The one thing that has stayed consistent and that I have really come to value is BDO’s great support system. In order to ensure a smooth transition, I went through a training program and was immediately assigned to a mentor. I strongly recommend this opportunity to anyone who wants to experience another facet of BDO.