Grace began her journey at BDO in 2022 as a Vacationer and is now a Consultant in the Research and Development (R&D) and Government Incentives department at BDO. Grace is dedicated to providing expert advice and support to clients, helping them navigate the complexities of research and development incentives. Read more about Grace’s journey below.
Tell us about your experience joining BDO
My student experience was very smooth sailing and supportive. Since day one, I never felt like just a number and my managers, and my team members made it very clear that they were willing to support me in any way possible during my undergrad. I didn’t feel like a number, I felt like I was a genuine member of my team rather and not just an ‘intern’.
What was your biggest surprise coming to BDO?
My biggest surprise was experiencing how friendly everybody was. Not only in my team, but I also felt that people from all over the firm genuinely wanted to take time to get to know me.
What have you enjoyed about working in your team? What didn’t you expect?
I deeply enjoy the range of clients I get to experience with R&D Tax. This service line allows me to learn about all different types of industries such as biotechnology, manufacturing and more. It has helped me to gain insights into topics I had no prior knowledge of, which as a result, grew my interest into inquiry further. It has also challenged me which has allowed me to grow, both from a professional and personal level.
Where have you experienced the BDO values in the workplace?
HUMAN, HEART and ONE are the BDO values that resonate with me. Compassion for our clients is really important to me and assisting them to achieve positive results is rewarding. Completing work with integrity is also very important for me and my team. My team is very collaborative and commonly works with a range of other divisions such as business services, audit and the other tax teams to provide the best possible outcome for our clients.
How would you describe the culture at BDO?
BDO’s culture is incredibly friendly and supportive. The firm offers so much to its people in terms of support, and everyone is very open to spark up a conversation no matter their position or service line. The firm and its people are very genuine in their interactions which make me comfortable and proud to be working here.
What makes working at BDO rewarding for you?
I find working at BDO highly rewarding. Since starting as a Vacationer, I have seen the direct translation from the work I do to the client’s deliverables, which has made me feel valued since day one. The work that I do within the R&D Tax team positively impacts our clients which is always rewarding. I also feel that my thoughts and ideas are heard by my managers and feel my contributions are taken on board.
How have you been supported by leaders and managers at BDO?
Starting out my career at BDO as an undergraduate, I have felt nothing but support from my managers. They have encouraged me to take as much time as I need to focus on my studies, and I have felt very supported during the transition from my undergraduate role to a full-time role. My managers also check in with me regularly to see how I am doing both professionally and personally, and to find out how they can support my growth in the team.
How does BDO support you to achieve your personal aspirations and career goals?
I find that BDO really goes out of their way to support me and my goals. They have supported my flexible working arrangements while studying and I have regular check ins with my managers to discuss my short- and long-term goals and identify how I can achieve them and how my managers and BDO can support me to achieve them.