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Life at BDO

Curious about the ins and outs of tax management and what it takes to thrive in the bustling city of London? Meet Amy, a Tax Manager at BDO's London office, whose journey from law student to tax specialist is nothing short of inspiring. In this candid conversation, Amy shares insights into her background, daily routines, and the vibrant culture at BDO.

Hi Amy! So tell us; what’s your background?

Hey there! I’m Amy, and I'm a Tax Manager at BDO in London. Before diving into the tax world, I studied law at the University of Warwick. During this time, I ended up completing an internship in tax, and that’s when I felt this would be a career path I’d be interested in pursuing post-university. Having initially contemplated the idea of a law career, after having gained some insight into the day to day of a role in professional services, and specifically tax, I decided to pursue a role which would utilise skills from my degree (interpretation of legislation and regulations, report writing, presentation skills, etc) while not continuing to work directly within the legal world, as this felt like the best fit for my interests and skill-set. Fast forward, and here I am today at BDO.

Two ladies in an office laughing and pointing at each other

Wow, quite a career change! So what does your day-to-day look like?

Ultimately, no two days are the same. As part of the Transfer Pricing team (in the wider Corporate International Tax team), I’ll be involved in a mixture of things, from winning new work, attending client meetings and calls, preparing analyses and writing reports for a variety of types of projects and clients. A huge part of the work is all about understanding our clients inside out, drilling down into businesses to advise on appropriate models and policies which ultimately impacts on the businesses’ tax position. Each day is hugely varied and really can depend on our client needs, working within great project teams where we collaborate and pull together to provide exceptional client service.

You must have heard some strange things about the accountancy field before you started though?

Firstly, I always thought you’d need to be great at maths to be work within the accountancy profession. Not that it doesn’t help, and I certainly work with some numerically-gifted people, but I very much feel I’m proof this is not a requirement!

Secondly, the idea that a career in accounting is boring. The work I do is hugely varied, which keeps things interesting and engaging, and I always find myself learning new things. I also work with a great team and with many people I’d consider to be my friends outside of work (although maybe this just means we’re all boring together?).  

Sounds like a great team! What is it that makes you stay at BDO?

For me, it boils down to the blend of opportunity, growth, and culture. Post-uni, I was looking for something that could fuel my curiosity and passion for interesting work which would challenge me, along with an opportunity to develop my career for the long term. Transfer pricing and BDO checked all the boxes and then some. I’ve always felt supported, challenged, and encouraged to develop myself through career opportunities and progression, along with being involved in interesting projects and clients.

The work I do in the transfer pricing team is really varied and I enjoy gaining an understanding of how a range of different businesses and sectors operate in the context of informing their international tax policies. In addition, the people and team I work with are brilliant, both professionally and personally, and at times it can feel like working alongside your best mates.

 You’re talking about the culture then, right? What does that mean to you?

The culture at BDO – for me – is the people. I work with, and continue to meet, so many great people each day, all with their own unique personalities and approaches, with a huge focus on personal development and genuine support. Everyone here is rooting for your success, from the people you start out with through to the top. What sets it apart is the diversity of perspectives and the collective drive to elevate each other.

Thinking about the future then; what are the opportunities at BDO which excite you the most?

There are endless opportunities for growth, development and learning at BDO and as the firm continues to expand I can only see these opportunities increasing. I feel BDO provides me with a lot of autonomy to drive my own career and shape my development in a way that works for me, while also continuing to support me in becoming a better all-round advisor and professional. I really enjoy developing my technical capability in my role, and find I’m supported in doing this within the Transfer Pricing team through countless new opportunities and varieties of work which we have on offer.

 Well there must be some challenges as well then?

There’s always that question of how you balance work and having a life. Sometimes, the to-do list seems endless, however I really enjoy what I do day-to-day and can’t go a day without having something to laugh about with the people I work with. Ultimately I don’t find my role limiting to my personal time, and I’m able to make sure I have enough time to do the things I enjoy outside of work, whether it’s working out, catching up with friends, trying out the never ending list of restaurants I want to visit or curling up with a good book.

BDO has always enabled me to have the flexibility and autonomy to manage my workload in a way which works for me, I’m grateful for what that means to me and my personal life as well.

Lady sitting at a table smiling

You’ve talked a lot about the people around you. How do you learn from them?

BDO is big on collaboration and being able to bring your opinion to the table. From partners to juniors, everyone’s in the mix, sharing insights, bouncing ideas, and supporting one another. Everyone is encouraged to feel they can contribute to the matters they’re involved with, whether client work, meetings or other initiatives, it’s normal for any circumstance to involve collaboration from partners through to junior colleagues as a typical day at BDO. We’ve got a great team with a huge mix of perspectives which makes learning a constant part of what we do.

So that's Amy's story - one of progression, change and engaging culture with others. Proof that tax isn't all about numbers and proof that accountancy as an industry can bring some of the best people together, no matter who they are. Join Amy and the vibrant team at BDO as they navigate the exhilarating world of tax management with passion, purpose, and a whole lot of pizzazz!

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