Ideas | People | Trust

The Head of L&D role is a senior leadership role responsible for managing the firmwide L&D function. Initially, the role will primarily focus on supporting the Audit stream, with a view to expanding across other streams over time, with future activities informed by a detailed learning needs analysis exercise to be performed shortly. Reporting to the Director of L&D, this role involves collaborating with other central teams to deliver effective, high-quality learning aligned with strategic priorities.

Why Join Us?

• Strategic Influence: Play a key role in shaping L&D strategy, ensuring learning meeting individual and business needs, supports strategic priorities and meets compliance requirements.

• Innovative Environment: Join a team that values innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Be part of our effort to drive positive change and promote learning culture, using cutting-edge tools and leveraging the latest design thinking to enhance our learning offering.

• Leadership Role: Work directly with senior stakeholders to achieve strategic and operational goals.

• Professional Growth: Coach and support the team and represent BDO at external events.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day operations of the L&D function, collaborating with the Head of Professional Qualification, Head of Talent & Leadership and other people teams to ensure our learning offering is cohesive and aligned with strategic objectives.

• Develop and maintain L&D curriculums (firmwide and stream-wide), informed by the learning needs analysis, including core technical learning, skill learning, milestone programmes and ad hoc programmes.

• Manage priorities to ensure delivery of agreed curriculums on time and to expected quality standards. Balance people, quality and growth aims as appropriate.

• Support with regulatory compliance including developing responses to formal and informal queries and directly engaging with the firm’s regulators where needed.

• Ongoing engagement with central teams and the individual streams to identify emerging L&D needs and develop effective responses (at either the firmwide or stream-wide level).

• Maintain of quality assurances procedures for learning and development across BDO, to ensure learning meets the needs of the learner, support BDO commercial aims and meets expected quality standards.

• Oversee the operation of systems, controls and processes across the learning cycle, proactively assess and manage risks, and drive continuous improvement as part of the firm’s System of Quality Management.

• Establish metrics to measure learning effectiveness and manage risk, monitoring these regulatory and reporting to those charged with governance as appropriate, to support effective operations and achievement of strategic outcomes.

• Handle budgeting and ongoing financial management, providing clear justification for deviations from budget and actively managing commercial risks.

• Bring innovation, tools and the latest design thinking into our learning offering. Provide insight into the latest thinking and best practice across L&D, making recommendations to the Director of L&D around L&D strategy and supporting operational transformation / efficiency across the function.

• Advocate L&D activities and promote a strong learning culture. Role model BDO Values and represent BDO at networking and other business events, ensuring a clear learning narrative in the marketplace, contributing the learning discussion, and influencing the future landscape.

Initial role responsibilities will be focused on leading delivery of the Audit required learning curriculum. Over time, the remit of this role will evolve, informed by the detailed learning needs analysis, and it is expected to broaden to include both firmwide and other stream (Tax, Deals, Consulting, Risk and Outsourcing) learning. The exact timing and nature of these wider activities has yet to be determined. The responsibilities outlined however are applicable to both the immediate role and any future evolution. The knowledge, skills and experience are consistent.

What are we looking for?

• Experienced Senior Manager, preferably with a Learning & Development background.

• Strong understanding of Audit and the regulatory environment (particularly important given the immediate focus of the role).

• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with senior stakeholders and suppliers.

• Proven ability to influence and drive forward strategic projects.

• Strong project management skills and ability to prioritise.

• Critical thinking and pragmatic problem-solving skills.

• Commercial mindset with a focus on operational excellence.

• Commitment to quality and excellence in delivery.

• Strong leadership skills, including an ability to coach, develop and inspire people to reach their potential.

• Professionalism and gravitas to represent the firm among senior leaders (both internally and externally)

• Collaborative mindset and alignment with BDO Values.

• Excellent analytical, interpersonal and communication skills.

• Understanding of business strategy and goals.

• An Audit background would be beneficial but is not essential.