Leslie Peters on Leadership, Property Strategy & Career Growth at BDO

Shaping Exceptional Workplaces at BDO: Meet Leslie Peters

At BDO, we believe that great work happens in the right environment, and that environment is shaped by people who think beyond the walls of an office. Leslie Peters, Partner and property lead across BDO’s UK offices, brings a unique blend of practical experience and strategic thinking to his role. From an electrical apprenticeship to senior leadership, Leslie’s journey shows how curiosity, openness and real connection can drive growth, for people and for business.

What is your current role, and what do you enjoy about it?

Partner responsible for BDO LLP 18 offices in the UK. I get to engage with the business on strategy and how property helps the business to grow. People and Places.

Can you describe your career journey to date?

My journey started out as an electrician following an apprenticeship I started when leaving school at 16. I then moved into servicing corporate offices and Data Centres learning more about the services that allow buildings to function. My first leadership role was supervising a team of engineers, before moving into managing teams and contracts. I guess my star was bright enough to be noticed by the bank we were contracted to and I was appointed Engineering Manager at Director level. I grew from there taking on more responsibilities including projects and real estate transactions. This came with promotions up through Vice President, Executive Director and on to Managing Director. With this came the opportunity to take on global leadership roles leading to working in many countries, such as Germany, Hungary, Turkey, Russia, UAE, Japan, Hong Kong, USA, and India.

What first brought you to BDO?

Chance social conversation with Paul Eagland who introduced me to Wendy Walton as I was close to completing my Business Coaching course and Andy Butterworth where we started out sharing real estate stories. What drew me towards BDO was the people I met, which was key as at the time I was not sure I wanted to return to corporate life.

How has your role evolved since joining?

Leadership roles typically evolve over time, especially when the business recognises your capabilities and you start to feel settled in the role. An example will be working with Human Resources team to evaluate the promotion process across the Practice Management Departments to improve consistency in approach. In my “day job” as relationships build and trust is gained; I have been empowered to make decisions.

What support have you received to grow professionally here?

The leaders of the business have been great in welcoming me into the business, when someone says they can help they mean it. I have also benefited from the Partner promotion process and the Welcome to Partnership programme.

What advice would you give to someone considering a similar career path?

Create your identity and be true to who you are. Remain curious, always seek to learn new things. Be prepared for things not working out as you planned, success is not a smooth road, so be ready for the speed humps and potholes without losing sight of the journey ahead.

What’s one thing you’re most proud of in your time at BDO?

The change my team has made in improving the quality of our offices across the UK.

Building a Better BDO

Leslie’s story is a clear example of what it means to shape the future — by bringing your full self to the work, staying open to new directions, and supporting others along the way. At BDO, we believe in empowering people with diverse experiences to lead, grow, and make a lasting impact. We’re proud to have leaders like Leslie helping us build better workplaces, together.

BDO Southampton Office: A Future-Focused Workplace for the UK

Discover how BDO’s newly refurbished Southampton office fosters innovation, collaboration, and regional growth—empowering the UK’s economic engine to thrive.