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We spoke to the people at the heart of BDO's Audit Quality Department (AQD) in a conversation with three of their key members: Rob, Head of the Technical Standards Group, Stuart, Head of Audit Quality Improvement and Olivia, a Partner within the Quality Review and Support team. They shared their insights on the purpose of AQD, development opportunities, diversity, recognition, and flexibility within the team. You’ll hear about the exciting world of audit quality, and how the team set up means success for everyone around.

Group of people posing for a selfie behind iron bars

Hi everyone, great to sit down and chat. Let's start with an overview of AQD: who are you and what do you aim to do?

Rob: Hi! So the vision and purpose of AQD is to provide direct live support to the Audit stream. We help by answering technical queries, conducting in-flight reviews, and offering financial reporting advice and technical training. Essentially, we bring clarity to complex situations and work with audit teams to find the right answers together.

Olivia: Absolutely, and from my perspective, AQD is all about improving audit quality every day. Our purpose is to help teams consistently deliver high-quality audits. If our audit quality isn't great, we don't succeed as a business.

Stuart: I’ll second all of that: we fit into the firm-wide objectives by being at the centre of audit quality, which is paramount to our success.

OK, and what about the development opportunities within AQD? What do they look like?

Olivia: I’ve found that the opportunities are endless; a career path in AQD can be as linear or as varied as one likes and we encourage our team members to take charge of their development, but also support them in achieving their goals as well.

Stuart: I’ve found that we have a wide range of skills within our team, from specialist banking auditors to those with regulatory experience. This diversity allows for a bit of matrix career planning, where you can move through different parts of the firm and acquire new skills.

Rob: Yeah, we're growing significantly, and a lot of that growth has come internally. We've also recruited externally, bringing in new talent to enhance what we do.

Nice. So tell us about how diversity plays a role in AQD?

Stuart: Within AQD, we have a range of different people from different backgrounds. It's the diversity of thought that this brings which always gets you a better answer. Our different experiences and perspectives make up our team diversity and contribute to our success.

Olivia: I’d add to that and say that teamwork in AQD means being able to collaborate and support each other, no matter the time or place.

Rob: I’ll be bold and say that we probably are one of the most diverse teams in the firm, and our leadership team and partner group reflect this diversity. We genuinely believe in having the right person for the right purpose.

Group of people in a line, doing a conga by the side of a river

Great to hear. So how about how individuals and teams are recognised at BDO; how does that look for you?

Olivia: It can be as simple as us having a culture of saying ‘thank you’ and giving recognition in team meetings and other places.

Stuart: Recognition takes many forms, from career progression to evolving what we do and seeing the impact on the business. It's rewarding to shape our team's work and see the long-term success of individuals.

Rob: AQD has recognition programs like financial rewards, regular pay reviews, and promotion rounds. We also have internal quarterly and instant award programs. The size of our team allows us to get to know people well and recognise their contributions individually.

Sounds great. So lastly, how does AQD approach flexibility in the workplace?

Rob: So we have a principle called “WorkABLE”, which centres around being in the location that best suits the work you're doing. We have home workers, flexible hours, and part-time arrangements, and it's important to get the best out of each other, even when we're not in the same physical location. We also embrace getting together as a team to build a sense of community.

Olivia: And for me, WorkABLE is brilliant because it allows us to work in a way that suits our team. Some teams work well outside the office, while others prefer in-person collaboration. It gives me the flexibility to balance work and family life, like doing the school run and having dinner together as a family, something I want to carry on as long as possible.

Stuart: I couldn’t agree more. There are so many opportunities to be dynamic in how you work. The key is being practical and professional, allowing us to live a slightly different life in this post-pandemic world.

It's clear that in AQD, there is huge focus on audit quality, development, diversity, recognition, and flexibility. Rob, Stuart, and Olivia highlight how these elements come together to create a supportive and dynamic environment. Whether it's through development opportunities, embracing diversity, recognising contributions, or offering flexible working arrangements, AQD is committed to helping its team members succeed.

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