Our people

At BDO, we believe that 90 % of our business is about the people we employ. We encourage individuals to generate and cultivate new ideas, and our employees have direct participation with senior professionals, as well as easy access to the partners.

Our employees have access to the latest developed information technology, and each member of the audit teams have a dedicated laptop, for their sole use during and after office hours.

We offer broad experience to all our staff in all departments to clients in various industries, and on-the-job training is enhanced by formal training courses, which is compulsory for all our employees. By insisting on Continued Professional Development (CPD) for all our employees, we are promoting a culture of life long learning, to which each of our employees, are committed.

Whilst Learning and Development is a very high priority. we firmly believe that a balanced life is crucial for individuals to reach their full potential. Our employees are encouraged to participate in the BDO Social Club as well as in our Community Projects.

The BDO Culture

BDO’s culture is based on key values. These values define us, and the people that make up this firm. We believe in :

  • Taking ownership and responsibility, from junior assistant to partner;

  • Exceeding expectations, whether of clients, our market or our employers or ourselves;

  • A passion for principals;

  • Honesty and integrity;

  • Working hard, but also playing hard

Our Trainees and other staff all know that at BDO, we work hard when the time calls for it, but we also play hard. At BDO, employees enjoy getting the best training in the business by seniors and partners who share the same values, making us the BDO family.

BDO as Training Institution

Audit firms have traditionally been seen as the best Training ground for Accountants and Auditors alike, and even today, having done “Articles” is considered excellent experience and part of any Accountant’s resume. BDO is proud to be a part of this tradition, and continue to invest in the training and development of young Namibians to become professional advisors, or to take their rightful place in the economic sectors of Namibia. We have various strategies in place as a training institution, for example:

  • As part of UNAM’s final year for a B Accounting degree, students are required to do three weeks practical training. BDO not only subscribes to this UNAM initiative, we also remunerate these students during this practical;
  • All Trainees are allowed paid study leave in addition to their annual leave, to enable them to prepare properly for exams. The cost of this additional leave is borne by the partners of the firm.
  • We allow Trainees to take up to six months’ career break to concentrate on studies, keeping their positions for them, in final study years where the load becomes very high;
  • We support UNAM’s newly developed Bachelor of Accounting (Chartered Accountant) degree and give preference to bursary students who opt for this degree here in Namibia;
  • Each BDO trainee is assured of 80 hrs minimum external training courses, and we encourage attendance of our various Institutes’ (ICAN and CFA) training initiatives.

CFA Training Contracts

In 2010 BDO recognized the need to provide a well-known brand training office to these students who wish to become CFA’s (Commercial and Financial Accountants). We obtained accreditation as a CFA training office and are now a member of the Institute of Commercial and Financial Accountants of Namibia.

Career Opportunities

Our people have many opportunities after a career with BDO. For most Trainee Accountants, an audit firm is just a stepping-stone towards a career in commerce. In their final year of articles, BDO offers secondements across the BDO network of member firms and many trainees enjoy this opportunity to see the world and gain further experience. But for most, lucrative offers in commerce pull them away from the audit profession. Having been exposed during their training to multiple industries and clients, they have also built up many contacts, and often it is a BDO client who offers a position to our qualified staff. BDO is proud to be able to send young trained Namibians into commerce and our relationship with them often continue for many years, now not as employee, but as a client or business partner.

While it is always sad to say goodbye to employees after their training has been completed, it is always good to know that we are enhancing the skills in Namibia.

Employment Equity

BDO in co-operation and consultation with the Government of Namibia and its fellow social stakeholders implemented an employment equity policy specifically aimed at employing Namibians in designated groups previously disadvantaged in employment as a result of past discriminatory laws and practices. This policy aims to avoid all non-essential barriers against Namibians in the designated groups in all categories of employment and to reflect a truly Namibian demographic profile. To achieve this, the firm is committed to :

  • Offering Bursaries to Namibians to study towards the qualification of Chartered Accountants (CA) or Chartered Financial Accountants (CFA) through our bursary scheme and gives preference to students at the University of Namibia (see above);
  • Promote a culture of house owning amongst employees through the BDO housing scheme;
  • Create conditions of conducive ownership in the firm;
  • Improve educational as well as academic and practical skills of all employees through our various training incentives (see above).

To ensure this, the training and promotion of individuals from the designated groups receives preference without detriment to existing employees or other groups.

We believe that the achievement of world-class standards and global competitiveness requires the skills of each individual to be fully developed and utilized. Being part of a global network of professionals makes this not only a goal, but an absolute necessity for our accreditation as member firm of BDO International.

In a world crippled by a global recession, we are proud to have been able to increase our employee numbers, and offer more bursaries in 2010/11, than ever before. Our staff compliment comprise now of 89 % Namibians and only 11 % non Namibians, most of whom have been appointed specifically to be mentors to understudies who hope to become Chartered Accountants. 70 % of staff is female, whilst 30 % is male.