Student careers

Be your best at BDO

Intern & Graduate opportunities

BDO is a world-leading professional services firm – but we’re also a family. We understand that providing our clients with exceptional services across business advisory, audit and tax begins – and ends – with you. We offer a unique and supportive culture that puts people first – whether that’s professional development, personal fulfilment or work-life balance. 

We know you want to be your best, so we offer a tailored learning and development programme that enables you to thrive as an individual right from the start. Whatever you’re passionate about, we’re here to help you pursue it, and we support a broad range of social and environmental community initiatives across our 20 NZ offices for you to get involved in.

If you're interested in applying for our student career opportunities, please register your interest and we will be in touch early 2025 when applications reopen.  

Why BDO?

We like to think that our culture is what sets us apart and makes us such a desirable place to work. In the office you’ll experience an open-door culture where you are encouraged to ask questions and your contribution is valued. From your first day, you’ll be involved in a variety of real client work and will receive help and support from your Partners and team every step of the way. BDO promotes a collaborative working environment that allows you to develop strong networks with your colleagues and learn from other’s experience. But life at BDO is about more than just work. There are plenty of opportunities to get out of the office and socialise, play sport, volunteer in the community and get to know your colleagues a bit better. Friday night celebrations, social sports teams, fun runs, and team events are all a part of working at BDO. Each team has its own particular vibe and we all come together on a regular basis for full firm events.
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How to apply

We want to make the process as simple and enjoyable as possible so we've provided some hints and tips to help you on your journey. We appreciate the time and effort that goes into your application – it’s a big decision for you and us.
Find out how to apply

Māori Scholarship for accounting students

In honour of Sir Henare Ngata, who was the first Māori chartered accountant, we're providing national scholarships to three talented Māori students in their pursuit to become accountants, while in their final or penultimate year of study. Applications for our Sir Henare Ngata Scholarship are now closed and will reopen March 2025. Read about our 2024 winners or find out more information about applying in 2025.

Benefits & locations

We provide access to a huge range of opportunities – from growing relationships with clients right from the start, to benefitting from a structure that enables you to learn from Partners from day one. Learn more about the benefits of joining our BDO whānau and our locations across the country

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Our values

Our values define who we are and what we care about – they reflect how we interact with each other, our clients and our communities. They are our foundations and concepts that we live and breathe every day at BDO.

Programme start dates

Internship Programme

  • BDO Christchurch - 12th  November
  • BDO Auckland - 18th November

Graduate Programme

  • BDO Wellington - 17th February
  • BDO Christchurch - 26th February
  • BDO Auckland - 3rd March

Our service lines

If you believe that business is about more than the balance sheet and profit and loss statement, then this could be the team for you. Our audit specialists and technical experts focus on the bigger picture.

BDO has one of New Zealand’s largest dedicated audit teams and access to a network of experts around the world in over 100 countries

To be great at Audit you need to have an eye for detail as well as being very thorough. Audit is like CSI for accountants. At BDO you’ll undertake audits for a wide range of clients from smaller and mid-market sized firms through to corporate and listed companies. As auditors, we look to see if the clients’ statement about their financial position are true, fair and accurate. We work closely with their finance team and other key people to get to know their business well and understand the risks they face. We then identify any weaknesses in their financial statements, business systems or culture, and advise them on suitable solutions.

If you choose Audit at BDO you’ll spend a lot of time at our clients’ premises, which is a great way to absorb the atmosphere of the business and get a sense of its culture, how the people like to work and what motivates them to perform. These are great things to learn about business as a new grad.

Read our blog from Antonio Bateson, a 2022 BDO grad, about his experiences in his first year working in Audit at BDO Wellington here

Learn more about Audit

As businesses grow, so do the challenges they face. Our Advisory team provides personalised services to clients based on their unique needs and to meet the challenges at every stage of their life cycle.

To excel in BAS (Business Advisory Services) you need to not only understand financial concepts, but also be a great communicator, be able to work with and without guidance and as part of our team.

In Advisory, we work alongside businesses to help support and manage their financial affairs. We look after the basics such as tax compliance, day to day accounting requirements, payroll and preparing financial statements, right through to the more complex stuff such as growth strategies, tax planning and asset protection. 

We take our time to get to know our clients really well, comparing where they are now with where they want to be, and taking a good look at how they are currently doing things so we can offer real value. One of the best bits about working for BDO is that you work with these clients from day one. This means you get to see and hear first-hand how the work we do helps our clients.

Read our blog from Zoe Morrell, a current BDO grad, about her experiences working in BAS here.

Learn more about Advisory Services

 

Tax touches all aspects of people’s lives. If you are creative and enjoy problem solving, then Tax is for you. Our team of tax specialists back businesses with practical, innovative and robust solutions.

You will be responsible for an array of matters, from assisting individuals and liaising with Inland Revenue, to complex cross-border transactional work. Our tax practitioners undertake a variety of work on a daily basis where no one day is the same.As a graduate in our tax team, you will hit the ground running from your first day where you will be expected to make valuable contributions to the work our team undertakes. In addition to compliance work, a small glimpse of the work undertaken by recent graduates includes preparation of transfer pricing reports, involvement with mergers and acquisitions, tax due diligence reviews, and preparation of various tax opinions and tax structuring advice. We add value to our clients’ businesses, while helping them achieve their short-term goals and long-term vision.

Read our blog from Lydia Jackson, a 2022 BDO grad, about her experiences in her first year working in Tax at BDO Auckland here

Learn more about Tax

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TRUST

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Learning & development

Our culture is collaborative; you’re a name not a number, so we recognise that when you start a new role it can be daunting. Your buddy will support you initially and throughout your time with us. They’ll make sure you are fully informed and never feel afraid or unsure as to who to direct any questions that arise.  You’ll experience an open-door culture where you are encouraged to ask questions, learn, develop and where your contribution is valued. 

Are you wanting to qualify as a Chartered Accountant within the next few years? Then it’s good to know that we are the 3rd biggest CA employer in New Zealand and hold Recognised Training Employer status with Chartered Accountants Australia New Zealand.

When you’re ready to commence your postgraduate qualification and begin your journey to becoming a Chartered Accountant, we will support your CA program pathway and studies to achieve this.

We are inextricably connected throughout the world. 164 countries and over 95,000 people connected by a common cause; to provide clients with exceptional service. If you’re keen on expanding your skills and expertise on the international stage, we have theatres for you to perform. Our secondment programs also provide you with the opportunity to expand your horizons and experience new cultures while gaining great experience working in a new and exciting environment. 

Register your interest

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