When Kyra Mendoza left the Philippines, she never expected to find a sense of home in Rotorua. BDO Rotorua has given her just that.
We spoke to Kyra about her accounting journey and what it means to be part of a supportive whanau.
Tell us about your journey with BDO to date.
“I came to New Zealand from the Philippines when I was 19 and then I completed a Bachelor of Applied Management, majoring in accounting, at Rotorua’s Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology. I graduated in August 2021 and was lucky enough to start at BDO Rotorua just one month later. Now I’m an intermediate accountant, working on some of the bigger accounts in our Business Advisory Services team.
Since I’ve been here, my confidence has grown a huge amount. When I joined the company, I was very introverted but through the influence of my BDO Rotorua colleagues, I've been able to open up and build relationships with my co-workers and clients.”
What does it mean to be part of a supportive whanau?
“It’s the sense of home. I came to New Zealand on my own. At BDO Rotorua I have found a family, many of whom are also from different countries around the world and left their homes in search of better opportunities. I immediately felt so at home here because there are people who understand what it’s like to leave your home country and try something new.
Thinking more specifically about my work, the learning curve from graduate to accountant is steep. My coworkers have put a lot of time and effort into training me and sharing their knowledge. I want to be the best version of myself to show them how much I appreciate their support.”
How does BDO make you feel like you’re part of a supportive whanau?
“My coworkers are instrumental in making sure that I feel confident to share my opinions, which has helped me grow and develop as an accountant and team member. They’ve also helped with my communication skills. Although English is one of the main languages taught in the Philippines, there are always cultural nuances and corporate language you can never know until you experience them.
BDO has helped me understand the value of a company that genuinely cares. Our team is supportive and encouraging, and I know my colleagues are here for me 100%.”
How does BDO’s approach make you feel?
“It was so hard leaving my family but I feel like I've found a new family here, where I belong and am understood. I thank BDO for giving me that sort of family.”
At BDO I am my best when... I’m surrounded by my supportive coworkers and Partners. Being an accountant at BDO in New Zealand, enjoying all these new experiences and working with fantastic people, has allowed me to grow into the person I am today - the person I aimed to be when I left the Philippines.”
Interested in a career at BDO? View our current opportunities here or read our other BDO colleague stories.