20 BDO Interview Questions and Answers

BDO is one of the world’s largest accounting and advisory firms, with over 80,000 employees in over 150 countries. If you’re looking for a job at BDO, you can expect to face some tough interview questions.

BDO is known for asking behavioral interview questions. These are questions that ask you to describe how you have handled specific situations in the past. Behavioral questions are a great way for interviewers to get a sense of how you would handle similar situations in the future.

BDO also likes to ask technical questions. These questions test your knowledge of accounting and auditing principles. If you’re interviewing for a position in BDO’s audit practice, you can expect to be asked a lot of technical questions.

To help you prepare for your interview at BDO, we’ve compiled a list of sample questions and answers.

BDO Interview Process

The interview process at BDO can vary depending on the position you are applying for. However, most positions will require at least two rounds of interviews, often with different members of the team. The first round is usually a screening interview, which may be conducted over the phone or via video call. This is followed by a more in-depth interview, which may include behavioral questions. In some cases, there may also be a third round of interviews. Overall, the process can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.

1. What do you think is the biggest challenge in the accounting industry right now?

This question is a great way to see how you can fit into the accounting industry and what your thoughts are on current issues. When answering this question, it’s important to be honest about your answer while also showing that you have ideas for solutions or improvements.

Example: “The biggest challenge in the accounting industry right now is finding qualified accountants who are willing to work hard. I think there are many people who get into this field because they want an easy job with little responsibility, but this isn’t the case at all. Accountants need to be detail-oriented, organized and able to work under pressure. If someone doesn’t want to put in the effort, then they shouldn’t be in this field.”

2. Tell me about a time where you had to deal with an ethical dilemma. How did you handle it?

An interviewer may ask this question to assess your moral compass and how you make decisions that affect the company’s reputation. Use examples from your past experience where you had to choose between two options, one of which was more ethical than the other.

Example: “In my last role as a financial advisor, I had a client who wanted me to recommend certain investments for them based on their risk tolerance. However, they also asked me if there were any investments that would allow them to get out of their investment early without paying fees. I told them that while there are some investments that offer early withdrawal penalties, those types of investments usually have higher returns. They decided to go with an investment that allowed them to withdraw money early but charged a fee. I felt it was important to be honest with them about the consequences.”

3. Do you have experience working with clients from different industries? Which ones?

This question can help the interviewer understand your experience working with clients from different industries and how you handled those relationships. Use examples of past projects that involved working with a variety of clients to show the interviewer that you have the skills necessary to succeed in this role.

Example: “In my current position, I work with clients from many different industries, including retail, food service, manufacturing and more. My team and I are responsible for helping our clients develop strategies to improve their business operations and financial performance. We do this by performing thorough research on each client’s industry and creating customized plans based on what we find.”

4. Why should we hire you over other candidates?

This question is a great way for employers to learn more about your qualifications and how you can benefit their company. When answering this question, it’s important to highlight the skills that make you unique as well as the ways in which you can contribute to the success of BDO.

Example: “I am an extremely organized individual who has experience with multiple accounting software programs. I also have excellent communication skills and enjoy working on projects independently or collaboratively. These skills are what led me to pursue a career in accounting, and they’re exactly what makes me qualified for this position. My attention to detail and ability to work under pressure will help me succeed at BDO.”

5. Give us an example of a time when you worked as part of a team and what your role was.

This question is a great way to learn more about your potential future colleagues and how they work together. It’s also an opportunity for you to show that you’re a team player who can collaborate with others.

Example: “In my last role, I was part of a small accounting team where we worked on the same projects at the same time. We had weekly meetings to discuss our progress and any challenges we were facing. This helped us stay organized and ensured we were all working toward the same goals. When one of us needed help, we would offer assistance as well. For example, if someone was having trouble with a client, another member of the team might take over their responsibilities so they could focus on getting back up to speed.”

6. Are you comfortable doing research, data analysis, and preparing reports?

This question is a great way to determine if the position you’re interviewing for will be a good fit. If you are asked this question, it’s likely that your interviewer wants to know how much time you spend doing research and data analysis in your current role. It’s important to show that you enjoy these tasks by giving examples of when you’ve done them in the past.

Example: “I love researching and analyzing data. In my last job, I was responsible for creating reports on our clients’ financial health every quarter. This helped me understand what information was most important to include in each report. I also used this opportunity to learn more about accounting software so I could create more detailed reports.”

7. We often work long hours at BDO. Would that be an issue for you?

This question is a way for the interviewer to assess your work ethic. They want to know that you are willing to put in extra hours when needed and that you can stay focused on tasks even after a long day of work. In your answer, explain how you plan to manage working long hours if necessary.

Example: “I understand that at BDO we often have to work late into the night or early morning. I am prepared to do so as needed. I find that having a good work-life balance is important to me, but I also realize that sometimes it’s necessary to sacrifice personal time for professional success. If I ever feel like my work-life balance is suffering, I will speak up about it.”

8. If a client came to you with inaccurate or incomplete information regarding their taxes, how would you approach the situation?

This question can help interviewers understand how you would handle a challenging situation. Your answer should show that you are willing to take initiative and solve problems when necessary.

Example: “If I noticed the client had incomplete or inaccurate information, I would first try to get in touch with them to see if they could provide me with more details. If not, I would contact my manager for advice on what steps to take next. In this case, I would likely need to fill out the taxes based on the information we already have. Then, I would submit an amended return once the client provides us with the correct information.”

9. Tell us about a time you made a mistake at work, how did you handle it?

This question can help the interviewer get a better idea of how you respond to challenges and learn from your mistakes. Use examples from previous work experiences where you faced a challenge, learned from it and improved your performance or skills.

Example: “In my first accounting job, I was responsible for entering data into our financial software program. One day, I accidentally deleted all the company’s accounts receivable records. My supervisor helped me restore the information, but we had to re-enter all the data by hand. It took us several days to complete the task. From that experience, I learned to be more careful when working with sensitive data.”

10. What are some examples of tax credits and deductions?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of tax credits and deductions. It also shows the interviewer that you have experience with these concepts, which can be important for this role. In your answer, try to list as many examples as possible while explaining what they are.

Example: “Tax credits and deductions are ways to reduce or eliminate taxes owed. Some common ones include the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child and Dependent Care Credit, Adoption Credit, Mortgage Interest Deduction, Student Loan Interest Deduction and Lifetime Learning Credit. I’ve used all of these in my previous roles, so I’m familiar with how to find them on tax forms and calculate their value.”

11. Describe your audit experience, including which industries you have experience auditing.

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your background and experience. They want to know if you have any industry-specific knowledge that can help them with their client’s needs. In your answer, describe the industries you’ve audited in the past and how they differ from the one you’re interviewing for.

Example: “In my career so far, I’ve worked on audits of both small businesses and large corporations. My most recent audit was at a local restaurant where we looked at everything from employee records to customer satisfaction surveys. Before that, I worked on an audit of a national chain store where we examined inventory management, sales reports and other financial documents.”

12. Explain GAAP to us.

The acronym GAAP stands for Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. These are the standards that accountants use to record financial transactions and maintain records of those transactions. The interviewer may ask this question to see if you have a strong understanding of accounting principles. In your answer, try to explain what GAAP is and how it’s used in accounting.

Example: “GAAP refers to the set of standards that accountants follow when recording financial transactions. Accountants must adhere to these standards because they help us keep accurate records of business transactions. For example, one principle I learned about during my education was conservatism. This means that we should always assume something will be more expensive than we expect. If we do this, we can ensure our company has enough money to cover any expenses.”

13. What has been your most complex project?

This question can help the interviewer understand your ability to handle complex projects and how you handled them. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a project that was particularly challenging but also one in which you were successful.

Example: “In my current role as an accountant at Smith & Company, I have been responsible for managing several large projects. One of these projects involved helping our client create a budgeting system that would allow them to track their expenses more effectively. This project required me to work with multiple departments within the company to ensure all aspects of the budgeting system were accounted for. While this project was challenging, I successfully helped my client develop a budgeting system that has allowed them to save money each month.”

14. What kind of clients are you interested in working with?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have experience working with clients similar to those of BDO. Your answer should include a few details about your ideal client and how it relates to your previous work experience.

Example: “I’ve worked with small businesses for most of my career, so I’m excited to learn more about working with larger companies. My favorite part of working with smaller businesses is helping them grow their revenue and profits. I think that’s something large companies are looking for as well, so I’m eager to apply my skills in this new environment.”

15. Tell us about a time when you had to communicate technical information to someone who didn’t have the same background as you.

This question can help the interviewer determine how you communicate with clients and other non-accountants. Use your answer to show that you’re willing to take the time to explain complex information in a way that’s easy for others to understand.

Example: “When I first started working as an accountant, I had to work with several clients who didn’t have any background in accounting or finance. To make sure they understood my reports and recommendations, I would always start by explaining what each section of the report was and why it was important. Then, I would go into more detail about each part of the report so they could see exactly where their money was going.”

16. What do you think is the biggest problem facing the accounting profession today?

This question is a great way to see how you can fit into the BDO culture. The interviewer wants to know that you understand the challenges of working in accounting and are willing to work hard to overcome them. Your answer should show your willingness to help solve problems, as well as your ability to think critically about issues facing the industry.

Example: “I believe the biggest problem facing the accounting profession today is the lack of qualified accountants. With more businesses than ever before needing an accountant, there simply aren’t enough CPAs to go around. This means many small businesses have to hire inexperienced accountants who may not be able to provide the level of service their company needs.”

17. What is more important – deadlines or quality?

This question is a test of your ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks. Your answer should show the interviewer that you can balance quality with meeting deadlines, which are both important in accounting.

Example: “Both quality and meeting deadlines are equally important. I always make sure to meet my deadlines so clients receive their financial reports on time. However, I also ensure that all my work is accurate and well-documented. This ensures that if there are any questions about the accuracy of the report, it’s easy for me or another accountant to review my work and find the answers.”

18. Tell us about a difficult decision you had to make on a project.

This question can help the interviewer understand how you make decisions and what your thought process is. It also helps them see if you have any experience with difficult decisions, which can be important in this role. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a situation where you had to make a decision that was challenging but still helped the project or company overall.

Example: “In my last position as an accountant, I worked on a team of five people who were all accountants. We were working on a large project for a client when one of our accountants became ill. The other four accountants and I discussed who would take over their work while they were out. In the end, we decided that two of us would split her workload evenly until she returned from illness. This allowed us to continue working on the project without delaying it.”

19. Have you ever dealt with an unhappy client before? How did you resolve the issue?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you handle conflict and whether you have experience working with clients. Use examples from your previous work experience to highlight your problem-solving skills, communication skills and interpersonal skills.

Example: “In my last role as a financial advisor, I had a client who was unhappy about their investment returns. After meeting with them in person, I discovered that they were expecting higher returns than what we could offer at our firm. I explained why this was the case and offered other solutions for investing their money. They decided to move their funds into another account where they could receive more competitive returns.”

20. What tools do you use for financial modeling?

This question can help the interviewer determine your level of expertise in financial modeling. You can answer this question by naming several tools you use and explaining how they benefit you as a financial analyst.

Example: “I have used Excel for my financial modeling since I started working as a financial analyst. It’s an essential tool that allows me to create complex models with ease. I also use Visio, which is helpful when creating diagrams and flowcharts. Another tool I find useful is Power BI, which helps me analyze data more efficiently.”