Experiences You Don’t Want to Have - Anonymous employee BDO Employee Review

This review relates to a particular team within BDO Singapore Risk Advisory — one associated with the second letter of the alphabet. Those familiar with the practice will likely know which team this refers to. The biggest issue is not the workload, but the culture. Micromanagement is excessive. Emails often require review before being sent, and minor editorial mistakes can attract criticism that feels disproportionate to the issue. Constructive coaching is often overshadowed by fault-finding. The team revolves around a leader who appears to place significant trust in a small inner circle while concerns from the wider team frequently go unheard. Over time, this has created a perception that certain individuals hold influence far beyond their formal roles and can shape decisions, narratives, and priorities within the team. Many employees have raised concerns over the years, yet little appears to change. As a result, some team members no longer see value in speaking up. Workplace politics has become difficult to ignore. Professional judgement does not always seem to carry the same weight as alignment with the inner circle, creating an environment where employees can feel overlooked regardless of their contributions. Role boundaries are also unclear. From Associate to Director level, employees are often expected to handle responsibilities across multiple levels. The expectation is simply to do whatever is required, regardless of seniority, often without corresponding authority, support, or recognition. With more members leaving, this sends a clear signal about what it means to join this particular corner of BDO Singapore Risk Advisory. When capable employees repeatedly choose to leave, the departures themselves become the most honest reflection of the culture.