BDO LLP is the UK and Ireland member firm of BDO, a global accountancy network. It serves mid-sized businesses and took on 525 trainees across its UK offices in 2026.
BDO is an accountancy and business advisory firm that mainly works with mid-sized businesses, the companies bigger than a corner shop but smaller than a household-name giant. Its four main areas are Audit (checking company accounts), Tax, Deals (advice on buying and selling companies), and Consulting, Risk & Outsourcing. BDO LLP is the UK and Ireland member firm of the global BDO network, which operates in 169 countries and territories.
According to Wikipedia, the firm began in 1903 as Stoy and Co, founded by Fred Stoy, and became Stoy Hayward in 1919 when Jack Hayward joined. In 1994 it combined with offices of BDO Binder Hamlyn to become BDO Stoy Hayward, the UK member of BDO International. It became a limited liability partnership in 2004, dropped the Stoy Hayward name for BDO branding in October 2009, and merged with Moore Stephens in February 2019. BDO's own news item says BDO LLP has about 8,500 employees and 19 offices across the UK and Ireland. We did not find a head office address in the sources we read.
We did not find a formal mission statement. BDO's culture page says it campaigns for “entrepreneurially-minded, fast-growth and ambitious UK businesses” and mentions a new strategy, vision and core purpose without stating them.
The work covers auditing companies' accounts, tax advice, supporting deals, and advising on risk, technology controls and outsourcing. Its audit apprenticeship listing describes trainees working on real audits and projects for ambitious, fast-growing clients, and joining the Technology Risk Assurance Controls team, which reviews financial IT systems for weaknesses. Older press shows BDO also takes on insolvency and valuation work.
BDO is a strong example of a firm outside the Big Four that hires many trainees. In September 2026 it welcomed 525 trainees across its offices, made up of university graduates, school leaver apprentices and students on 12-month industrial placements, with 55% based outside London. The 2026 Audit School Leaver Apprenticeship listing describes a four-year programme leading to a permanent role, studying towards the ACA, CFAB or ICAS. It asked for three A-levels at A* to C (UCAS points not used), GCSE Maths and English at grade 4 or above, and the right to work in the UK, and it listed a salary of £26,615 a year. Sixteen office locations were listed, including Liverpool, Edinburgh, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, Birmingham and London. Trainees join a cohort with mentoring, flexible working and wellbeing support. Applications run through online assessments, a video interview, an assessment centre and a final interview. Those terms were for the 2026 intake and the listing has now closed.
Website: www.bdo.co.uk
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