BDO kicks off office moves with Sydney expansion
BDO kicks off office moves with Sydney expansion
BDO will expand its Sydney CBD presence this June, kicking off a series of national office moves as the firm responds to strong growth, rising demand for talent, and an expanding client base.
The move to the newly constructed Parkline Place at 252 Pitt Street comes as BDO’s Sydney office has seen a doubling of revenue over the last five years to more than $188 million, with over 800 Partners and staff, up from just below 500 in 2021.
The new office space will see BDO’s office footprint grow by 69 per cent in the Sydney market and comes after the recent expansion into Greater Western Sydney with the opening of a second Sydney office in Parramatta. The move of the Sydney CBD office to larger premises punctuates a national office increase of nearly 50 per cent when BDO’s Brisbane, Melbourne, and Adelaide offices move later this year.
“Our office moves signal our commitment to both our clients and our people as we continue to make significant investments as part of our growth agenda,” said BDO Chief Executive Partner Tony Schiffmann.
“BDO's stand-out-people-centric culture is becoming well-understood in the market, leading to a surge in interest in BDO, an influx of lateral hires, and higher retention rates even as market conditions continue to change.
“This growth is perfectly complemented by our new office spaces, designed to foster collaboration, connectivity, and innovation.”
“The calibre of our new office spaces reflects our commitment to clients and our people by providing a modern work environment for our people and our firm to grow into the future.”
Workplace of the future
BDO’s new office in Sydney provides a glimpse into where the firm sees the future of the workplace.
The 39-storey energy efficient tower is one of two integrated public transport over-station developments in the Sydney CBD, sitting atop the new Gadigal Metro Station.
The firm, which has secured podium signage rights for Parkline Place, selected the building for its connectivity for both clients and employees—a key factor in its decision-making process.
“People are at the heart of all that we do, and the location and design of our new office reflects this,” said BDO NSW Managing Partner Grant Saxon.
“From a location perspective, it was important that BDO’s new premises are readily accessible by public transport, providing our team with easy access to clients, colleagues, and state-of-the-art facilities.”
Collaborative spaces and premium amenities are also crucial, with Mr Saxon noting that the firm’s culture is key to its success.
“The design of the office is also critical in ‘earning the commute’ so that staff have an incentive to come together and collaborate in a sustainable environment with amenities that encourage agility and a positive work culture,” he said.
“We understand that the benefits that come with flexibility and face-to-face contact will only be realised if we create an enticing destination, so we have invested in quality amenities that will make our workspace unique.”
The Sydney move will be closely followed by BDO’s Brisbane office, which will grow by 15 per cent when it relocates in November to a brand-new building at 360 Queen Street at the centre of the city’s golden triangle.
BDO’s Melbourne office will then almost double its existing office footprint when it moves into 35 Collins Street, while the firm’s Adelaide office space will grow by over 40 per cent when it moves into 30 Pirie Street. Both moves are scheduled for the last quarter of the year.
The string of moves come after BDO expanded into the Canberra market last year and moved into new offices at 5 Farrell Place, while its Perth office took up residence in Tower 2 of the Capital Square Precinct in 2022.
Age of flexible work
While flexible working arrangements remain in place for BDO, the firm has seen an uptick in staff attendance, prompting it to secure larger premises as it continues to attract new talent.
For BDO accountant Lily Hall, the office represents a chance to learn from seniors and Partners in a way that would not be possible while working from home.
“The exposure to on-hand guidance and mentorship that you get while working next to managers and Partners on the same office floor cannot be replicated while working from home,” said Ms Hall.
“While flexible working has its benefits, the new office provides collaborative and breakout spaces that are conducive to the way we work. Social interaction and exposure to colleagues in different service lines across the firm is also beneficial to my career development.”
For media enquiries:
Jane Ward
Senior Manager, Media
E: Jane.Ward@bdo.com.au
Ph: +61 7 3173 5424