BDO
BDO India and BDO RISE interview process: the rounds for assurance, tax, advisory and BSO roles, what each one tests, and the most asked questions.
- 25 open jobs
- 1964 founded
- ~1,500 - 2,000 employees in India
- Zaventem headquarters
About BDO
BDO is the fifth-largest accounting and advisory network in the world, with more than 1,15,000 people across 160-plus countries. In India it operates as BDO India, headquartered in Mumbai with offices in Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune, Ahmedabad, Kochi and other cities, and as BDO RISE, the global delivery arm that supports BDO USA from Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi and Mumbai. Combined headcount in India runs into several thousand and has grown rapidly since 2020.
BDO India provides assurance, tax and regulatory services, advisory including deals, restructuring and forensics, and business services and outsourcing (BSO) covering accounting, payroll and compliance for mid-market and large clients. BDO RISE delivers audit, tax, advisory and technology work for US engagements.
The firm hires chartered accountants, CA finalists, CMAs, CPAs, commerce graduates and MBAs, as well as engineers for its technology and analytics practice. Entry-level titles are Associate and Senior Associate. BDO looks for solid technical fundamentals, a service mindset and the ability to handle multiple client deliverables, and it tends to offer wider exposure early because engagement teams are compact.
BDO hiring process
1. Application and screening
Candidates apply through the BDO India and BDO RISE careers pages, campus drives at CA and commerce institutes, job portals such as Jobaaj and referrals. HR screens for the qualification required by the role, relevant articleship or work experience and location fit, and usually makes a short screening call to confirm interest, notice period and salary expectations.
2. Online assessment
Fresher and campus candidates typically take an online aptitude test covering numerical, logical and verbal ability. BDO RISE roles may add an accounting or Excel-based module, and technology roles a coding section. The test is remote and proctored. Experienced hires generally skip this stage and move directly to interviews.
3. Technical interview
A 30 to 45 minute interview with a manager or associate director from the practice. It tests accounting, auditing and tax fundamentals for assurance and tax roles, valuation or transaction concepts for advisory, and process and tool knowledge for BSO and technology roles.
4. Partner or director interview
A discussion with a partner or director on your motivation, career plans and how you handle clients and deadlines. For BDO RISE this may be a video interview with a US-based engagement leader.
5. HR round and offer
HR discusses compensation, location, shift alignment for BDO RISE roles, joining date and background verification before releasing the offer. The whole process usually takes two to five weeks.
BDO interview rounds
BDO India and BDO RISE conduct three to four rounds. The aptitude round is mainly for freshers; lateral candidates start at the technical interview.
Round 1: Online aptitude test
A 45 to 60 minute remote, proctored test on quantitative aptitude, logical reasoning and verbal ability, sometimes with a short accounting or Excel section. Results are usually shared within a week and decide the interview shortlist.
- Percentages, ratios and data interpretation
- Logical sequences and arrangements
- Basic journal entries and trial balance questions
Round 2: Technical interview
A 30 to 45 minute interview, often on video, with a manager or associate director from the practice, driven by your resume and the service line. Expect the interviewer to pick one engagement or project and probe the standards you applied and the judgement calls you made.
- Ind AS or US GAAP treatment of revenue, leases and provisions
- Audit assertions, risk assessment and sampling
- Income tax, TDS, GST or transfer pricing scenarios
- Payroll, bookkeeping and compliance processes for BSO roles
Round 3: Partner or director interview
A 20 to 30 minute conversation with a partner or director on fit, ownership and career goals. For BDO RISE this may be a video call with a US-based engagement leader, so be prepared to explain your understanding of US GAAP or US tax basics if the role requires it.
- Why BDO and why this practice
- A time you handled a demanding client or a tight deadline
- How you keep up with changes in standards and regulations
Round 4: HR round
A 15 to 20 minute discussion on compensation, notice period, location and documentation, followed by background verification. BDO RISE HR also confirms comfort with US-aligned hours during busy season and explains the shift allowance structure where it applies.
- Current and expected CTC
- Willingness to travel or relocate
BDO salaries
| Designation | Average salary |
|---|---|
Intern / Trainee Experience: 0 yrs |
₹ 2.8 L /year â‚ą2,40,000 – ₹3,20,000 |
Analyst / Associate Experience: 0 – 2 yrs |
₹ 6 L /year â‚ą4,50,000 – ₹7,00,000 |
Senior Associate / Consultant Experience: 2 – 5 yrs |
₹ 11.5 L /year â‚ą9,00,000 – ₹14,00,000 |
Specialist / Subject Matter Expert Experience: 4 – 8 yrs |
₹ 16 L /year â‚ą13,00,000 – ₹20,00,000 |
Manager Experience: 5 – 8 yrs |
₹ 24 L /year â‚ą18,00,000 – ₹28,00,000 |
Senior Manager Experience: 8 – 12 yrs |
₹ 36 L /year â‚ą28,00,000 – ₹45,00,000 |
Figures are estimates based on typical market ranges for this role and sector, not company-published pay. Actual offers vary by location, skills and negotiation.
BDO interview questions
Question banks most relevant to roles at BDO, with model answers.
BDO interview FAQs
Q1How many interview rounds does BDO conduct?
Freshers usually face an online aptitude test, a technical interview, a partner or director interview and an HR round, so three to four stages. Experienced candidates typically complete two interviews and an HR discussion without the aptitude test.
Q2How difficult is the BDO interview compared with the Big Four?
The technical depth is similar because the work is the same, but the process is shorter and more conversational. Interviewers focus on whether you understand the fundamentals and can explain your articleship or project work clearly, rather than on trick questions.
Q3Why do you want to join BDO?
Mention BDO's rapid growth in India, the mid-market client base that gives early end-to-end exposure, and the global work through BDO RISE. Connect it to the practice you applied to and to your own goals, and avoid describing BDO as a stepping stone.
Q4Explain the difference between an audit and a review engagement.
An audit provides reasonable assurance through detailed testing of transactions, balances and controls and results in an opinion; a review provides limited assurance through inquiry and analytical procedures and results in a conclusion. Mention the applicable standards and give an example of when a client would need each.
Q5Tell me about a mistake you made at work and how you handled it.
Choose a genuine but not damaging example, such as a misclassification you caught during a review. Explain how you identified it, informed your senior promptly, corrected it and changed your process to prevent a repeat. Interviewers are testing honesty and ownership.
Q6What is the eligibility and typical salary for freshers at BDO India?
Assurance and tax roles typically require a qualified CA, CA finalist or CMA; BSO and advisory roles accept commerce graduates and MBAs, and BDO RISE also hires CPAs and CPA aspirants. Fresher CTC is typically in the low to mid single-digit lakhs for graduates and higher for qualified CAs, with annual performance-linked increments.
Quick facts about BDO
- How long does the hiring process take?
- The process usually takes 4–6 weeks from application to offer, depending on the role and number of interview rounds.
- How can I prepare for a BDO interview?
- Review your technical fundamentals, practise STAR‑based answers for behavioural questions, research BDO’s services and recent projects, and be ready to discuss your past experiences in detail.
- What kind of interview questions does BDO ask?
- Expect a mix of technical questions relevant to your domain and behavioural questions based on the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). For example, you may be asked to describe how you handled a challenging client situation or worked in a diverse team.
- What is the recruitment process at BDO India?
- The process typically includes an online application, an aptitude or technical assessment, and one or more interview rounds. Interviews often combine technical questions with behavioural or situational questions to assess problem‑solving and cultural fit.
25 open jobs at BDO
Apply on Jobaaj, and use this guide to prepare before your first round.
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