Vault’s Verdict

NOTE: Berdon did not participate in our most recent Accounting Survey; data here is from our 2014-2015 surveys.

Berdon is looking for young candidates with good academic records and good communication skills. The firm offers an excellent internship program, giving students the ability to get hands-on experience while seeing what life is like as a full-time associate. For its full-time staff, Berdon offers ample career development opportunities, including solid formal and informal training; some insiders note that the firm’s promotion policies could be improved. Although insiders will work long hours during busy season, the firm goes to great lengths to ensure that its staff have a healthy work/life balance. Diversity as well as philanthropic activities receive good ratings by insiders. And business outlook is bright; employee morale is generally strong and the firm continues to grow.

Hiring Process

• “The firm is looking for good grades in college and a candidate that has either a master’s degree or has 150 credits to be eligible to sit for the CPA exam. The candidates should be enthusiastic and eager to learn.”

• “I believe the firm’s interview process has been very well designed and implemented. Having interviewees go through multiple rounds including with a partner interviewer ensures a high quality staff. Ideal candidates include those that are motivated, educationally qualified, communicative, and agreeable.”

• “I am involved in the recruiting process, which includes meet-and-greets, career fairs, on-campus events and recruitings, and interviewing. We also offer the prospective candidates lunch dates and coffee dates, along with office visits and tours. Communication is frequent and prompt.”

• “Interview process is good.”

Intern Experience

• “My internship experience at Berdon was phenomenal. I received a wide variety of work and feedback. They were also willing to let me work around my schedule, which allowed me to finish school in a timely manner.”

• “During my internship, I was able to establish a connection with many people whom I work with today, including partners. I acquired valuable skills that helped me to perform day-to-day duties. It was a great experience, and I was very happy to be able transition to a full-time position after my graduation.”

• “The internship program was amazing. You really can take out of it as much as you are willing to put in. By the end of my five-month internship I was fully prepared to start a full-time position.”

• “It prepared me for my first busy season very well. I was able to see what the office atmosphere was like when a deadline was coming up. I was able to learn the programs fairly well before being thrown into busy season.”

Career Development

• “Tailored training programs at various staff levels facilitate career development. Additionally, very good on-the-job training helps tremendously in developing professional staff.”

• “Very little opportunity to transfer to other areas.”

• “There is an opportunity to grow in the firm; however, the time to advance from the senior to the supervisor level is long and dependent on passing the CPA examination, irrespective of the number of years of experience, quality of work, and challenging assignments that the experienced senior performs.”

• “The buddy program was not very well done when I entered into the firm. I know they are revamping the program to better the experience for the incoming class. I believe this program is well organized and will help the incoming class immensely.”

Quality of Life

• “They understand that life happens outside of work. They are flexible when it comes to appointments and such, when you need to come in late or leave early. They are also very concerned with your well-being.”

• “The overall quality of life is great! There is a nice balance between your work flow and personal life. Berdon does a great job keeping the employees satisfied, even during the busy seasons.”

• “Business casual year-round would help boost morale. Busy season hours are very long and seem to increase every year. Increased focus on billable hour targets makes you feel like a machine.”

• “Most clients are conveniently located within walking distance from the office. The office has a great location and is easy to commute to. The people are very friendly, easily approachable, at all levels.”

Salary and Benefits

• “Vacation and sick days are among the best aspects of our compensation and benefits. The food stipend during busy season is low considering the costs in NYC. The maternity/paternity policy seems to be a bit outdated and not very flexible. Having more flexibility for new parents to work and be able to take care of their newborns would be more helpful. Other companies have policies such as a part-time transition period back to work, working remotely, and having a space at work designed for parents to take care of newborns while working part time.”

• “The best part of the salary is that accountants get a raise every year; however, no bonuses are provided to staff (only managers and above).”

• “Overall, I am satisfied with the level of compensation and benefits. The firm could improve on other perks, such as working from home on Saturdays during busy season.”

• “Raises are not that high, benefits have been taken away (401(k) match), and there are limited perks. But the company reimburses tuition.”

Diversity, Philanthropy, and Green Initiatives

• “At the staff/manager level there is a lot of diversity with respect to women and ethnicity. However, there is a disconnect at the partner level that has not been addressed.”

• “The firm does not have a recycling policy when it comes to plastics. The firm’s overall diversity is great: many different cultures and nationalities. However, the firm can improve on hiring people with disabilities.”

• “The company’s charitable giving initiative is something that makes me proud of Berdon.”

• “We support of many charities. There’s not enough diversity.”

Business Outlook

• “The business outlook is good. The firm keeps getting new clients, and the billable hours are up this year. One of the weaknesses is that many competent professionals left the firm recently.”

• “The co-managing partners make an effort to hear our voices by holding town hall meetings. In those meetings, they also let us know how Berdon’s doing, what kind of changes the company’s going through, etc.”

• “The firm is very conservative and manages its prospects with careful consideration, including mergers and prospective clients. The firm is very competitive in the marketplace and has some of the best talent available.”

• “Employee morale is good; camaraderie is great among staff.”