Making an impact inside and outside of work

For BDO Rotorua accountant Simrandeep Kaur, it’s important to be active in the community as well as in her work. 

Below, Simran shares how she supports her local community, her experience as Miss Rotorua, and how BDO Rotorua helps her be her best.  

Tell us about your BDO journey.

“I first came to BDO Rotorua as a student to complete my industry project as part of my studies. We were lucky that our tutor knew a Partner here who invited us to complete our necessary placement hours, and I ended up staying part-time. After completing my bachelor’s in accounting, I joined BDO fulltime in March 2023.” 

What does it mean to you to be impactful in your work?

“One of the values we have at BDO is kaitiakitanga – make sustainable decisions. I try to live this in my everyday work and habits – even in little things like trying not to use paper where possible. As an accountant, I aim to be as productive and efficient as possible to allow my clients to get on with their work. My work supports other businesses in meeting their goals, deadlines, and requirements, which in turn contributes to our local and national economy.” 

Tell us about your involvement with Miss Rotorua 2024.

“I loved taking part in Miss Rotorua 2024 and was delighted to be named the winner! 

The Miss Rotorua Foundation is all about supporting whānau in Rotorua. Its annual Miss Rotorua Beauty Pageant is a charity event that raises awareness of social issues in the community and celebrates culture and the arts. Each year the pageant highlights a new charity to support, and this year we had two: Love Soup Rotorua, which collects and distributes food to the local community, and the Rotorua Community Clothing Exchange. All pageant participants have been involved in raising awareness and donations for these charities. 

There’s a lot of community work involved in Miss Rotorua - before, during, and after the pageant. There are fundraisers, charity events, speaking engagements, and all sorts of opportunities to get out in our communities and engage with youth and adults." 

How has BDO Rotorua supported you?

“BDO Rotorua was very supportive and understanding of my workload and schedule during my Miss Rotorua training. I’ve been able to have flexibility in my workdays, and I’ve also felt supported by the team in what I’m doing outside of work. Having an understanding team motivates me to do my best work." 

How does BDO’s support make you feel? 

“It makes me feel relaxed. I know my team has my back and that is really motivating and inspiring. As a team, we understand everyone’s lives go beyond the 9-5 workday and it’s great to be able to bring our whole selves to work. I am not the most outgoing person, and Miss Rotorua has allowed me to build my confidence and show others what’s possible.” 

At BDO, I am my best when… “I know my team has my back. I know if I run into an issue, I can throw up my hands and say I need help - and I know I will get that help. BDO Rotorua has a really supportive team environment.” 

Interested in a career at BDO? View our current opportunities here or read our other BDO colleague stories.