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BDO Employee In Canada Infected with Coronavirus

Posted on by Jason Bramwell

BDO is the first non-Big 4 firm that we know of that reportedly has an employee in Toronto who tested positive for COVID-19.

Here’s what Global News in Canada reported on March 10:

Global News has obtained a memo sent to workers at BDO Canada on Wellington Street East in Toronto advising them that a staff member who recently travelled overseas had tested positive for COVID-19 and is now in self-isolation.

“As a precaution, all employees at the national office (20 Wellington St. E.) are required to work from home, effective immediately, for a 14-day period ending Monday, March 23,” the memo said.

“BDO is not mandating self-isolation during this 14-day period.”

The memo advised workers who may develop COVID-19 symptoms to isolate and consult a medical professional.

The office will undergo a “deep clean,” the message read.

BDO is one of three accounting firms that has had a confirmed case of COVID-19 among its staff, according to published reports. Deloitte has had two—one employee in London and one in the Philippines, while an EY employee in Madrid contracted the virus.

Coronavirus: Employees at 2 GTA offices told to stay home after possible COVID-19 exposure [Global News]

Related articles:

Deloitte U.K. CEO Says Employee Has Coronavirus
EY Madrid Confirms Employee Has Tested Positive for COVID-19
Deloitte Philippines Confirms Case of COVID-19

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Related: he’s also stepping down as BDO International’s CEO on September 30:

[After] 33 years in total with BDO UK and BDO International, I will be stepping down on 30 September 2011.

I have had a fantastic career and have been privileged to lead BDO UK for 7 years and BDO International for the last 3 years. I have had some great colleagues, worked with some brilliant people and, in my earlier career, been involved with some terrific clients.

Martin van Roekel, the firm’s Managing Partner in the Netherlands, will officially be the new International Chief on October 1.

Newman says “it is time for a change,” but he “[doesn’t] know what I will do but after 33 years in this business, I am looking forward to seeking new opportunities outside the accounting profession.” He is promising to keep blogging through September, so hopefully he’s still working on his delicate sensibilities.

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Perpetual fusspot and BDO Global CEO Jeremy Newman has not been shy about how unfair he thinks the dominance of the Big 4 is. The majority of his blog posts are tagged “Global Accounting” and several consist of bellyaching about Big 4 this and the Big 4 that. Of course, since the mainstream media has finally picked up on the idea that the concentration of auditors could be a bit of a problem, Newman has lots of articles to jump from and since the UK’s Office of Fair Trade has said something needs to be done about this, he had another opportunity this week:

Under the headline “Antitrust watchdog urges reform to break audit grip of Big Four” the FT states:

“Regulatory action may be required to break the dominant grip of the Big Four accounting firms on UK audits of leading companies…”

The only word I would challenge is “may” – it should say “will”.

Presumably this article was in the print edition because Newman doesn’t link to it but suffice to say he’s concluded that the government needs to either break up the Fab 4 like Yoko Ono or put some laws in place that mandates non-Big 4 firm inclusion. Either way, Newman laments to the Big 4 that it doesn’t have to be this way:

At long last it seems that something might now be done to open up the audit market. It is a shame it has taken so long and that it will require regulatory intervention – though it is not too late for my colleagues in the Big Four, and others, to act on a voluntary basis to create the environment necessary to allow real competition.

Judging by the statements from the firms, they seem more or less going along with it but these firms aren’t conscientious objectors. Don’t expect them to play nice.

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