BDO USA Releases Its 2023 Sustainability Report

ESOP Reaffirms Firm’s Commitment to a People-First, Purpose-Driven Culture


CHICAGO, JULY 23, 2024 – BDO USA, one of the nation’s leading accounting and advisory firms, today released its latest sustainability report. The report highlights the firm’s efforts to integrate sustainability across its business through strategies that improve resilience, enhance inclusivity and encourage accountability.  

"Of our 2023 milestones, none was more significant than our decision to establish an Employee Stock Ownership Plan,” CEO Wayne Berson said. “This transformational move further activates our purpose of helping people thrive every day and builds on our sustainability efforts, strengthening the impact we seek to create for our people, clients and communities.” 

As one of the largest Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOP) in the country, BDO provides a broad base of employees with beneficial ownership, enhancing the firm’s ability to recruit and retain talent while delivering more equitable access to wealth creation for its people.

Additionally, in 2023, BDO: 

  • Reimagined its social impact strategy and identified four cause areas to maximize the impact of the firm’s collective efforts: children and youth, education and literacy, human rights, and environment 
  • Offered 250+ inclusion activities and touchpoints for employees with more than 9,000 participants
  • Donated $2.7M to nonprofits and community organizations
  • Mobilized 14,073 volunteer hours through BDO’s longstanding employee-driven volunteer program
  • Committed to setting company-wide science-based emissions reduction targets with the Science Based Targets initiative 
  • Adopted policies around environmental and human rights practices
  • Increased the percentage of offices in environmentally-certified buildings to 52% 
  • Launched an internal sustainability and ESG training curriculum, offering nearly 30 courses designed to educate and upskill its people

"From establishing our ESOP to reimagining our social impact initiative, 2023 was a remarkable year," said BDO USA Chief People Officer, Cathy Moy. “Each of our programs, policies and strategies is chosen to support an environment where all can thrive. Our people are critical in fostering this environment, and their engagement fuels our long-term progress, contributing to the overall sustainability of our firm.”  

In 2023, BDO also appointed Karen Baum to lead the firm’s sustainability efforts in the role of Sustainability & ESG Managing Principal. Formerly the Managing Partner of BDO Sustainability Services and Solutions, Baum has more than 35 years of experience as a strategy and corporate finance professional and has spent nearly a decade at BDO. Baum will advance BDO’s sustainability program while developing and supporting services and solutions to help clients navigate their own sustainability journeys. In this role, Baum chairs BDO’s Sustainability & ESG Leadership Team and leads the Sustainability & ESG Center of Excellence (COE). Baum also plays a critical role in the sustainability efforts of BDO’s global organization and will continue to lead development efforts for BDO Global Sustainability & ESG Services for its international network of member firms. 

“Sustainability is a foundational pillar of our business strategy and who we are as a firm,” said Baum. “I’m excited to explore the art of possible as we deliver on our promise to help people thrive every day. We are proud of our commitment to shape a sustainable future by contributing to resilient businesses, strong communities and a healthy environment for all.” 

This report has been prepared in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) 2021 Universal Standards and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) 2018 standard for the Professional & Commercial Services industry. The report includes financial, emissions and people data from May 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023, as well as progress made and initiatives undertaken from May 1, 2022 to December 31, 2023. 

View the full report here.  

About BDO USA

Our purpose is helping people thrive, every day. Together, we are focused on delivering exceptional and sustainable outcomes and value for our people, our clients and our communities. BDO is proud to be an ESOP company, reflecting a culture that puts people first. BDO professionals provide assurance, tax and advisory services for a diverse range of clients across the U.S. and in over 160 countries through our global organization. 

BDO is the brand name for the BDO network and for each of the BDO Member Firms. BDO USA, P.C., a Virginia professional corporation, is the U.S. member of BDO International Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, and forms part of the international BDO network of independent member firms. For more information, please visit: www.bdo.com.

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