About BDO
BDO is the leading mid-tier professional services provider globally. In 2024, our core service lines (Audit & Assurance, Tax, Advisory, and Business Services & Outsourcing) generated annual revenues of over US$15 billion. With a worldwide community of over 119k professionals operating in 166 countries and territories, we’re dedicated to helping our clients navigate complex financial and strategic challenges, aligned to our core purpose ‘People helping people.’
Why join us?
A great place to work
Building a thriving global team is an essential pillar of our bold new vision Global solutions. Driven to be the best. - so it’s no surprise that our offices around the world are regularly recognised with awards and accolades. We’re a people-powered business, with a diverse, dynamic and inclusive international team who are committed to excellence, innovation, and integrity.
Make a difference
We believe that businesses have an economic imperative and an ethical responsibility to contribute towards a more sustainable and equitable world. In 2021, as part of the Net Zero Financial Service Providers Alliance, we pledged to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050 or sooner. In addition, we’re #BDOproud to support thousands of colleagues around the globe who regularly participate in activities to ‘give back’ to the communities in which we operate.
Professional growth
Our collaborative, international environment fosters professional growth and development, to ensure that all our people thrive. We’re committed to transferring and sharing resources, knowledge, skills, and experience across our organisation, and our Global Mobility Programme provides the gateway to a whole world of opportunities.
Position: Media Relations and Crisis Communications Manager
The BDO global office (headquartered in Brussels, Belgium) is seeking a Media Relations and Crisis Communications Manager to join the Corporate Affairs team, reporting to the Director, Network Operations, based in Belgium.
This global role is responsible for building the capability in the global communications practice to develop and govern media relations and issues communications across BDO globally. This includes developing and implementing proactive media outreach strategies, reactive media relations strategies, and crisis communications plans.
Key accountabilities
50% - Media Relations
* Develop and implement the global media and public relations strategy to drive business objectives and increase brand awareness on a global scale.
* Establish and maintain strong relationships with global media outlets, manage press releases, coordinate interviews, and respond to media inquiries to build positive media coverage.
* Partner with communication teams at BDO member firms to identify and leverage proactive and reactive media opportunities, strengthening BDO’s global reputation.
* Develop strong media relationships with European and international media.
* Prepare, update, and distribute media developments, opportunities, and issues. Deliver daily media summaries and additional reports as needed.
* Support news and social media monitoring to provide leaders with timely updates and analysis, and strategic guidance on issues.
* Act as a trusted advisor on media relations, offering strategic advice and support to communications teams across the BDO network.
* Provide media training and guidance to senior leaders and spokespeople.
* Create high-quality content for a variety of channels, including press releases, social media, corporate presentations, speeches, and executive messaging.
50% - Crisis Management
* Develop and execute comprehensive crisis communication strategies and response plans Prepare crisis communication plans, manage global response during crises, and communicate effectively with stakeholders to protect and uphold BDO’s reputation.
* Draft, edit, and deliver a range of communications with precision and speed, ensuring alignment with both internal and external audience needs during a crisis.
* Partner with international teams across the BDO global organisation to provide expert advice, analysis and strategies to manage through reputational issues.
* Act as a primary point of contact during crises, seamlessly coordinating efforts among internal teams and external stakeholders to ensure a unified and effective response.
* Work closely with international teams to align crisis communication strategies, ensuring consistency and cohesion across the organisation’s global network.
Qualifications
* Demonstrated media relations and issues management experience.
* Strong knowledge of the international media landscape.
* Superior written and oral presentation skills.
* Comfort working in a fast-paced and deadline-driven environment, with an ability to remain calm under pressure.
* Strong organizational and project management skills, with meticulous attention to detail.
* Ability to balance multiple priorities and work independently.
* A high degree of comfort briefing, supporting, and engaging with C-suite executives.
* Proven ability to build and maintain meaningful relationships with colleagues across countries worldwide.
* Demonstrated flexibility and willingness to take on tasks outside of core responsibilities.
* A commitment to curiosity, and professional and personal growth,
* Minimum 5-7 years’ communications, media relations and issues management experience, preferably gained in an agency, newsroom, government, or large multinational environment.
* Post-secondary degree in journalism, public relations or equivalent experience.
* Ability to work non-standard hours, including evenings and weekends.
* Professional services sector experience is an asset.
* A native English speaker or excellent proficiency in English.
* Please note this position is based on Central European Time (CET); however, given the international nature of this global role, flexibility in hours of work is required.
About us
BDO is an international network of independent public accounting, tax and advisory firms ('the BDO network'), which performs professional services under the name of BDO (‘the BDO Member Firms’). BDO is the brand name for the BDO network and for each of the BDO Member Firms.
Service provision within the BDO network is coordinated by Brussels Worldwide Services BV (BWS), a limited liability company incorporated in Belgium with VAT/BTW number BE 0820.820.829, RPR Brussels. Each of BDO International Limited (the governing entity of the BDO network), BWS and BDO Member Firms is a separate legal entity and has no liability for another such entity's acts or omissions. Nothing in the arrangements or rules of the BDO network shall constitute or imply an agency relationship or a partnership between BDO International Limited, BWS and/or the member firms of the BDO network.
More information on BDO can be found on www.bdo.global.
Privacy Statement
By providing us with your personal information during the application process, you consent to BWS processing your personal data for the purpose of treating your application, evaluating your candidacy, and contacting you about a position for which you have applied. We also may process your personal data to:
* Evaluate you for any open positions throughout the BDO network.
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You also agree that we may share such data with any BDO Firms and service providers that we use, if relevant for this job application.
BWS does not collect sensitive personal information except where voluntarily provided by the candidate as part of the application.To the extent you voluntarily provide sensitive personal information as part of your application, by doing so you consent to BWS’ use of that information for its legitimate business purposes and consent to the transfer and storage of such information to and in BWS’ databases.