BDO Award of Excellence

BDO Cranbrook’s accounting manager won the company’s prestigious national award for 2012

1 of 2Michael Murphy of BDO in Cranbrook, B.C., is the recipient of the company's national CEO Award of Excellence for 2012. — Marie Milner photo

2 of 2Michael Murphy of BDO in Cranbrook, B.C., is the recipient of the company's national CEO Award of Excellence for 2012. — Marie Milner photo

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Every year, team members at BDO Canada LLP have the opportunity to nominate one person in the firm to be a candidate for the company’s prestigious national award, the CEO Award of Excellence. In February 2013, Michael Murphy, manager, accounting and assurance at the Cranbrook office of BDO, was presented with the award for 2012.

Murphy started working in the Cranbrook office seven years ago, as an articling student.

“When I finished university in Calgary,” Murphy said, “I really wanted to work in a smaller community where I could get to know my clients, and my co-workers and bosses too. I also figured I’d get more exposure to different types of accounting needs and consequently learn more, and I think I made the right call.”

Going the extra mile

Candidates for the CEO Award of Excellence are nominated by their peers for performing well in any of 11 designated categories, including volunteerism, technical achievement, performance excellence, leadership, client service, going beyond the call of duty and others.

“My nomination was announced at the staff Christmas party,” Murphy said. “When I went to the national office to receive the award in February, I was told that I had received four nominations, which is apparently quite unusual. The nominations came from a cross-section of the office—both staff and partners.”

Murphy said he thinks that he may have received votes for going beyond the call of duty. For example, he introduced an element of fun in the office during the always-brutal tax season.

“We had a bingo, an Easter egg hunt and a bunch of fun games including a Rock Paper Scissors tournament," he said, "as well as an end of season awards presentation where everyone received a trophy for positive attributes as voted by their peers. We do stuff to keep things light during that time.

“On top of doing what’s required by my job description, I do a lot of mentoring for the students. I bake cupcakes for everyone’s birthday—I try to make the office feel like a family. We spend so much time together, we’ve got to get along, and these little things help.”

Murphy said that he leads by example. He works long hours during tax season, and as the learning and development co-ordinator he schedules all the training for the staff. He also coaches the new students, helping them with their files.

“I have fun every day at work,” Murphy said. “When you’re positive, it helps everyone get through the day. If you let your job be boring, it will be.”

Sharing the credit

Murphy was adamant that at the end of the day, the CEO Award of Excellence is a reflection of more than just one person—it’s a reflection of a great group effort.

“It’s not my win, it’s our win,” he said. “Everyone here played a part in earning it.”