Advisory Associate, Privacy & Data Protection - Summer 2027 (Multiple Locations)

BDO USA; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 78,000 - 82,000; Full time

Job summary

BDO USA is seeking an Associate to join its Privacy & Data Protection practice in Chicago, focusing on privacy, data governance, and AI governance services. The role involves learning on the job, assisting with technical tasks, project management, and building experience across engagement teams.

Responsibilities include privacy assessments, data inventories, policy development, client reporting, and collaboration with teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Technology, CS, Cybersecurity or Business Management required.
• MBA or JD preferred.
• Internships or professional experience in data management, technology, compliance, or business management preferred.

Responsibilities

• Participates in privacy and AI governance maturity assessments and PIAs or AI risk assessments.
• Develops policies and procedures; manages project responsibilities.
• Assists with client reports, data inventories, and data maps.
• Uses tools like OneTrust to support privacy program operations.
• Documents findings, recommendations, and client interview notes.

Skills

Communication

Analytical skills

Research skills

Organization

Multi-tasking

Relationship building

Deadline-driven

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Technology/CS/Cybersecurity/Business Management

MBA or JD

Tools

MS Excel

MS Word

PowerPoint

Adobe Acrobat

SharePoint

Visio

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Associate will join a thriving Privacy & Data Protection practice that continues to grow its privacy, data governance, and AI governance services. The successful candidate will be highly motivated, organized, willing to learn on the job, and can interact with professionals at all levels. In addition, the successful candidate will have an interest in being trained to assist with technical tasks, project management tasks, learning the fundamentals of data privacy and AI governance, and would like to build their professional experience through working on multiple project aspects across engagement teams.

Job Summary

The Associate will join a thriving Privacy & Data Protection practice that continues to grow its privacy, data governance, and AI governance services. The successful candidate will be highly motivated, organized, willing to learn on the job, and can interact with professionals at all levels. In addition, the successful candidate will have an interest in being trained to assist with technical tasks, project management tasks, learning the fundamentals of data privacy and AI governance, and would like to build their professional experience through working on multiple project aspects across engagement teams.

Job Duties

• Participates in conducting privacy and AI governance maturity assessments based on applicable regulations or frameworks
• Participates in conducting Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs) or AI Risk Assessments of client systems, vendors, or processing activities
• Participates in developing policies and procedures
• Manages individual project responsibilities related to information management project tasks
• Assists the team with developing client reports, including findings and recommendations
• Assists with developing data inventories and data maps
• Utilizes tools like OneTrust to assist clients with maintaining privacy program operations
• Develops and maintains client status reports
• Develops assessment reports, including findings and recommendations
• Provides data subject access requests support for the team by aggregating data sets, formulating responses to the data subject, and tracks response times and response methods; attends and documents technical client interviews, internal meetings and memorialize report and memorandum contents
• Conducts research for client projects to ensure they receive the most up to date solutions available on the market
• Supports project requests related to privacy and data protection
• Budgets time and assists with multiple project requests simultaneously, as well as the ability to monitor project tasks and risks
• Travel required as necessary
• Other duties as required

Supervisory Responsibilities

• N/A

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Technology, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Business Management, required
• MBA or JD, preferred

Experience

• Internships, externships or professional experience with data management, technology, compliance, and/or business management, preferred

Licenses/Certifications

• N/A

Software

• Proficient in Microsoft Office, specifically Excel, Word and PowerPoint, required
• Adobe Acrobat, preferred
• Microsoft SharePoint, preferred
• Knowledge of Microsoft Visio, preferred

Languages

• N/A

Other Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Ability to interact effectively with people at all organizational levels of the firm
• Able to build and maintain strong relationships with internal team members and clients
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong analytical and research skills related to the retrieval and organization of high volumes of information
• Solid organizational skills especially ability to meet project deadlines with a focus on details
• Ability to successfully multi-task while working independently or within a group environment
• Proven ability to work in a deadline-driven environment and handle multiple projects simultaneously

Individual salaries that are offered to a candidate are determined after consideration of numerous factors including but not limited to the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and geography.

Illinois Range: $78,000 - $82,000

Minnesota Range: $70,000 - $74,000

NYC/Long Island/Westchester Range: $83,000 - $87,000

Ohio Range: $71,000 - $75,000

Washington DC Range: $83,000 - $87,000

About Us

At BDO, how we show up matters. We build strong relationships by supporting one another, our clients, and our communities with care, curiosity, and a commitment to helping one another grow and succeed. Here, you’ll find meaningful work, leaders invested in your success, and opportunities to build a career around what matters most to you.

Our purpose is to be the people our clients count on to grow with confidence and achieve what matters most. Our values guide how we bring that purpose to life each day. Together, they shape how we work with one another, serve our clients, and create meaningful impact.

BDO provides assurance, tax, and advisory services to clients across the U.S. and around the world. No matter your role, you’ll be part of a team helping clients navigate complexity and move forward with clarity.

We are proud to be an ESOP company, offering participants a stake in the firm’s success through beneficial ownership and a unique opportunity to enhance their financial well-being. As a qualified retirement plan, the ESOP is a meaningful addition to our comprehensive compensation and Total Rewards benefits* offerings. It also reinforces an ownership mindset that strengthens our connection to one another, our clients, and the future we’re building together.

Learn more about our benefits: BDO Total Rewards encompass more than traditional benefits.

• Benefits may be subject to eligibility requirements.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/vets

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

"BDO USA, P.A. is an EO employer M/F/Veteran/Disability"