Ascendant mid-tiers boost partner ranks as big 4 scale back
RSM has appointed 22 new partners and directors while William Buck broke its own record by adding 19 partners and principals.
RSM and William Buck are riding the wave of strong middle-market demand, both announcing big partner intakes for the new financial year to complement their growth trajectories.
RSM has appointed 11 partners and 11 directors, while William Buck broke its own record by adding 11 to its partnership on top of eight principals, the mid-tier firms announced on Wednesday.
It comes as appetite for PwC, Deloitte, KPMG and EY wanes for both public and private clients in the wake of PwC’s tax leaks scandal, forcing them to cut back on their promotions and hiring.
RSM chief executive Jamie O’Rourke said the “significant” number of appointments reflected the firm’s “exponential” growth.
“As our firm continues to grow and diversify, it’s important that our senior leadership grows alongside it too,” he said.
With RSM having recorded a 13 per cent growth in staff since 2022, he said the latest appointments contributed to its growth plans and “confirm our position as middle market adviser of choice”.
RSM set a goal of having 1,750 staff in 2024. A raft of appointments at the end of last year took total numbers to over 1,800 by November.
O’Rourke also commended 18 of the 22 appointments being internal promotions – with five having joined as graduates – and four out of the 11 new partners being women.
The appointments reflected its “commitment to support and nurture the career progression of our internal talent”, he said. “As an organisation we’re committed to creating a level playing field for our female leaders to progress.”
William Buck said its 11 partner appointments, effective 1 July, was boosted by its recent acquisition of Canberra boutique firm, with four partners joining from Link Capital Partners. A further six were internal promotions and one was from a big four firm.
It said the record numbers were a direct result of heightened demand for the firms services and investment in its people.
The appointments bring its total partnership to 145, with 28 coming in the past year.
“William Buck continues its upward growth trajectory, aiming to solidify its position as Australia's leading accounting and advisory firm to the middle market,” the firm said.
It comes just one day after fellow mid-tiers HLB Mann Judd and Pitcher Partners both made six partner appointments across their east coast advisory, audit, tax and finance practices.
Meanwhile, big four firms have announced scaled-back intakes, with PwC naming 22 partners on Monday – only a third of its last intake of 67 at the start of 2023.
Last week, KPMG announced an intake of 52, down from 94. EY also added 45 partners in mid-year, down from 82 it appointed in 2023.
RSM partners:
- Travis Connell – Business Advisory, Albury
- Adam Eady – Business Advisory, Albury
- Murray Fong – Business Advisory, Perth
- Stephanie Kanellis – Corporate Tax, Sydney
- Nicole Mohan – Risk Advisory Services, Brisbane
- Myles Pover – Business Advisory, Sydney
- Damian Sellitti – Corporate Tax, Melbourne
- Danielle Sherwin – International Tax & Transfer Pricing, Sydney
- Nathan vom Bruch – Corporate Finance, Sydney
- Tim Linke – Corporate Finance, Melbourne (commenced May 6)
- Maria Williams, Assurance & Advisory, Sydney
Directors:
- Kristy Binns - Corporate Tax, Perth
- Adam Cormack - Restructuring & Recovery, Canberra
- Phil Davie - Restructuring & Recovery, Perth
- Nicky Kaindlbauer – Assurance & Advisory, Sydney
- Theresa Myburgh – Indirect Tax, Perth
- Gina Nedeljkovic – Global Employer Services, Perth
- Gavin O’Hara – Technology Consulting, Perth
- Chris Oates – Financial Services, Canberra
- Rowan Tabb – Business Advisory, Sydney
- John Bland – International Tax and Transfer Pricing, Brisbane
- Winnie Deng – Research & Development, Sydney
William Buck partners:
- Alice Psevdos, Business Advisory
- Angus Kenyon, Business Advisory
- Ben Weber, Business Advisory
- Bryony Vandepeear, Marketing
- Daniel Creagan, Wealth Advisory
- Danielle Jones, Wealth Advisory
- Deborah Chin, Audit and Assurance
- Domenic De Marco, Business Advisory
- Greg Derlacz, Tax Services
- James Blackburn, Business Advisory
- Zeb Ashton, Wealth Advisory
Principals:
- Adele Elhou, Audit and Assurance
- Arash Zamansani, Wealth Advisory
- Boon Chan, Corporate Finance
- Daniel Proctor, Business Advisory
- Henry Schofield, Business Advisory
- Kuan Yin Lau, Audit and Assurance
- Liam Mahon, Corporate Finance
- Stuart Mansfield, Business Advisory
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