Welcoming a new wave

It is a great privilege to be back in the role of Managing Partner. I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Partner Lucio Di Giallonardo for his exceptional leadership as Managing Partner from 2020 to 2024, especially during the challenging times of COVID-19. Lucio navigated those unprecedented challenges with such positivity and resilience. As I step back into this role, I am immensely confident about the future of our firm, and the latest issue of Client Alert, HLB Mann Judd Perth’s quarterly newsletter, is one of the reasons why.

?Our business, like many others, has had to adapt to new challenges over the past five years. These years have been dominated by the pandemic and geopolitical turbulence. However, I’m sure many would agree that change is nothing new. We’ve faced numerous obstacles head-on and emerged stronger each time.?

With elections on the horizon, both here and in the US, we can expect potential shifts and uncertainties. Sticky inflation and cost of living pressures are also hurdles that lie ahead. Yet, there’s inspiration to be drawn from our Olympic athletes who recently competed in Paris and embodied the motto: “Faster, Higher, Stronger, Together.”

?Many of these athletes have toiled away in the background, dedicated to their sport, hoping for an opportunity to compete on the world stage. It may be hard to draw an analogy between accountants and athletes, but there are definitely high performers here at HLB.

?At HLB Mann Judd Perth, we’re proud of our high-performing “athletes” who have been toiling away, often out of the spotlight, until now! This is why we’ve called the Spring 2024 issue of the firm’s Client Alert newsletter the “New Wave” issue. The special edition highlights some of our rising stars who are making their mark in their respective fields. These individuals each have a voice and the ability to share specialised knowledge from their areas of expertise. They represent our Tax Consulting, Corporate & Audit Services, Business Advisory Services, and Wealth Management teams.?

For example, Wealth Management Para Planner Braden King shares his insights on “How to Be Truly Rich”; Tax Consulting’s Rémi Rodari examines “GST and Global Trade”; Auditors Hilda Ousephachan and Tatenda C. (Michelle) provide a glimpse into their lives outside of work; and one of our newest Business Advisory Services team members, Will Everett , discusses the challenges in “Transitioning to Professional Life.”

?These staff members represent just a small sample of our 90-strong team at HLB Mann Judd Perth. This new wave of up-and-comers is already making their mark in their respective fields and have incredibly bright futures ahead of them. They are a significant part of why HLB’s culture is so highly recognised and why we are credited as a great place to work.

?As we enter Spring, it’s an opportune time to reflect on the wonderful year 2024 has been for us so far. We’re extremely proud that HLB firms globally were certified as a Most Loved Workplace? again in 2024. This certification, based on employee satisfaction and sentiment, highlights the respect, collaboration, support, and sense of belonging that our employees feel. Additionally, Hlb International was recently named Network of the Year at the International Accounting Bulletin Annual Awards for the third time in five years. This prestigious award acknowledges our strong revenue growth, international brand development, and high-quality service delivery.

Another benefit of being part of the HLB International network is our annual secondment program. This busy season, we’re thrilled to welcome secondees from the USA and Denmark to our Perth office. The secondment program provides HLB staff with the opportunity to immerse themselves in different office cultures and working environments within our global network. This not only enriches their professional experience but also allows our Perth-based team to share their expertise and learn from our international colleagues, embodying HLB International’s core strategy of “Innovative People, Brighter Futures.”

This theme perfectly aligns with the spirit of our team and the professionals contributing to this effort, who are testament to our commitment to fostering innovation and brighter futures for all.

?A version of this article appeared in the Spring 2024 issue of HLB Mann Judd's Client Alert, which you can access here.?