High-Net-Worth Families

Director

Brenden Hughes

Business Services

Brenden has been a business service director since July 2007. He originally joined the firm in February 1995 as a trainee accountant and since that time has gained extensive experience in the business services and assurance areas.

From 2002 to 2007 Brenden specialised in providing assurance and related services to small and medium public and private groups across diverse industries, including consumer and industrial products, advertising and agriculture. More recently he has specialised in providing taxation, superannuation and other business services to privately held groups.

Brenden is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand, and a Registered Tax Agent.

Director

Stephen Austin

Business Services

Stephen has been a business services director since July 2008. He originally joined the firm in 2001 as part of the taxation advisory division and has more recently focused on business services clients that have specialised tax needs.

Prior to joining the firm, Stephen conducted his own private practice as well as acting as the Group Financial Controller for his family’s manufacturing and distribution business prior to its sale.

He has wide experience in taxation advisory, accounting, superannuation, family office and estate and succession planning matters.

Stephen is a Chartered Tax Advisor with The Taxation Institute, Australia, a member of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand, CPA Australia, a Registered Tax Agent, and a Justice of the Peace (NSW). He holds a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Accounting and Management (with a sub major in Marketing), and a Diploma of Financial Planning.

Director

Matthew Thorncraft

Business Services

With big four firm experience, Matthew has been a business services director since 2014.

Working with large privately-owned businesses, subsidiaries of multinational companies, entrepreneurs and high net wealth individuals, Matthew takes a proactive and hands-on approach to advising clients on the full suite of accounting, taxation, and business-related matters.

Whilst industry experience is diverse, Matthew has extensive experience working with large privately held businesses operating in the property development and construction industries where he has acted as an outsourced CFO and provided finance function services.

Matthew is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand, a Registered Tax Agent and member of The Tax Institute, Australia. He also holds a diploma in Financial Planning.

Director

Justin Fletcher

Business Services | Assurance

Justin is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand. He is a registered Company Auditor and holds both a Bachelor of Commerce and a Graduate Diploma in Chartered Accounting.

He provides a broad range of business and corporate advisory services – including statutory financial reporting, taxation compliance and external audit services. His advisory skills also extend to superannuation, business group restructuring, completion of business and share valuations, due diligence reports and financial analysis and modelling.

Director

Kelly McNeill

Business Services

Kelly joined the firm in 2022 as a business services director.

With over 12 years’ experience working with private clients in big four and mid-tier accounting firms, Kelly advises on a broad range of business and personal taxation matters. Kelly also has in-house family office experience.

Kelly works closely with a wide range of clients, with a focus on executives of listed companies, entrepreneurs and start-ups, high net wealth individuals and families, and private family-owned businesses. She specialises in structuring, capital gains tax, international tax issues, superannuation, asset protection and inter-generational planning.

Kelly is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand as well as The Taxation Institute, Australia. She holds a Master of Taxation (Honours) and a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting & Finance) both from the University of NSW.

Director

Joshua Manasseh

Business Services

Josh is a business services director having been appointed in July 2024. He originally joined the firm in 2012 as a cadet and has progressed his career with the Firm.

He provides tax advisory and accounting services to businesses, ultra-high-net-worth individuals, and their families. His advisory experience covers an array of industries on matters such as superannuation, estate & tax planning, and other business matters.

Josh is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand, and the Taxation Institute of Australia, and is a Registered Tax Agent. He also holds a Bachelor of Business (Accounting and Finance) and completed his Graduate Diploma in Applied Tax Law.

Director

John Leece AM

Corporate Advisory

John has been director of the Firm since 1979, and specialises in corporate financial strategic advice, mergers, and acquisitions. His experience includes roles in business advisory services, auditing, accounting services and taxation advice.

John is a Fellow Member of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand, as well as CPA Australia. He is also a Registered Tax Agent.

John has given extensive service to the accounting profession particularly as a member of the New South Wales Divisional Council of the Australian Society of CPAs and of a number of Expert Panels and Professional Committees, including the joint committee between Government and the profession.