Where you want to be. Bentleys NSW Insider newsletter. December 2023.
Bentleys NSW // INSIDER NEWSLETTER Welcome to Bentleys NSW new starters. We’re delighted to welcome new additions to the Bentleys NSW team. We’ve welcomed a mix of youth and experience across the various accounting disciplines - Advisory, Tax and Audit. Scott Jeffery started 1 November as a Senior Accountant. Harry Leung started 6 November as a Supervisor. Alan Murphy started 8 November as a Senior Auditor. Lenia Kelleyan started 13 Novemer as an Intermediate. Bentleys and Cancer Council 7 bridges walk. We took part in the 7 bridges walk on Sunday 22 Oct 2023 and united with the community to walk 28km around Sydney Harbour. Every year in NSW alone, more than 53,000 new cases of cancer are expected to be diagnosed and the impact on families, carers and communities is significant. We’re excited to announce that together with all 11,265 participants, you helped us to raise an unbelievable total of $2,126,023 for a cancer free future. Wow! The Bentleys team of 13 set a goal of raising $10,000 and we were so pleased to smash that number and raised $11,205. Every dollar counts. So a big thank you to the Bentleys walkers and a very big thank you to all of our generous sponsors. As 2023 draws to a close the Directors and staff at Bentleys would like to thank all of our clients for your on-going connection with us at all levels. To our “friends of Bentleys”, and referrers (bankers, lawyers, financial planner, and other accounting firms) for all your support throughout the year. We really appreciate it. The Directors would also like to thank our staff for their dedication and diligence throughout the year. Without this we would not be able to provide the high quality service we aspire to. We’re all looking forward to our festive season break and working with you in the new year. Have a great Christmas and a happy New Year. The Directors. Welcome new Directors. David Laanemaa and Donovan Odendaal. David Laanemaa has recently joined Bentleys as a director in our business services division. He has extensive experience in supporting dual Australian-American citizens with their tax compliance. David has over 30 years of experience in chartered accounting, tax, and business advisory services, in particular superannuation. His main focus is providing high net worth individuals with comprehensive financial strategies tailored to their individual circumstances. Donovan Odendaal has been promoted to Audit Director. Donovan is an experienced Audit Director and a Registered Company Auditor with over 18 years’ experience as a trusted business advisor and company auditor in both South Africa and Australia. He has considerable experience in the not-for-profit, mining industry, professional services, property, software and education sectors. Bentleys NSW Directors are delighted to welcome two new directors to the firm - David Laanemaa and Donovan Odendaal.
If you know anyone interested in a career in accounting, or someone with experience looking to move to a larger firm, please contact Kate Ford on +61 2 9220 0700 or send your CV to: [email protected] for a confidential discussion. It’s not always just about work. We value the opportunity to build friendships and socialise just as much as the work we do. Our Monthly Mingles are a highlight on the calendar! The team at Bentleys is full of friendly faces and people who know how to unwind and have fun. If this sounds like the right fit for you, come and join us. PS. Our Bentleys Bears, touch football team, defeated only once this year are now in the Grand Final. Go the Bentleys Bears! We’re always on the look out for new talent.
Bentleys NSW // INSIDER NEWSLETTER Bentleys have remained at number 12 in the top 100. We’re delighted to announce that the Bentleys Network has retained 12th place in the Australian Financial Review Top 100 Accounting firms. Additionally, Allinial Global, our international network of firms, was named a finalist in a recordbreaking six award categories this year. Allinial Global was the only organisation to earn recognition in three award categories at the recent International Accounting Forum & Awards program. Celebrating excellence, innovation, and thought leadership in global accountancy, Allinial Global was highly recommended in the following categories: • Association of the year: IAFA judges praised Allinial Global for setting and achieving high standards for its member firms in pursuit of building a reputable brand and executing profitable growth strategies. • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Initiative of the Year: Judges also commended Allinial Global for its commitment to seniorlevel diversity on association boards and the promotion of women from a diverse range of backgrounds. • Allinial Global EVP of Global Commerce Özgür Demirdöven earned the Personality of the Year Award, which recognises as an accounting leader who has the courage to take a stand, speak out on the issues affecting the professiona and make a significant contribution. Bentleys Wealth Advisors year in review. With, “that’s a wrap” close to be called on 2023, the wealth team has been busy meeting with new clients and rounding out all other existing planning work. The month of November maintained the momentum of the previous month, with plenty of new client leads. November also included formally engaging with new clients and new pieces of advice work for them. It also involved providing client strategies across different life stages and segments, including: • No longer working/retired - where we worked to better organise their retirement income strategies and overall investment plan needed to achieve it all; and • Those still working - having a financial roadmap that was achieveabe, and, put them on the path to appropriately build up necessary wealth to enjoy their future retirement. The team are now working through the implementation phase involved here, to make sure clients have their strategic and investment advice rubber hitting the road, helping to better their overall position and future outcomes! If you need any assistance or would like to talk to us about your investment strategies please call Bentleys Wealth Advisors on +61 2 9220 0700, or better still make an appointment to come and see us.
Our second Audit Secondee from the UK - Natasha Mangalage Welcome to Bentleys Natasha! It’s great to have you here in Sydney. Tell us a bit about yourself? Natasha: Thanks, it’s great to be here! I’m from London and love travelling and exploring new places - the opportunity to work in Sydney for a few months has been amazing for me. Living in London has been great for travelling around Europe, but I had never been to this part of the world before now. Well welcome down under, Natasha. Given your background, what’s your areas of specialisation? Natasha: I’ve worked in audit throughout my career, I’ve worked with a few different firms in the UK building experience of different systems and industries. Now, why did you choose Sydney, Australia as your destination? Natasha: I love spending time in the outdoors hiking or on the beach with friends. There are some incredible hikes in Sydney so close to the city. I love city life too, having grown up in London, and the bustle of Sydney is incredible. There’s a great energy to the place and of course the sun makes a huge difference. I wasn’t prepared for the volatile weather and thunderstorms but at least the weather is much warmer than London! There’s a really good theatre and music scene here too - I play the violin so it’s great to be able to see some world class classical music performances here. Watching Sydney Symphony Orchestra playing at the Opera House has been a highlight. What else do you plan to do here, and how long will you be staying in Australia? Natasha: I’ll be in Sydney until the first week of January and then plan to travel more of the east coast after that - have my sights set on Cairns, Whitsunday Islands and Noosa for now. There are so many options it’s hard to know where to start! Then will be travelling to Tasmania and New Zealand before heading back to the UK. From what you;ve already told us you have seen a fair bit, but what else in on your bucket list while you’re in Australia? Natasha: I had Uluru and Blue Mountains on my bucket list which I’m happy to say I’ve managed to tick off. Great Barrier Reef and rainforests near Cairns are next on my bucket list. Your plans sound absolutely amazing. Thank you for sharing your insights and aspirations with us today. Natasha: Thanks for the opportunity! It’s been the most amazing experience. One last question I almost forgot to ask. What have you enjoyed about working at Bentleys? Natasha: I would say the thing I’ve enjoyed the most is the community feel to the firm. Events like the monthly birthday celebrations, Let’s Get Connected drinks and the 7 Bridges Walk have made it easy to get to know people in other teams and feel part of Bentleys as a whole. I also love the fact that the kitchen is such an important social hub at Bentleys - chatting around the coffee machine is where I’ve got to know a lot of people on a more personal level! Christmas wishes from Bentleys Directors The Directors (Nigel, Kevin, Colin, Chris, Jannie, Jake, Roger, Renee, Gerald, Michael, Donovan and David) and the teams at Bentleys NSW wish you and your family a joyful festive season and a happy holiday. Finally, the office will close on Friday 22 December at 4pm 2023 and re-open at 8.45am on Monday 8 January 2024.
Level 14, 60 Margaret Street Sydney 2000 Telephone +61 2 9220 0700 | Facsimile +61 2 9220 0777 [email protected] | bentleys.com.au Where you want to be. If you’re passionate about your enterprise and ambitious about growth, then talk to Bentleys. Contact Bentleys. A member of Bentleys, a network of independent advisory and accounting firms located throughout Australia, New Zealand and China that trade as Bentleys. All members of the Bentleys Network are affiliated only and are separate legal entities and not in partnership. Limited liability by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation. Bentleys is a member of Allinial Global – an association of independent accounting and consulting firms.