Richard Whatman

Evidence of Work Experience

I began my accounting career at Best Practice Accounting Picton, formerly Hawketts Accounting Picton in October 2009 I started off doing basic keying and data entry while slowly being mentored by the senior accountants. Over time I was slowly given harder tasks and more responsibility. Here they taught me how to complete individual tax returns and company tax returns. They taught me the ins and outs of accounting as well as tax laws and regulations. They sent me to (NTAA) seminars every year so that I stayed up to date on changes to tax law.

By the time I finished my study I was completing accounting work without close supervision, and I had moved from junior accountant in 2009, to senior accountant in 2016 to the current date. From 2016 I also began contracting out as a sole trader instead of being employed and had 1 employee.

In terms of the scale of work I do for Best Practice Accounting Picton I complete approximately the following number of tax-returns every year:

· 50 company returns with financials.

· 25 trust tax returns with financials

· 45 to 50 partnership returns.

· 10 SMSF returns.

· 850 to 900 individual tax returns

Evidence of Partner Level & Principal in Accounting

Peter Hawketts was the original owner and principal of Hawketts Accounting Pty Ltd, he sold Hawketts Accounting Pty Ltd in 2016, which then changed its name to Best Practice Accounting Picton. Peter then started accounting business called Coast to Coast Accounting Pty Ltd.

As part of his exit strategy for a part of this business he asked me to come on as partner in July 2018, with the idea of reducing his workload and the clients getting used to another accountant looking after them. This work was the same as my senior accounting role with the exception of making decisions together instead of being directed, working the hours I chose, making my own decisions such as lodgements without asking any permission.

Then in April 2020 I started up BRW Accounting Pty Ltd, gained my tax agent registration and public practice certificate from the NTAA and I moved all of the clients I looked after at Coast-to-Coast Accounting Pty Ltd across to BRW Accounting Pty Ltd. In this role I act as the principal of the business, I have employed another accountant who has their CPA and have acted in a mentor role to them and I have a separate employee in my sole trader business that was originally doing the work for Best Practice Picton (All work goes through BRW Accounting now).

In my partner and principal accounting role I have had to make sure business operations are fully compliant and working within budgetary guidelines. Make sure that I'm proficient in laws and procedures governing business operations, tax filings and regulatory compliance.

It means being much more detail-oriented in my work and being methodical and organized.

In these roles I bring almost 14 years experience as an Accounantant who can effectively maintain accurate accounting information for for a variety of different organisations.

I have history working as part of financial team to manage diverse financial functions, tax management and reporting.

The other extra responsibilities I can think of as partner and principal are, but not limited to the following:

· Making sure all training is undertaken for myself and staff

· Making sure wages are paid

· Making sure ATO deadlines are met

· Liaising with ATO and clients for a variety of reasons

· Dealing with audits and reviews by the ATO

· Making sure all client paperwork is completed

· Making sure various insurances are completed and up to date

· Making sure the technology being used by the practice is sufficient

Associate of the IPA

Fellow of the NTAA

NTAA Public Practice Certificate

Tax Agent Registration

CPD Hours: I complete approximately 40 CPD hours every year through various institutions such as

• NTAA's tax schools
• NTAA seminars
• NTAA tax on the couch
• Xero Accreditation and quarterly maintenance
• TPB seminars