Perks elevates trio to senior leadership roles
Adelaide accounting and wealth advisory firm, Perks has expanded its leadership team with the appointment of a new Director and two Associate Directors.
Sam Hicks is the company’s newest Director, while Lee Jurga and Nicholas Bromell will be promoted to Associate Director roles.
Sam, who joined with Perks in 2015 and was appointed to Associate Director in 2021, has more than 20 years’ accounting experience across a breadth of industries and business structures.
With over 16 years’ specialist tax experience, Lee has been an integral part of Perks tax team since joining the firm in 2019. Nicholas has proven to be an important senior member of the Perks Audit division, where he applies over 14 years’ experience in public practice accounting and audit.
Perks CEO James Black said the trio’s promotion is a testament to their commitment to the firm and its clients.
“Sam’s rise through the ranks of Perks reflects his significant impact on the success of our firm, his leadership qualities, and his passion to do the best for our clients,” James said.
“Through his broad experience in the financial industry, Sam has developed key skills in managing and developing client relationships and managing internal teams to deliver positive outcomes aligned to broader business strategies.
“We’re also delighted to recognise Lee and Nick’s hard work and leadership qualities by elevating them to Associate Directors. The pair are highly respected team members, and we look forward to supporting their continued growth within the firm.”
Perks has 27 Directors, 7 Associate Directors, and a total of 220 Team Members, servicing thousands of clients made-up predominantly of private businesses and their owners.
About Sam Hicks
With more 20 years’ experience in professional accounting practice, Sam is highly adept at delivering client-first accounting, tax and business services to a wide range of clients. Sam has extensive experience across a breadth of industries and business structures.
Prior to joining Perks in 2015, he worked as a Financial Controller at established Adelaide engineering firms Sage Automation and Ottoway Engineering. Sam holds a Bachelor of Economics, a Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance and Investment, and is an Authorised Representative, Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), and a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ).
About Lee Jurga
Lee is a highly specialised tax professional and valued member of Perks’ Tax Advisory Team.
He provides expert tax advice to small and medium enterprises and high net worth individuals. He has acquired substantial experience through his varied employment at a prominent Big 4 accounting firm, one of Australia’s largest privately owned corporate law firms, the State Revenue Office, and now Perks.
About Nicholas Bromell
Nicholas is a client-orientated audit professional with rich expertise in external audit, statutory account preparation, grant acquittals and trust accounts.
Throughout his career, Nicholas has primarily worked with upper mid-market firms, corporate enterprises and associations across both public and private sectors.
He started with Perks in 2009 as an Accountant within the Business Services division. He then worked in progressively senior capacities with several other accounting and financial services firms before returning to Perks in 2021 as a Senior Manager in Perks Audit division.
Previous Announcements
Posted on 22/11/2022
Perks continues to build on its internal strengths with the appointment of a newly-created General Manager role for its Corporate Services Team.
Head of Marketing & Communications, Justina Gardiner, has been promoted to the new position after serving three-and-a-half years at the Flinders Street-based professional services firm. Justina will oversee the firm’s People & Culture, Marketing & Communications, and Business Support & Corporate Registry functions.
Perks CEO James Black said the promotion recognises Justina’s expertise, leadership skills and contribution to the firm over her tenure and sets the organisation up for its continued evolution as a sector leader.
“During her time with us, Justina has built our marketing and communications capability from the ground up, including transitioning the firm into a digital marketing ecosystem, spearheading our 360-degree marketing and brand approach, and growing a strong internal marketing team,” James said.
“When we brought Justina into the firm in 2019, we knew that we wanted Perks to benefit from a best-in-class marketing expertise and so we went outside the sector to find her. And it’s certainly paid off.
“In her new role, Justina will help lead the firm through its next phase of workforce planning and operational excellence. At the end of the day, our 41+ years of great client outcomes are a result of our great team, so we’re excited to see Justina apply her strategic capabilities and leadership to our broader firm strategies.”
About Justina Gardiner
Justina has more than 15 years of international and local marketing experience. The Adelaide-native worked in Canada as a Marketing Director for L’Oréal across its Consumer and Luxury divisions for more than nine years before returning to Adelaide in 2014 to be closer to family. Since then, her local experience has included various Head of Marketing roles in FMCG, Education and B2B Manufacturing and Distribution.
Previous Announcements
Posted on 8/7/2022
Perks Associate Director Announcement
Perks desire to create a pathway of progression for team members who are committed to the firm’s values is reflected in the recent appointment of four Associate Directors from within the firm.
The four Associate Directors, Tim Haslam, Michael Boffa, Tyson Jeanes and James McGuffog, are all elevated from Senior Manager roles in the Perks Chartered Accounting Team.
Perks CEO James Black said these four promotions recognise their individual expertise, leadership skills and the contributions each have made to the firm.
“Tim, Michael, Tyson and James have been key members of the firm for a number of years. Their strong leadership and work ethic truly embodies the entrepreneurial spirit of Perks,” James said. “We’re pleased to recognise and reward the leadership capabilities of these four as key members of our Chartered Accounting team. Their progression cements the continued value their commitment delivers to our clients, the firm and paves the way for their future success.”
The firm announced and celebrated the new Associate Directors at its traditional firm-wide end of financial year event.
About Tim Haslam
Over a 15-year career in the accounting profession, Tim has forged a reputation as a trusted adviser and counsel to privately owned businesses, business owners and their families.
Tim’s passion is partnership. Partnership that is authentic, lasting, and underpinned by the values of superior service, communication, reliability and an unwavering work ethic.
At Perks, he advises and supports his clients with tax compliance and planning, business structuring, real-time management reporting, budgeting, cashflow forecasting and process/systems improvement. He also understands how to harness technology to draw insights and assist in making more informed, timely business decisions.
About Michael Boffa
Since joining Perks in 2009 through the CA Achiever Program, Michael has become a key figure in the firm’s Business Services division, providing holistic accounting and business advisory services to a wide range of businesses and their owners/stakeholders. His clients span a diverse range of industries, from healthcare, pharmacy and legal to horse racing and agriculture and not-for-profit organisations.
Michael is a firm believer in helping to educate his clients and empowering them to better understand their personal and business finances. He is committed to being an active participant in helping them to discover success.
About Tyson Jeanes
Since 2008, Tyson has built his experience working in mid-tier accounting and financial services firms across Adelaide, he is highly adept at providing a wide a range of strategic accounting and business advisory services to his clients.
While Tyson has a holistic accounting and advisory skillset, he is a key member of the firm’s specialist team working with clients in the medical and dental industries. He has gained significant experience in servicing the business and accounting needs of healthcare professionals, which has enabled him to develop an in-depth understanding of the unique pressures and challenges faced by those in the medical industry.
About James McGuffog
With over 16 years’ experience in corporate finance and accounting advisory, James is a client-centric accounting professional whose specialisation areas includes tax planning, asset protection, management information reporting, process development, and P&L improvement.
After starting his career in practice as a Graduate Accountant, James joined Perks in 2008 and has since taken on progressively senior positions with leadership of various cross-functional teams and projects. His technical expertise and proactive approach to client service saw James ascend to the rank of Associate Director in 2022.
Posted on 8/7/2021
In the 40th year of its founding, Perks continues to build out its multidisciplinary capabilities with the appointment of two new Directors and a new Associate Director to the firm’s leadership team.
The new Directors, Kerry Bosnich and Fiona Gordon, are both elevated from Associate Director roles, while the firm’s newest Associate Director, Sam Hicks, is promoted from his Senior Manager position in the Perks Chartered Accounting Team.
Perks Managing Director Mark Roderick said the trio’s promotions recognise their significant expertise, leadership skills and the contributions each have made to the firm.
“Fiona and Kerry have been key members of the firm for a number of years. Their strong leadership and work ethic have been integral in taking the firm to where we are today,” Mark said.
“Fiona has played an important role in building our auditing expertise and recently became a Registered Company Auditor, which is an incredibly difficult qualification to achieve and is appropriate recognition of her outstanding professionalism and expertise.”
“As the leader of our team of self-managed super specialists, Kerry’s efforts have been integral to the growth of our expertise in this complex area and her elevation to Director reflects her skills and leadership qualities.”
“We’re also pleased to recognise and reward Sam’s leadership capabilities as a key member of our Chartered Accounting team and know that he will continue to bring great value to the firm, and our clients, in his new Associate Director role.”
While current COVID-19 restrictions have meant the firm was not able to welcome the new leaders at its traditional end of financial year event, the trio will be formally recognised in the coming weeks.
About Kerry Bosnich
Kerry Bosnich is one of the Perks’ dedicated Self-Managed Superannuation Fund (SMSF) specialists. She plays a key role in leading the firm’s team of 11 SMSF specialist accountants to provide strategic superannuation advice and portfolio management services to a wide range of clients.
Prior to joining Perks in 2015, Kerry has had extensive experience as an SMSF specialist at ASX listed financial services companies. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Flinders University), and Advanced Diploma of Accounting, a Diploma of Financial Planning and is a registered SMSF Specialist Adviser.
About Fiona Gordon
Fiona has 20 years of Public Practice audit experience including two years based in London with firms including PKF.
A member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants for nearly two decades, Fiona has gained the solid foundations required to conduct audits of organisations with turnovers of up to $200m. She has significant experience across a variety of industries, including large proprietary companies, not-for-profits, local councils, co-operatives, irrigations trusts and financial service licensees.
Fiona is a Registered Company Auditor and also possesses a Bachelor of Arts (Accounting).
About Sam Hicks
With more 20 years’ experience in professional accounting practice, Sam is highly adept at delivering client-first accounting, tax and business services to a wide range of clients. Sam has specific expertise in servicing the medical and agricultural sectors, though his client base extends across a breadth of industries and business structures.
Prior to joining Perks in 2015, he worked as a Financial Controller at established Adelaide engineering firms Sage Automation and Ottoway Engineering. Sam holds a Bachelor of Commerce (UniSA) and Bachelor of Economics (University of Adelaide), a Graduate Diploma of Chartered Accounting, a Diploma of Applied Finance and Investment and is a member of the Australian Institute of Chartered Accountants.
