HLB Mann Judd appoints six Directors in Adelaide and Sydney

Accounting and consulting firm HLB Mann Judd has appointed six Directors across its offices in Adelaide and Sydney.

In Adelaide, Peter Wirtz joined the firm’s Tax practice as a Director. He joins the firm from Big Four player EY, where he worked for six years latterly as a Director of R&D incentives. Earlier in his career, Wirtz spent nearly a decade with KPMG and BDO in their tax arms, having started his career in mining at diamond specialist De Beers. 

“Peter comes to HLB Mann Judd with considerable experience and is widely considered a leading specialist in R&D tax credits and incentives. South Australian clients will benefit from his advice and experience in the field,” said the firm’s Australasian Association chair Tony Fittler. 

In Sydney, the professional services firm promoted five of its members to Director: Lauren Whelan, Peter Bardos, Andrew Ash, Georgina Ridhalgh and Tom Roberts. 

The latter three Directors work in HLB Mann Judd’s Business Advisory practice, focus on providing consulting services to services to Australian-based companies, ranging from start-up to multinational in size. 

Ash joined the firm in 2017 and specialises in business planning, process improvement, accounting and tax compliance and succession planning. He works for clients across a range of industries including construction, hire and rental, IT, retail, manufacturing, cleaning services, hospitality and marketing. 

Georgina Ridhalgh has been with the firm since 2003. She works primarily with family businesses and large high net worth family groups, focused on business advisory, accounting, income tax and financial administration. Ridhalgh is also involved in several large Charitable Foundations. 

Tom Roberts started his career with HLB Mann Judd and has grown into a specialist in accounting & reporting, financial transformation and business services. He focuses predominantly on advising family-owned businesses that are looking to grow and transition to the next level.

Meanwhile, Lauren Whelan and Peter Bardos have been appointed Directors in the firm’s Tax Consulting practice. Whelan specialises in corporate taxation, and has experience advising businesses (both publicly and privately owned) across a range of industries including manufacturing, property, waste management and freight forwarding. 

Bardos has been with HLB Mann Judd since 2009, and advises on complex tax matters, combining his knowledge of tax legislation with an understanding of commercial and industry-specific issues.

Across Australasia, HLB Mann Judd has around 90 partners and directors and 550 staff – accountants, auditors, consultants and financial experts.