Catherine Dean, Paul Doyle and Sally Preston join BDO's partnership
Professional services firm BDO has continued to expand its 220-plus partner team with the recruitment a trio of new leaders: Catherine Dean, Paul Doyle and Sally Preston.
A qualified solicitor with the Supreme Court of NSW, Catherine Dean joins BDO from KPMG, where she spent close to nine years, the past three and a half as a partner. Altogether she brings more than two decades of corporate tax experience, including as to structuring for the not-for-profit sector.
At BDO, she will focus in particular on M&A transactions, advisory and compliance services to clients in the energy & resources, industrial markets, and charitable sectors.
“Catherine is a great addition to our growing team, being highly sought after by clients for her technical excellence combined with her pragmatic approach,” commented BDO’s national tax leader Neil Billyard, who in 2014 also joined BDO from the tax partnership of KPMG. “Catherine joins us at a time where the demand for our services has never been higher and adds considerable capability to the team.”
Sydney-based Paul Doyle was elevated to partner in BDO’s financial services practice in September after first joining the firm early last year. Previously, he served with specialist program management consultancy Hamel Group, before which he gained years of transformation and project delivery experience at a number of major Australian banks.
“Paul brings extensive knowledge and expertise in time-bound and business-critical programs,” said BDO Sydney managing partner Grant Saxon of the appointment. “Paul’s financial services sector knowledge is extensive and spans across consumer, investment banking and wealth management, with a focus on risk transformation, corporate start-ups, technology innovation, delivery, new operating models and development.”
Sally Preston joins BDO as a tax partner, based in Brisbane. She most recently served Moore Australia, where she established the firm’s tax practice. Earlier in her career, Preston worked for mid-market accounting and advisory firms Pilot Partners,, Maxim Chartered Accountants and RSM, and Big Four firms KPMG and EY.
Preston brings extensive experience in providing taxation services and advice to clients of all sizes from listed public companies to individuals. She specialises in structuring and restructuring businesses; advising on transactions; ATO and Revenue Office investigations and audits; and on going management of clients taxation affairs.
“We are excited to have Sally join BDO’s tax team. The addition of Sally supports the growth the firm has experienced and further strengthens BDO’s place in the Brisbane market as a leading tax advisory practice,” said BDO’s partner in charge of tax in Brisbane, Sharnie Mitchell.
As a member of the world’s fifth-largest accounting and advisory network, BDO Australia has over the past financial year outpaced rivals to grow its revenues by more than six percent to $349 million – a $50 million increase on pre-pandemic figures. According to chief executive partner Tony Schiffmann, the firm’s growing capacity and better value proposition mean it’s now well placed to take on work which might have previously gone to the Big Four.
