Findex names veterans Tony Roussos and Matt Games as Co-CEOs
After leading Findex for more than three decades, Spiro Paule is passing on the baton to Tony Roussos and Matt Games – both veterans of the national accounting and advisory firm.
It was back in 1987 when Spiro Paule and his brother Terry Paule founded Findex with the aim of building a reputable accounting and financial planning firm. Fast forward to today, and Findex is with over 3,000 staff across 100+ locations in Australia and New Zealand the region’s fifth largest accounting-origin professional services firm.
With the firm in “its best shape ever”, Paule has now decided to pass on leadership responsibilities to two of the firm’s earliest members. Tony Roussos and Matt Games both joined Findex when it was 50-strong, and bring a combined 45 years of experience to their new Co-CEO position.
“Findex is uniquely positioned to deliver on the vision my brother Terry and I started this business with – to bring the two major hubs of a client relationship, the accountant and financial planner, together to increase value and create better outcomes for clients,” said Paule.
“With the growth momentum we have behind us, the appointment of Tony and Matt will help the business capitalise on the strategic growth opportunities available whilst allowing me to step back from day to day operations. I will continue to work closely with our longstanding board and executive team to drive the strategic direction of the business.”
Central to the firm’s strategic direction is further expansion, with the financial planning and wealth segments earmarked as the top growth area.
“The Hayne Royal Commission has had a seismic impact on Australia’s wealth management sector,” Paule explained. “With ASIC citing that over 3,000 advisers have already left the wealth space and the major banks divesting their interests, the opportunity is ripe for Findex to lead the charge in a new way of managing wealth, focussing on customer value and transparency combined with best practice accounting services.”
Over the next five years Findex is aiming to triple the size of its wealth practice, growing from $17 billion in funds under administration to “upwards of $50 billion”, said Paule.
Findex will also continue to invest in its other practices, including advisory, accounting and audit services, as the firm aims to expand its lead over other mid-market focused players such as BDO, Grant Thornton and RSM.
The new Co-CEOs will according to Paule “act as custodians” of the firm’s strategic plan and culture. “They combine deep company and business knowledge with complementary skills that enhance the leadership team.”
“We’re looking forward to drive the business on its next stage of growth. As Australia’s largest diversified financial professional services business, we’ll continue to tread our own path, building a model built around the needs of our clients,” said Roussos and Games.
