PKF makes senior appointments across its Australian network

Mid-tier accounting and consulting network PKF continues to push toward the nationwide 100-partner mark with several recent promotions across its outlets in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide.

Alongside Greg Grant-Smith and Chris Weatherall in its Sydney and Newcastle branch, PKF has seen the elevation of Huss Almatrah and Ryan Lu to its partnership in Melbourne, while Matthew Lane recently joined the tax partnership in Brisbane. Company veteran Antoinette Tatarelli has meanwhile taken over as managing partner of PKF in Adelaide.

Antoinette Tatarelli has spent close to three decades at the firm, joining upon its establishment in Adelaide in 1995 after spending six and a half years at Nexia. A partner since 2000, she works primarily in the areas of accounting, taxation and business services with a focus on SMEs and professional clients. In addition, Tatarelli also serves as chair of the PKF Foundation in Adelaide, describing herself as extremely passionate about the non-profit sector.

Tatarelli takes the reins from Dom Cosentino, who after twelve years at the helm steps up to a new role as local chairman of partners. PKF expressed its gratitude for Cosentino’s more than two decades of service and leadership to date, while saying of Tatarelli; “The firm is confident that with her leadership skills, industry knowledge, and dedication to clients and staff, PKF will continue to thrive and provide exceptional service in Adelaide.”

Meanwhile, across the border in Melbourne, Huss Almatrah has been promoted to partner alongside Business Advisory Services colleague Ryan Lu, both who have spent the majority of their careers at the firm – joining respectively in 2011 and 2014. Melbourne managing partner Timothy Bow said the promotions “recognise the outstanding technical knowledge and client expertise that each has developed and our commitment to identify and nurture internal talent.”

Up in Brisbane, two-decade tax advisor Matthew Lane joins the list of recent PKF partnership appointments after being lured across from Deloitte. Previously, Lane spent the best part of a decade at QSuper, latterly as Head of Group Finance, before which he served for over five years as a tax manager at KPMG. Altogether he brings more than two decades of specialist experience within the super, insurance, funds management and banking industries.

Commenting on the appointment, PKF’s Brisbane managing partner Liam Murphy said the firm was pleased to attract someone of Lane’s calibre at a time when demand for its services had reached unprecedented highs, while further hinting that the firm expected additional senior tax professionals to join PKF from the Big Four over the coming months – “as they realise that the Big Four experience isn’t the only game in town for a long-term career.”

Speaking more directly to the myriad scandals currently engulfing PwC, Lane said in response; “I’m pleased to join PKF at a time when there is so much opportunity for our clients and staff. There’s a lot of public focus on our profession at the moment and with many businesses seeking tax advisory services outside of the Big Four firms, PKF Brisbane will continue to grow and advise our clients with consistency, integrity and the highest degree of professionalism.”