BIO

There’s never a dull moment with Bernard. Instead, each one is complex, colourful and illuminating. As a serial auditor and risk mitigator, his head’s in the future and always moving (as are his conversations) towards ways to forestall, foreshadow and fence in any possible financial issues for his clients. And that’s all happened in the first fifteen minutes of meeting and speaking.

A deep-thinker and maverick, Bernard’s razor-sharp wit puts clients at ease, while his mind’s in overdrive in the background, forensically searching for the right solution to their financial hurdles. His mind just never rests. Detail conscious but not dogmatic, it’s important to him to understand his clients’ issues before he suggests, so he can contribute the best possible solution to the mix. And equal to his clients, that same social commitment to contributing to the greater whole, exists between him and the broader Fraser Coast community where he works and lives.

“I try to use an audit process that’s consultative and pragmatic, not dogmatic. Yes, a rule says ‘x’ and it must be ‘x’, but instead of talking ‘at’ people and insisting on getting information a certain way, I find that by talking ‘to’ people, I learn far more and we then are able to constructively work through things together.”

Bernard joined us in 1994 and in 1997, became a Chartered Accountant. In 1999 he rose to Manager of our Audit division, and then Partner in 2006. His years of experience cover a wide cross-section of industries and includes both the government and private sector. Specialty areas of expertise include forensic audit/assurance, self-managed superannuation, governance, community organisations, SMEs and the Corporations Act. Based in our Hervey Bay office, he’s been actively involved in the local Chamber of Commerce Board, Rotary Club and the local Neighbourhood Centre and other clubs and associations.