Completing any further qualification can be a challenge when you are working full time and have other commitments which is why we like to acknowledge and congratulate our team members on their personal and academic achievements.
This month we dedicate to Michael Durdin and Kylie Ngo; both have successfully qualified as Chartered Accountants. As is the tradition at McPhails, we sat down with both of them to hear their thoughts about business and what success looks like.
Thanks, Michael and Kylie and we wish you every success.
Michael Durdin
1. What does it mean to be a Chartered Accountant?
After years of studying Accounting through University and the CA program, it feels both rewarding and a relief to be able to be a member of such a highly respected institute within the Accounting industry.
2. You work with businesses every day; what would be three tips you would give to someone who is thinking of starting a business?
– Work hard! Starting a business is no easy task, you need to be prepared to put in the work for the reward!
– Don’t be afraid to seek advice from professionals in different fields; knowledge is power!
– and always rememeber that your clients are your first priority, because you won’t have a business without them!
3. What is a typical day at McPhails for you?
– Helping clients manage their tax affairs, which usually involves preparing Annual Accounts or assisting with any day to day queries they may have, along with supporting younger staff members with any questions they may have.
4. If we came for dinner at your house tonight, what would we eat and who would have cooked it?
– I’m not very handy in the kitchen myself, so if I were to cook I would probably stay outside and cook a BBQ, but the safer (and tastier) option would be getting my wife Chelsey to cook my favourite meal tacos!
5. How do you explain to people when you are out what your role is at McPhails?
My role at McPhail’s is to assist the Partners and Managers by preparing Accounts and Tax Returns, usually for Family Groups involving everything from Companies to Trusts to Super Funds.
6. What are you known for at work?
Work aside, I’m known for my hilarious jokes (although some may disagree) and making donut bets!
7. Do you have any more educational goals for the future? Any more study you would like to complete?
– After studying my whole life from the age of 5, I am looking forward to a bit of a break at the moment, but you never know what study opportunities may arise in the future!
Kylie Ngo
1. What does it mean to be a Chartered Accountant?
It’s great to be internationally recognised. It gives me access to a range of learning resources and exclusive member benefits. Becoming a CA will hopefully provide me with a platform that will assist me to develop my technical expertise in accounting and communicate technical knowledge with other members.
2. You work with businesses every day; what would be three tips you would give to someone who is thinking of starting a business?
– Knowing your customers – research and identify your customers, think of how to maintain loyal customers and how to reach out to new customers
– Thinking of how your business (service/products) is different from other businesses in the market
– What business structure is suitable for your business? Sole Trader/Company/Trust or Partnership. However, you need to keep in mind that as your business grows and changes, you may decide to move to a different type of business structure.
3. What is a typical day at McPhails for you?
A typical day at McPhails is checking emails and responding to any emails from clients first thing in the morning, doing clients’ tax or BAS work, assisting my clients and colleagues if they have any issues.
4. If we came for dinner at your house tonight, what would we eat and who would have cooked it?
If you came over for dinner at my place, I would offer a traditional Vietnamese cuisine, i.e., spring roll, rice paper roll and Vietnamese beef noodle soup. The “head chef” in my house is my Mom, and I would assist her with the cooking.
5. How do you explain to people when you are out what your role is at McPhails?
I am looking after BAS works for our clients at McPhails. I assist clients who do their bookkeeping with recording their financial records using accounting software (e.g., MYOB, Xero). I also do bookkeeping and tax returns for individuals, partnership, Trusts and companies.
6. What are you known for at work?
Quiet, funny. BAS “queen”. Quite Friendly.
7. Do you have any more educational goals for the future? Any more study you would like to complete?
Being a Chartered Accountant provides an opportunity for self-professional development. I haven’t got a specific educational goals for the future at the moment. However, I would like to continue to develop and gain more professional experience while working. In my spare time, I would like to study another language such as Korean and I hope to achieve this in the next five years.
Congratulations Michael and Kylie.