A New Approach To Accounting Secures Place In Prestigious Awards

Standing out as a new business can be a challenge but for a fledgling Brisbane based accountancy, their hard work has nailed them a finalist position in the prestigious Accountants Daily Australian Accounting Awards 2018. 

Watson & Watt have been shortlisted to win an award in the New Firm of the Year category at the 2018 Australian Accounting Awards, hosted by Accountants Daily.

When founder Nathan Watt started the firm, he wanted to break the stereotypes that follow accountants around and this focus has seen the business boom over the past nine months. 

“Being shortlisted for this award validates the approach we have taken to grow our business,” he said. “Business is based on people. When you are doing business, you are dealing with a person and they should be treated like a person, not just a client or a name on a screen. 

“Accountants have a bad reputation for being hard to talk to and not building rapport. This is something we have worked on and why we are finalists in the awards.” 

The criteria for New Firm of the Year included demonstrating the number of clients won from January to December 2017, turnover and the tactic used to grow the business. 

Nathan said he was excited to get the good news. “Watson & Watt is new. We’ve only be operational for under nine months. To know what we have been doing is not only working for us as a business but for our clients is pleasing,” he said. 

“The stereotype of the typical accountant is a hinderance to accountants and it needs to be challenged.  We don’t want to fit inside the mould. We want to be different. You can have a personality and be professional.” 

Now on its fifth year, the Australian Accounting Awards, in partnership with Thomson Reuters, recognises the exceptional contribution of individuals and accounting firms across 31 categories. Winners from the individual categories will automatically be shortlisted for the coveted Accountants Daily Excellence Award. 

“On behalf of the team at Accountants Daily, sincere congratulations to all the deserving finalists in this year’s Australian Accounting Awards,” said Accountants Daily managing editor Katarina Taurian.

“It’s great to see such a diverse mix of firms, from micro-businesses right up to nationwide networks.

“We are also pleased to be recognising the broader role accountants play in their locales and in the lives of their clients. Accountants are the backbone of small business in Australia, and the community flow-on effect is enormous.”

The winners will be announced at a black-tie awards dinner on 1 June at the Hyatt Regency Sydney. 

CONTACT Nathan Watt | Managing Director

Phone: 07 3067 3017/0407386243