Jim sees accountancy as constantly evolving
Keeping up with frequent changes to taxation rules has been a constant for Warragul accountant Jim Johnson.
The 79-year-old principal of Jim Johnson and Associates has been running his own business in Warragul for just under 40 years after arriving in the town in 1974 to work with a firm of chartered accountants five years earlier.
When he came to Warragul it was at the time when the business he worked for was just starting the move from manual systems to computers.
He was deeply involved in that first phase of a change that has substantially impacted over the years on the way accountants work.
“We had to develop our own programs, there were no ready-made off the shelf packages available like there is today,” he said.
Mr Johnson recalls the delight of staff when they didn’t have to input information into tax returns using manual typewriters. They bought me a nice bottle of wine he said. When he branched out on his own Mr Johnson worked from home until his wife Sue told him it was about time he got out of the house and got an office.
Premises in Smith St were the first of three locations he has run the business from, the others being in Queen St and Albert St where it is currently located.
The accounting profession, however, was not Mr Johnson’s initial career choice.
His working life began as an apprentice in the Royal Australian Air Force where he spent 15 years as an engine fitter, mainly based at Wagga Wagga in New South Wales.
He thought he’d do some extra studies related to his trade and inquired at the Wagga Wagga Technical College.
There was nothing relevant on offer so Mr Johnson decided to study accounting at night school, obviously a more than handy back up having also gained tax agent registration before he left the air force.
Retirement is not on his radar at the moment although he does plan to slow down.
What is coming up in the near future is a trip to Texas, where a daughter lives, and a guest speaking engagement with the local Round Rock Lions Club.
Lions has been a big part of Mr Johnson’s community life since he joined the Warragul club in 1992 but transferred his membership and joined up his wife at Willow Grove Lions two years later because Warragul didn’t accept female members.
Mr Johnson’s time in Lions has also included a period as District Governor and Mrs Johnson also got heavily involved outside of club level becoming the first female to president of the world-wide fund-raising group Lions International Stamp Club.
Mr Johnson remains an active member at Willow Grove although his wife died five years ago.