Doing the right thing for clients
MICHAEL BEDDOES, THE MBA PARTNERSHIP
FIRST JOB — AND WHERE ARE YOU NOW?
My first job was as a graduate accountant. I finished university on a Thursday and started my new role on the Monday. Today, I’m a director of The MBA Partnership – one of the Gold Coast’s largest accounting firms, with offices in Southport and Tweed Heads.
BEST BUSINESS ADVICE YOU’VE RECEIVED?
The first accounting partner I worked for told me: “look after your clients first and everything else will follow”. This advice resonates with me to this day, and I always manage to pass these words of wisdom to every new hire.
WHAT YOU WISH YOU KNEW WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED OUT?
Ask for feedback and learn from others. Seek out experts/role models and spend time with them and benefit from their experience. There is always more to learn and something to improve on.
YOUR GOLDEN RULE IN BUSINESS?
Do the right thing by your clients and team. Doing the right thing is a core part of the MBA DNA. Every team member knows, lives and breathes this saying.
A LONG LUNCH — A WASTE OF TIME OR ESSENTIAL? EXPLAIN
Essential. Long lunches are a lot less common now, but some of our best business happens over a lunch. Being in a more relaxed environment tends to allow the con- versation to flow towards a greater variety of issues where we may be able to help or to point them in the direction of another professional who could help. Plus, living on the Gold Coast, there’s so many great restaurants where you can sit by the water and enjoy the view while having a meal.
WHO IS ON YOUR BUSINESS MOBILE’S SPEED DIAL?
Besides the normal regulatory bodies (ATO, ASIC etc), a lot of our clients are on our speed dial list. We talk to them regularly and where we can’t help, we’ll put them in touch with an expert who can help.
IF YOU HAD A $1 MILLION SPARE, WHAT INDUSTRY WOULD YOU BE INVESTING IN NOW?
Given the ageing demographic on the Gold Coast, definitely health and medical-related services.
WHAT SHOULD GOLD COAST PRIMARY STUDENTS BE STUDYING?
From my own experience with my children and dealing with the younger generation in the workplace, I think they should be studying personal financial management and budgeting. Too often we see the younger generation not understanding what they are signing up for when obtaining credit, etc.
YOUR BIGGEST FRUSTRATION DOING BUSINESS ON THE GOLD COAST? AND HOW TO FIX IT?
Doing business where bureaucrats are involved. In this day and age, where the use of technology is the norm, the amount of form filling, rules and regulations seems burdensome and places unnecessary costs on business.