MARSH TINCKNELL STAFF PROFILES

PETER MARSH Founder

Marsh Tincknell believes in building a trust culture, based on mutual respect for their team and their clients.

Peter Marsh founded the firm in 1989, driven by a vision he shared with friend David Tincknell to provide a personal service in the world of accountancy. The quest started with genuinely understanding the individual needs of clients, rather than a “one size fits all” approach. From those humble beginnings Peter, in company with his fellow Directors, has grown the firm to the point where it is now one of the largest and most sophisticated suburban accountancy practices in the country. Peter is as passionate about the growth and development of Marsh Tincknell as he is about the businesses of his clients, constantly searching for new and improved systems and processes to help the practice realise its full potential.

We sat down with Peter to find out a little more about the man behind the business.

The company’s goal is to become one of the top 5 most sought-after places to work in Australia. What makes it so enticing to work at Marsh Tincknell?

We believe if we look after our team, our team will look after our clients. It is important that we look at all avenues to ensure that we provide a happy and enjoyable place to work which allows our team to grow and develop. We believe that we have succeeded in this by the fact that we are very proud of our loyalty board in our reception which lists all of the team members who have been with us over a long period of time and we have special celebrations throughout the year for our long serving team members. Marsh Tincknell is who it is today because of our team.

How have you handled the last few months of isolation?

The last few months have been a challenging time, however it does reinforce the importance of balance in every aspect of our lives. It has given me personally and the team more time at home to spend with our families and many of our team members have excelled and thrived during this time in balancing their home life with their work life, being extremely productive throughout this period. I personally find the balance of some work in the office and some work at home to be great, allowing me to manage the team and do the things I need to in the office, but also allows for some quiet time at home to simply get in and get important matters attended to.

Where would you love to visit when it becomes possible again - overseas or in Australia?

I am an avid camper/caravanner and love nothing more than pulling the van up in the bush or at our favourite destination, Moreton Island, and just sitting back in the tranquillity of nature and reading a great book. We will be heading off again in our van to enjoy this wonderful country that we are so privileged to call home. I do also enjoy visiting other countries around the world to get a different perspective on how cultures integrate with their societies and how they both are similar and different to ours. I am a frequent traveller to the United States and find it fascinating that a country that is only a few hundred years old still has very different cultural aspects in all of its 51 states. It is interesting to see how each state in its own right has much to offer, but also how the people of each state are very different to those of their neighbours.

Have your children inherited your interest in finances?

I certainly am a family man. My children have all grown and developed in their particular interests, although none have decided to follow in my footsteps in the journey of becoming an accountant. They all do manage their finances well and it is always pleasing to see them sitting down to plan budgets and achieving goals, so some of my career and life in the accounting world has rubbed off.

The best Sunday is...

Sundays are my relaxing day and I look forward to the occasional game of golf with a few mates. When golf is not on, I enjoy nothing more than sitting down and having a nice breakfast, reading the paper and then sitting in the park reading a great novel for the day. I use it as a day to recharge the batteries and be in a positive mindset for the week ahead.

Sophie Fairlie Accountant

Marsh Tincknell’s philosophy is that work is simply an activity that helps build lifestyle and ultimately, creates enjoyment. They believe we work to live, not live to work. With this as their ethos, the company goal of becoming one of the Top 5 most sought-after places to work in Australia is surely not far out of reach.

Team member, Sophie Fairlie has been part of Marsh Tincknell since 2010, starting as an undergraduate and building her career to become a Senior Accountant and Bookkeeping Manager. We chat to Sophie about what fuels her in life, both in career and outside work.

What drives you in your career?

Marsh Tincknell is a great place to work - the firm and its culture really drives you to want to improve and build your career. There is so much support and guidance provided by the staff and directors that surround you, it is impossible to not want to strive for your best. I also find enjoyment with helping others and clients, the ability to do this also drives me to want to continuously improve in my career.

How do you unwind outside of work?

My latest passion outside of work has been fitness. I like to workout in the afternoons, as it allows me to zone out and disengage from work at the end of the day. My competitive side helps me to push myself to my limits and set hard goals to achieve.

What positives have you taken from the few months of isolation?

There have been positives with both work and personal life to come out of it all. At work, it has allowed me to learn a lot more about managing a team and delegating tasks. My bookkeeping team has shown me their hidden strengths and has allowed me to move more into a managerial role in the team. At home, it has been re-connecting with the people in my community. I have had a lot more family video chats than ever before, and built stronger friendships with the neighbours.

The perfect Sunday is….

My weeks tend to be non-stop with work, gym and home life, so ideally I like to get everything done by Saturday so that Sunday can be a lazy day for me. My perfect Sunday would involve a nice sleep in until mid-morning, leading into a slow paced day. I have a number of Audio Books to listen to so I tend to play them while doing some light yard work or a puzzle. If motivation hits, I will go for a run or to the gym for a weights session.