Damien McKern’s career commenced in 1990 with enrolment into the prestigious Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Business majoring in Accountancy double degree at Queensland University of Technology’s Garden Point (Brisbane) Campus.  As this five year full time course progressed, Damien’s 20 hour a week shop assistant job transformed to a 30 hour a week night fill role, teaching Damien a strong work ethic.

 

Six months work experience at Kitchen & Kennewell in Brisbane provided some practical experience, culminating in graduation in late 1994.  By this time, Damien had commenced working for Holmes & Partners, a well established Chartered Accounting firm on the southern Gold Coast under the watchful eye of the senior partner, Noel Holmes, himself a Chartered Accountant.  This invaluable professional & business mentoring continues to this day, with Damien & Noel having commitment to the same core values and giving Damien an experienced & successful ‘sounding board’.  In 1997, the Chartered Accountant (CA) program was passed with flying colours and Damien knew he had found his calling.

 

By 2002, Holmes & Partners had become a founding member of a National firm and Damien decided to commence a new chapter in life, and in March 2002 at the age of 29, with a tax agents registration and CA practicing certificate in hand, formed McKern & Associates Chartered Accoutants based at Burleigh Waters.

 

 

 

 

Growth was swift, with 4 key team members soon joining McKern & Associates from the former Holmes & Partners and several other professionals and support staff joining the happy little band.  August 2002 saw client demand and space constraints mean that the 100 sq metres at the Classic Way office expanded to 170 sq metres and 200 sq metres of space was rented at Minjungbal Drive, Tweed Heads South.  At this time, Damien commenced his pattern of two days per week at Tweed and three days per week at Burleigh, a pattern that still exists today.

 

In 2003, with the team standing at 20 strong in Burleigh, a chance ‘counter meal’ with Todd and Cameron saw the boys stumble into a “for sale” sign on a vacant block of land.  48 hours later, Damien had committed McKern & Associates to its first real ‘home’, building 4 of the new Burleigh Office Park.  In the months that followed, the team watched the building come out of the ground, it was next door to the current office after all!!  May 2004, saw desks being carried 100m by an army of staff and a new beginning occurred.

 

 

Over the next 2 years, the Burleigh team expanded to nearly 40, the vacant downstairs area was fitted out and a permanent reception and 5 meeting rooms were built.  Simultaneous, our formal boardroom was constructed, housing our training programs.  This new training syllabus was aimed at promoting greater subject knowledge and core technical competencies, as well as firm wide consistencies.   Conducted over 4 sessions per month, McKern & Associates pride themselves on their commitment to producing young, skilled professionals & paraprofessionals, striving to this day to further develop this program.

 

After 5 years of operation, the team took a minute to reflect on their achievements…only to be interrupted by Damien’s declaration that his other major project was complete!!  McKern & Associates southern home, managed by Luisa and Luke, had been found at Unit 1, in the modern Tweed Office Park.  M&A’s trusty shopfitter, John from Value Shopfitting turned dreams into reality with workstations for 20 staff, a mirror image formal boardroom to the one at Burleigh, reception and 3 meeting rooms filling a previously barren concrete space.  The ‘feel’ was fantastic and the future bright.

 

 

Acknowledging the filing teams concerns, an offsite file storage location, doubling as McKern Racing’s base, was added to the mix and John had his next task.  Fit out completed, it became apparent that training needs had outgrown available space, and after negotiation’s, a room was taken at the Tweed Office Park for (a facility that thanks to Brooke & Arron would forever more be known as) the T.O.P Training Center.  This room, gave M&A the opportunity to realize a dream of regular training & information seminars for staff and clients in an appropriate & spacious setting.  As our suite of seminars expands, TOP Training Centre is envisaged as a vital hub for clients, staff and local professionals to be educated in a relaxed and cost effective group setting.

 

 

 

Never a firm to stand still, McKern & Associates has an eye for the future.  Sarah Wallace and Damien are currently formulating a succession plan that will see Sarah as an associate leading to partnership, paving the way for future expansion of the leadership team.  Core to this process is the absolute necessity for future partners to passionately commit to Damien, Sarah and M&A’s value system, and single minded focus on delivering affordable quality service to our 6000 clients.  Our commitment to giving young people a start in the profession is key to this and expect the future of M&A to be built on the development of core technical skills in these willing minds. 

 

2008 also sees Damien & Jan focus on ‘soft skills’ such as staff management, communication and interpersonal skill sets.  Jan Lodge, our highly experienced Practice Manager, together with our Client Managers including Angela Chappell (CA), Luisa Braun (CA), Luke Wolfe (CA), Dane Holmes, Samantha Norton, Alicia Chapman and Scott Williams are an integral part of the training of these skills, lightening Damien’s load.  Support from Arron Skillen has also lead to the regular monthly newsletter, eagerly anticipated by many clients.  Dane Holmes, has also been tasked with developing & documenting a career path, based on the experiences he has gathered since commencing at M&A five years ago as an undergraduate accountant.

 

In the wings is also a long term goal to establish a presence to the north of Burleigh, and who only knows where Damien’s frequent working trips to Sydney will lead!  One thing is apparent is the pride that Damien has in the efforts of the team and the realization that one mans daydreams have grown into the reality of 55 plus professional accountants and support staff, lead by Brooke, focused on one goal!!

 

Watch this space as Damien & Arron pen the next chapter of the M&A story…