Get to know our New Senior Partners and Principals

From favourite holidays to special talents and alternate career choices, get to know our new partners and principals who reveal a few lesser-known candid facts about themselves.

New Partners

Andrew in 2007

Andrew Clifford

Corporate Finance | Melbourne

What led you down the path of Corporate Finance? I was fortunate to join RSM in 2005 as an auditor as the same time that Glyn Yates was recruited in the RSM Melbourne office to set up the dedicated Corporate Finance division within Melbourne. The diverse and interesting work undertaken by Corporate Finance was of great interest to me and being a fellow Pom, I struck up a good relationship with Glyn and was able to move across to Corporate Finance as the division grew to assist in the further growth of the division working my way up from Assistant Manager to my current appointment as Partner.

What gets you out of bed in the morning? Most mornings it’s one of my two kids who are 18 months and 4 years old and generally ready to go pretty early. I try to spend some time each morning with them over breakfast before heading to the office. I am back training for another half marathon later in the year so twice a week my Apple Watch alarm will be buzzing at 5.30am so I can get out for a run around the streets of Preston.

What are you reading at the moment? 84k by Claire North – I have been a fan of Claire North’s books since the book the First Fifteen Lives of Harry August. Set in a dystopian future, in 84k the main character works in the “Criminal Audit Office”, where he assesses each crime that crosses his desk and makes sure the correct $ value debt to society is paid in full. Glad none of our RSM audit team have to do this!!

How do you encourage your team to be engaged about their clients’ affairs, delivering more than what is required? I consider that if you show trust in your team that they will get the job done and deliver the right outcome to clients then they will reward that trust by being engaged and delivering. I try to lead by example and let our team work independently as much as possible on projects, whilst providing guidance and input as required or asked. I am lucky that we have a high performing team of great individuals in Corporate Finance nationally.

David in 2009

David McArthur

Financial Services | Adelaide

What led you down the path of financial planning?
Many years ago I worked part-time as a volunteer counsellor in Adelaide. The role included counselling children in the areas of substance abuse, physical, and sometimes sexual abuse, often involving talking through very confronting issues but usually doing a lot of listening. At the same time I also coached a hockey team for around five years, worked in various restaurants and completed a Economics Degree majoring in Politics in 1993. After securing a counselling position in Detroit Michigan for several years, I then travelled extensively through the US, and Europe with a 2 year period of work in London as an assistant manager of a Michelin restaurant. I ended my 4 years of travel with a 3 month trip through the Middle East including Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Egypt (& the Sinai), and Israel.

What are you reading at the moment?
I’d love to say I’m reading an intellectual book on philosophy, politics, ancient history or sociology, but alas I cannot. In reality I am re-reading one of the funniest books I’ve ever had the pleasure to pick up – the book is by Australian Paul Carter titled, “Don’t Tell My Mum I work on the Rigs, She Thinks I’m a Piano Player in a Whore House”. Its’ an outlandish title and one which attracted me straight away when I was wondering through an airport book shop before jumping on a plane for a Queensland holiday. I highly recommend the book (which is the first of three he’s written I believe) – it had me in tears!

What do you do to unwind?
Ok this will sound strange but here we go,… I don’t do wild flower arrangements, clay pottery making, or take long walks along the beach (although I do love the beach!). To relax I enjoy renovating houses, which sounds a bit contradictory I know. Everything from concreting, welding, tiling, painting, gyp-rocking, flooring, landscaping, irrigation, - you name it – I do it – except that is for electrical work – that I leave to the experts! I’ve now completed two Californian Bungalows and will be looking for a new project in the near future.

I have recently been designing the construction of an eco-friendly house which I hope to one day build myself, somewhere on a secluded section of the south coast of Adelaide – one day……

New Principals

Jeremy in 2003		Jeremy Elman Risk Advisory \| Sydney What led you down the path of Risk Advisory Services? Surviving 10 years of external audit working across the UK and Australia, followed by a great experience at Westpac and an amazing opportunity to help re-launch the Sydney Risk Advisory practice and have a hand in creating something new and exciting. What gets you out of bed in the morning? Usually my two gorgeous daughters wanting breakfast. How do you encourage your team to be engaged about their clients’ affairs, delivering more than what is required? By being there with them, working through the tougher times together and helping them to achieve their personal growth and professional goals as part of the one group What do you do to unwind? I quite like attending live music and sports events, trying out new restaurants, failing miserably at any attempt to catch a fish and, most of all, having a quiet movie night in with my girls.
		Tony Grieves Assurance & Advisory \| Canberra What led you down the path of Assurance & Advisory? Luck and an opportunity that was there at the time. What do you do to unwind? Gardening and playing golf. I have three teenage boys who all play golf, so I have a ready made golf group, ready to play any opportunity we get. If you weren’t in Assurance & Advisory, what would you be doing? Landscape Gardener. What have you done in this job that you never thought would be part of the role? I have had the opportunity to travel to some amazing and sometimes very remote locations as part of my job, which you would not normally have the opportunity to visit. Some of the more remote locations include Mornington Island, which is in the Gulf of Carpentaria, and various communities on Cape York and the Northern Territory.
Stephanie in 2013		Stephanie Kanellis Tax Services \| Sydney What led you down the path of tax? A lucky coincidence more than an informed decision. That being said, I enjoy working in the tax service line because it’s continually challenging and extremely broad. I’ve been very fortunate to work with a broad range of clients at RSM and the level of exposure to new issues has been unreal. What gets you out of bed in the morning? I enjoy the work we do. I’m part of an exceptional team and we service a great bunch of clients. That ticks all boxes for me. What are you reading at the moment? The Clifton Chronicles by Jeffrey Archer. Each book in the series is better than the one before. I’m dreading the end. I’m also desperately perusing Baby Love – A guide on everything you need to know about your new baby. What’s your favourite holiday destination and why? Hawaii. It’s pretty hard not to relax there. The weather is warm all year round and the shopping outlets are an added bonus! What do you do to unwind? I love to read. I also enjoy watching cooking shows (though my husband will confirm that this has in no way improved my culinary skills) and regrettably, I’m a Netflix binger! I’d love to have said “going for a run”. What have you done in this job that you never thought would be part of the role? I’ve done a couple of secondments and travelled to PNG as part of an initial client briefing.
Mary Lai in 2009		Mary Lai Tax Services \| Sydney What led you down the path of tax? I have always been drawn to tax as I enjoy the challenges it bring and it was directly relevant to what I studied in university – a nice blend of accounting and law. What are you reading at the moment? Everything happens for a reason by Kate Bowler What’s your favourite holiday destination and why? Maldives – the overwater villas with endless views of the Indian Ocean were highlights that always makes me want to return. If you weren’t a tax advisor what would you be doing? I love my coffee and if I weren’t in my current position, I would aim to bring a smile to others by being a barista skilled at making only the finest coffee.
		Robert Zammit Financial Services \| Perth What led you down the path of financial services? I was at high school doing all the hard subjects. I had no idea what I wanted to be. Mum was working with some financial advisers at the time that she introduced me to. After two meetings I realised I had found a profession where I could help people directly. I could see that a financial adviser was able to influence and plan the outcomes of their clients lives. What gets you out of bed in the morning? Waking up and seeing my wife’s face….. no just kidding, Getting away from my wife….slightly true, but still kidding. I always like to see things grow and enjoy counting money, I am lucky that I have found a profession which I am passionate about and enables me to use my skills. How do you encourage your team to be engaged about their clients’ affairs, delivering more than what is required? I always pose the question of what would they do if it was their own money, or if we were providing advice to their parents. We manage our clients wealth as if it was our families. What’s your favourite holiday destination and why? Maldives, I never thought I would enjoy a holiday on an island with nothing to do. Boy was I wrong, it is extremely relaxing and best of all I get to swim on coral reefs all day long and go fishing. What do you do to unwind?I enjoy looking after my marine aquarium at home which has corals and clownfish. Otherwise getting outdoors for a swim or fishing is always fun. If you weren’t a financial planner, what would you be doing? A lawyer specialising in litigation of other financial planners and practices. What special talent do you have? Endless energy, a keen problem solver and the ability to not stop talking. Oh did I mention my smile (see picture below for reference). What have you done in this job that you never thought would be part of the role? No one ever tells you or teaches you the need to be able to assist people when they are at their most vulnerable. Financial counselling maybe necessary for instance when helping a family deal with a critical illness of a loved one. Consideration and balance needs to be given to the cost of care whilst trying to avoid financial ruin. Where have you been in the world? England, France, Germany, Malta, Egypt, Libya, Tanzania, Maldives, Thailand, Japan, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, USA, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, What was your most amazing holiday experience? Hot air ballooning over the Serengeti in Tanzania

Jeremy in 2003		Jeremy Elman Risk Advisory \| Sydney What led you down the path of Risk Advisory Services? Surviving 10 years of external audit working across the UK and Australia, followed by a great experience at Westpac and an amazing opportunity to help re-launch the Sydney Risk Advisory practice and have a hand in creating something new and exciting. What gets you out of bed in the morning? Usually my two gorgeous daughters wanting breakfast. How do you encourage your team to be engaged about their clients’ affairs, delivering more than what is required? By being there with them, working through the tougher times together and helping them to achieve their personal growth and professional goals as part of the one group What do you do to unwind? I quite like attending live music and sports events, trying out new restaurants, failing miserably at any attempt to catch a fish and, most of all, having a quiet movie night in with my girls.
		Tony Grieves Assurance & Advisory \| Canberra What led you down the path of Assurance & Advisory? Luck and an opportunity that was there at the time. What do you do to unwind? Gardening and playing golf. I have three teenage boys who all play golf, so I have a ready made golf group, ready to play any opportunity we get. If you weren’t in Assurance & Advisory, what would you be doing? Landscape Gardener. What have you done in this job that you never thought would be part of the role? I have had the opportunity to travel to some amazing and sometimes very remote locations as part of my job, which you would not normally have the opportunity to visit. Some of the more remote locations include Mornington Island, which is in the Gulf of Carpentaria, and various communities on Cape York and the Northern Territory.
Stephanie in 2013		Stephanie Kanellis Tax Services \| Sydney What led you down the path of tax? A lucky coincidence more than an informed decision. That being said, I enjoy working in the tax service line because it’s continually challenging and extremely broad. I’ve been very fortunate to work with a broad range of clients at RSM and the level of exposure to new issues has been unreal. What gets you out of bed in the morning? I enjoy the work we do. I’m part of an exceptional team and we service a great bunch of clients. That ticks all boxes for me. What are you reading at the moment? The Clifton Chronicles by Jeffrey Archer. Each book in the series is better than the one before. I’m dreading the end. I’m also desperately perusing Baby Love – A guide on everything you need to know about your new baby. What’s your favourite holiday destination and why? Hawaii. It’s pretty hard not to relax there. The weather is warm all year round and the shopping outlets are an added bonus! What do you do to unwind? I love to read. I also enjoy watching cooking shows (though my husband will confirm that this has in no way improved my culinary skills) and regrettably, I’m a Netflix binger! I’d love to have said “going for a run”. What have you done in this job that you never thought would be part of the role? I’ve done a couple of secondments and travelled to PNG as part of an initial client briefing.
Mary Lai in 2009		Mary Lai Tax Services \| Sydney What led you down the path of tax? I have always been drawn to tax as I enjoy the challenges it bring and it was directly relevant to what I studied in university – a nice blend of accounting and law. What are you reading at the moment? Everything happens for a reason by Kate Bowler What’s your favourite holiday destination and why? Maldives – the overwater villas with endless views of the Indian Ocean were highlights that always makes me want to return. If you weren’t a tax advisor what would you be doing? I love my coffee and if I weren’t in my current position, I would aim to bring a smile to others by being a barista skilled at making only the finest coffee.
		Robert Zammit Financial Services \| Perth What led you down the path of financial services? I was at high school doing all the hard subjects. I had no idea what I wanted to be. Mum was working with some financial advisers at the time that she introduced me to. After two meetings I realised I had found a profession where I could help people directly. I could see that a financial adviser was able to influence and plan the outcomes of their clients lives. What gets you out of bed in the morning? Waking up and seeing my wife’s face….. no just kidding, Getting away from my wife….slightly true, but still kidding. I always like to see things grow and enjoy counting money, I am lucky that I have found a profession which I am passionate about and enables me to use my skills. How do you encourage your team to be engaged about their clients’ affairs, delivering more than what is required? I always pose the question of what would they do if it was their own money, or if we were providing advice to their parents. We manage our clients wealth as if it was our families. What’s your favourite holiday destination and why? Maldives, I never thought I would enjoy a holiday on an island with nothing to do. Boy was I wrong, it is extremely relaxing and best of all I get to swim on coral reefs all day long and go fishing. What do you do to unwind?I enjoy looking after my marine aquarium at home which has corals and clownfish. Otherwise getting outdoors for a swim or fishing is always fun. If you weren’t a financial planner, what would you be doing? A lawyer specialising in litigation of other financial planners and practices. What special talent do you have? Endless energy, a keen problem solver and the ability to not stop talking. Oh did I mention my smile (see picture below for reference). What have you done in this job that you never thought would be part of the role? No one ever tells you or teaches you the need to be able to assist people when they are at their most vulnerable. Financial counselling maybe necessary for instance when helping a family deal with a critical illness of a loved one. Consideration and balance needs to be given to the cost of care whilst trying to avoid financial ruin. Where have you been in the world? England, France, Germany, Malta, Egypt, Libya, Tanzania, Maldives, Thailand, Japan, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, USA, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, What was your most amazing holiday experience? Hot air ballooning over the Serengeti in Tanzania

Get to know our New Senior Partners and Principals

From favourite holidays to special talents and alternate career choices, get to know our new partners and principals who reveal a few lesser-known candid facts about themselves.

New Partners

Andrew Clifford

David McArthur

New Principals

Jeremy Elman

Tony Grieves

Stephanie Kanellis

Mary Lai

Robert Zammit