Brad O'Donnell

Partner - Perth

Brad O’Donnell is a Partner in the Perth Tax Division. 

Brad is a seasoned transfer pricing specialist and trusted adviser to a wide range of clients, from privately held businesses to large corporations with complex international structures. 

As a Partner in RSM’s Transfer Pricing team, Brad brings over 20 years of experience to the table, helping clients navigate global tax obligations with clarity, confidence, and commercial insight.

He specialises in the Mining, Technology, and Energy & Resources sectors—industries where cross-border value chains, intangible assets, and fast-moving developments can often create planning opportunities along with complex compliance requirements. 

Brad’s role is to assess the opportunities and navigate the complexities, ensuring clients’ transfer pricing models and global tax footprints are aligned with the economic realities of their businesses. He works closely with clients to ensure they meet their compliance obligations in all jurisdictions, while also building tax strategies that are sustainable and fit for growth.

"I believe the best solutions are born from genuine relationships—when you value the person behind the numbers, you’ll always get a better result."

Brad’s career prior to RSM spanned 18 years at a Big 4 accounting firm, during which time he held senior roles both in Australia and in Silicon Valley, USA. This international experience gave him a unique perspective on global tax strategy and a deep understanding of how businesses scale across borders. 

His time in Silicon Valley, in particular, exposed him to the inner workings of high-growth technology companies and the complex transfer pricing issues associated with intellectual property, digital services, and aligning value with DEMPE (Development, Enhancement, Maintenance, Protection, Exploitation) functions.

This experience has translated into tangible outcomes for Brad’s clients. For instance, he assisted a Perth-based mining services company in understanding and documenting their transfer pricing obligations across a wide number of international jurisdictions. His advice ensured they were able to meet all compliance deadlines and reduced their risk of audit or penalty. 

In another case, Brad worked with a small, Perth-based technology start-up during their initial overseas expansion. Recognising the company’s tight cash flow and limited in-house tax expertise, Brad developed a simple yet robust transfer pricing model that prioritised both legal compliance and financial flexibility—giving the founders peace of mind as they scaled into new markets.

Brad’s approach is hands-on, personal, and strategic. He doesn’t just deliver technical advice—he builds long-term relationships with clients based on mutual trust and understanding. He believes that getting to know the person behind the business is just as important as understanding the numbers. This philosophy helps him design solutions that not only meet compliance requirements but also support broader commercial objectives.

One of Brad’s proudest moments in his career was helping a client overhaul their internal product pricing model. By undertaking a detailed value chain analysis, Brad and his team were able to identify areas of the business that were generating significant customer value but had previously been overlooked in the pricing structure. The revised model was not only administratively simpler and more defensible from a transfer pricing perspective, but also gave the client room to expand globally with greater confidence in their pricing methodology. The project gave the client a deeper understanding of their business and the assurance that their compliance obligations would hold up to scrutiny from tax authorities worldwide.

What Brad enjoys most about his role is the people. He thrives on the opportunity to connect with clients, understand the challenges they face, and work collaboratively to find tailored solutions. 

His motivation stems from building relationships that go beyond transactions—relationships grounded in integrity, curiosity, and a genuine desire to add value. For Brad, the best outcomes occur when there's mutual respect and a shared commitment to doing things the right way.
Outside of the office, Brad finds balance through his family and love of the outdoors. He’s an avid runner and hiker and can often be found hitting the trails or roads before the sun rises—sneaking in some ‘me time’ before the busyness of family life kicks in and the household fun with his wife and two kids begins. While he doesn’t claim to be the fastest on two feet, he values the headspace and clarity that come with a long, quiet run. And for a fun twist—before launching his career in accounting, Brad once worked as a jet ski driver at a US summer camp!

Solutions Brad O'Donnell provides

Brad provides expert knowledge in the following areas:

• Transfer Pricing Strategy
• International Structuring
• Global Transfer Pricing Compliance
• Tax Controversy
• Tax Risk Management

Associations

• Member, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ)

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Commerce - Accounting and Finance, Curtin University