Warrnambool accountants named as finalists in five industry awards

Sinclair Wilson has spent the past three decades becoming one of regional Victoria’s leading providers of self-managed super advice and service. This week, the competitive industry indicated the hard work has paid off, with the south west firm named as a finalist in no less than five prestigious industry award categories.

Both firm-wide and personal accolades are in the wings for the seven-decade-old accounting and business advisory firm, which has its head office in Warrnambool and branches in Mount Gambier, Colac, Camperdown and Hamilton.

Warrnambool-based Accountant Hayley Pilkington is vying for the title of Rising Star of the Year in the 2018 Women in Financial Services Awards.

Her boss, Wayne Promnitz, Sinclair Wilson’s SMSF Partner, also heard this week he was in the running for two accolades; the SMSF and Accounting Awards Victorian honour for SMSF and Accounting Professional of the Year – Regional Victoria and SMSF Specialist Accountant of the Year.

Sinclair Wilson is familiar with the prestige of these awards, and the benefits they bring; last year, they celebrated Hayley, Wayne’s Associate, bringing home the 2017 accolades. “I’ve taught him everything he knows,” Hayley quipped when discussing her boss’ double-barrelled recognition earlier this week. “Wayne’s followed in my footsteps.”

These individual nominations come in addition to Sinclair Wilson earning firm-wide recognition in the SMSF and Accounting Awards; it has also been named as finalists in the Victorian division of the Customer Service Firm of the Year and Multi-Service Firm of the Year award categories.

Wayne said the award nominations reflected Sinclair Wilson’s well-established approach to service when it came to SMSF – to always think from the clients’ perspective.

“We have never had a ‘one size fits all’ approach to how we work with our clients,” he explains.

“The nature of Self-Managed Super is that, if you do it well, it’s completely tailored to the needs and circumstances of the client. We take that approach, not only with their investments, but also how we work with clients – what do they need us to do? How can we provide service in a way that meets their needs and circumstances?

“Us reaching the final stages of judging for these awards indicates that this approach is resonating with our industry as well as our clients.”

Hayley agrees this culture of client-focused service is also likely to have played a part in her award nomination. “While I am based in Warrnambool, I am on the road travelling a lot to see clients at their business, or their farm or their house. It makes a difference to them, and ensures they don’t have to miss out on the benefits of our expertise, just because they are busy running a successful business or household.”

Sinclair Wilson has established itself as one of regional Victoria’s most advanced and progressive Self-Managed Super Fund facilitators, with Super Funds dating back to the 1980’s. The firm now has more than 1000 SMSFs from clients around Australia, holding more than $1billion in retirement savings.

Mr Promnitz said that in addition to its client-focused service, the firm prided itself on being up to date with legislative changes and requirements. “Our capacity to remain across legislative changes and our well-embedded customer service philosophies are instrumental when helping clients create secure personal wealth for their retirement, and succession.”

The winner of the 2018 Women in Financial Services Awards – Rising Star Award will be announced in Sydney on 6 September 2018, while the SMSF and Accounting Award winners will be announced in mid-November.