Wednesday 30 June 2021 will be more than just the end of the 2020/2021 Financial Year at South West accounting firm Sinclair Wilson.
It will also be the end of an era, with the Group’s most senior Accountant, John Bouwman, officially retiring from the organisation, and the profession, after almost four decades service to Group.
The 62-year-old Princetown-raised accountant – who joined Sinclair Wilson on 9 May 1983 and was the Group’s chairman from 2017 to 2020 – will lead his last client meeting in the late hours of 30 June.
John’s arrival at Sinclair Wilson came as the region was still in shock following the devastating Ash Wednesday fires of February 1983.
The young accountant was returning home after three years in Melbourne with multinational accounting firm Ernst & Whinney (now known as EY). Tired of the metropolitan rush and long commutes to see clients in all corners of the city, John was seeking a career opportunity closer to his childhood home and family.
A canvassing of local firms delivered the young, Warrnambool-Institute-trained accountant to the doors of Sinclair Wilson – which at the time was located on the corner of Liebig and Koroit Streets, on the site now occupied by the Bendigo Bank. Growing demand for audit services amongst local not for profit organisations, health services and other local entities had created the opportunity for a dedicated audit division at Sinclair Wilson. John’s experience with city-based organisations, combined with his local affinity, ensured he was an ideal fit.
From here, John oversaw rapid growth of the audit division, while also developing a large client base providing tax advice, leading to his admission as Partner in 1988, when founding Partner Bill Sinclair retired. At the time, he was one of five partners in a practice that employed around 30 people. Today, Sinclair Wilson has 20 partners (or 19 from 1 July), and more than 120 employees.
John’s industrious, accommodating nature has cultivated a large and loyal client base over his almost-four decades with Sinclair Wilson. Over the past 12 months, he has farewelled clients and families from across the Warrnambool, Camperdown, Cobden, Timboon and Port Campbell regions that have worked with him for the duration of his time with the group.
In this time, technology, and all the efficiencies it delivers, had brought the greatest change to the profession, John said.
“To think when we started, people would bring in their cheque books, and bank statements, and we would manually transcribe the details from those cheque stubs and statements on to ledger sheets, from which we would then prepare the tax returns that we then re-typed and filed. Tax returns were all done on-paper – we would compile the details, then that would go to the typists to type it, for the client to then come in, check over and sign.
“It was in the mid to late 80s we really started moving to computers and technology – the efficiencies that has created makes it hard to believe that was how we once did it. But then again, the tax system was simpler.”
“When I started, we had two data clerks working on two desk-top computers; now each accountant would have at least two computer screens sitting on their desk.”
Since then, Capital Gains Tax, Fringe Benefit Tax and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) had also revolutionised the industry, John said, with the GST’s introduction on 1 July 2000 the greatest professional disruption for accountants and clients alike.
“At the time, there was such a rush to understand the legislation and what industries or items it applied to – it was very complex, because it applied differently, depending on the industry,” John said. “We undertook a lot of training, not just of our people, but also our clients, to help make sure people were ready for it. And even 20 years later, we still have clients with whom we are working with and learning more about how it applies to them, and their business.”
Another of John’s greatest challenges while working with Sinclair Wilson was the loss of his wife and colleague, Terrie, to cancer in early 2004.
Also an accountant, Terrie worked with Sinclair Wilson for 10 years as a Senior Associate, until the mother-of-two was diagnosed with cancer in 2001.
Terrie’s three-year battle with ended on New Year’s Day 2004. John continued his role as a Partner with Sinclair Wilson following her passing, combining his duties as a leader of the Group with that of father to his then-teenage children Jess and Josh.
“It wasn’t easy having Terrie as part of the workplace, and then her not being here.”
Challenges aside, it was his relationships with clients that delivered John the greatest satisfaction during his time with Sinclair Wilson.
“In the beginning, you may have seen clients once or twice a year to prepare their tax work. But it has changed so much over the years, that we are now in regular contact with our clients – several times a week, sometimes. This means that you get to know them very well. If I think about what I’ve enjoyed the most; it’s not only the work I’ve done for our clients, but the interaction and chance to work with our clients.”
He said that with 19 other Partners specialising in a diverse range of services, and an impressive team of young professionals filling senior roles within the Group, Sinclair Wilson is now as well-placed as ever to accommodate the evolving need and expectations of the region’s businesses and clients.
“A good Accountant and accounting practice today is an advisor to a business or an individual, rather than just the person they see, or the office they visit once a year to sign a tax return – our people are true advisors, who work alongside their clients. This business model has been at the centre of how we operate, since the firm was founded more than 70 years ago. It’s part of our DNA. It’s why we have grown the way we have, to be one of the largest Groups of our kind in regional Australia.”
Post 30-June, the Queensland sunshine will be calling John and his wife Bernie; travel restrictions permitting, they plan to spend some time holidaying in the northern state, where John’s son Josh, and other friends are now living, or visiting.
