Our Team

David Smith, Director & Chairman
B.Bus, FCA, FAICD, CISA

David Smith is a founding director of Smithink, which focuses on business management, strategy and process innovation. He’s a very experienced advisor with a focus on strategy, process efficiency, business management, use of technology and client service. David conducts regular seminars, workshops and conferences for accountants and other professional service firms.

For over 16 years David was a partner at chartered accounting firm PKF (now BDO) Sydney. At PKF he created one of the earliest SMSF admin platforms, which was later sold to MYOB. He is a regular speaker on topics relating to the future of business, business strategy process improvement, technology and innovation.
David was 2003 President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia.

 

James Malcolm, Managing Director & Director Practice Development
M Com Accounting & Finance (Macq), B Ag Sc (UWS), Grad Dip Accounting (UTS)

Since 1989 James has been advising accounting firms throughout Australasia on practice development, including the effective use of software to increase productivity and the restructuring of practice services models to maximise profit.

In 1998 James was a UK founder and then a principal of Advance Professional Solutions. This company was later sold to a listed entity to become APS-Reckon. Prior to this James was in practice as a senior accountant and then as an executive with Solution 6 (AUS/UK). James has headed software business units for financial accounting, SMSF, Tax and insolvency. He also established the National Support Gateway with a team of 80 consultants.

He has many years experience working with both the established and rapidly growing segments of the accounting industry. And has been instrumental with the successful outcomes of a substantial proportion of Australia’s top 100 accounting firms.

 

Tony Bates, Founding Director
B Ec (Syd), Dip FP

Since 1987, Tony Bates has placed his clients first: wealthy families, charitable and trustee organisations.

Tony has created and built advice businesses within banking, stockbroking, accounting and wealth management organisations.

Tony was a pioneer of Private Banking in Australia, chairing local and regional conferences through the 1990’s. As Head of Macquarie Private Banking Tony wrote Macquarie’s first financial plan, created its first discretionary funds management account and delivered Macquarie’s banking licence in London.

Since 2000, Tony has partnered with accounting practices building wealth advisory offices. Tony is a member of the Financial Planning Association, the SMSF Association and the Responsible Investment Association.