Honour for Angus

A humble Busselton accountant won the honoured Beaton Client Choice Awards Professional of the Year in Melbourne last month.

RSM Busselton managing partner Angus Smith beat hundreds of lawyers, engineers and accountants to win the award thanks to glowing reviews from his clients.

“This is the first external award I’ve ever won and I couldn’t think of a better professional recognition award than one that is voted on by my clients,” Mr Smith said.

“We have a very frank, honest and confidential relationship and only they know the services that we provide,” he said.

The national award is sponsored by The Australian Financial Review and Commonwealth Bank and was held at the Sofitel in Melbourne. Mr Smith said he left Busselton at 5.30am and returned the next day at 2.30pm.

“At this time of the banking royal commission, so much bad press has been published about financial advice, there is always bad eggs but this award shows that clients value us and are just as proud of our performance,” Mr Smith said.

“A lot of people think accounting is all about numbers but really it’s about people lending a supportive ear and guidance. It just comes back to strong professional relationships.”

The dedicated and humble professional said it was “a long way for a dinner”.

Busselton Chamber executive Jo Richards said it was an amazing achievement for the Busselton business community.

“Here we are in the bottom corner of WA compared to five million people in Sydney and Melbourne, and we have some of the best professionals in Australia,” she said.