INTHEBLACK August 2022 - Magazine - Page 23
SELF-MADE
SUPER STAR
Susan O’Connor FCPA started her public practice
business in Perth in 2016 and built it from the ground
up, specialising in SMSF. Her clarity of vision and
customer focus have seen her named Superannuation
Specialist Accountant of the Year twice.
STORY BELINDA PARKES PHOTOGRAPHY SAM IRWIN
S
usan O’Connor FCPA’s niche accounting
business began with little more than a dream.
She had no capital, no equipment, no
clients. What she did have was a clear vision,
self-belief and determination.
Six years on and Susan O’Connor Accounting
has been named the Superannuation Specialist
Accountant of the Year at the Accountants Daily’s
Australian Accounting Awards for the second
year running. Judges acknowledged her high
client retention and personalised service.
O’Connor runs a public practice in Perth,
Western Australia, specialising in self-managed
super funds (SMSF). Retirees and high-income
earners make up most of O’Connor’s client base,
but ethical investors, young professionals and
small-business owners are also on her books,
as are other accountants.
Laws around the heavily regulated SMSF arena
are constantly changing, and some accountants
have benefitted from leaving O’Connor to do
the SMSF work so they can concentrate on their
other services.
“We grew quite rapidly because we had
accountants give us their entire [SMSF]
client base,” says O’Connor. “We are the only
accounting practice in Perth who only does
SMSFs, so we’re not a threat to their other
business streams and they are happy to refer
their clients to us. We work with them.”
O’Connor primarily helps her clients to meet
the strict set-up, compliance and reporting
intheblack.cpaaustralia.com.au August 2022 23