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RSM adds partners, principals to accelerate growth plans

Appointments

The appointments bring the firm’s total partners to 139 and headcount to over 1,800.

By Christine Chen 11 minute read

RSM has kicked off the year by appointing three partners and three principals, forging ahead with growth plans after hitting its FY2024 headcount target in November. 

The mid-tier firm’s Melbourne and Brisbane offices would also be moving to “larger and more contemporary spaces” to accommodate its growth, it said. 

CEO Jamie O’Rourke said the appointments recognised RSM’s existing talent through internal promotions, with the only external hire being an ex-PwC director. 

“This is a testament to RSM’s commitment to nurturing and supporting our internal talent to ensure they can grow and develop their professional skills within the firm,” he said. 

He said the promotions helped the firm service the needs of mid-market clients, ranging from “traditional” tax and assurance advice to “emerging” fields of ESG, data analytics and cyber security. 

“Fundamentally, [the appointments] are in line with our 2024 strategy to attract, reward and sustain talent. This is an outstanding start to 2024 for our firm and shapes the path for another successful year,” he said. 

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He said RSM set a goal of having 1,750 staff in 2024. A raft of appointments at the end of last year, including five partners, two associate directors and an economist, took total numbers to over 1,800 by November. 

“RSM is committed to expanding every year,” he said, expecting to build on the 16 per cent increase in staff numbers over the past two years. 

Ex-Bank of America economist Devika Shivadekar, who joined in November, said the appointments were in anticipation of “improved conditions for both consumers and business alike”.  

They also aligned with their clients’ outlook, with a recent RSM survey finding that 43 per cent of businesses identified growth as their main priority for the coming year.  

RSM said three senior managers have been promoted to principals, including Albury-based business advisory principal Ross Dixon, R&D tax principal Bryan Soepardi in Melbourne and cyber principal Kaustubh Vazalwar in Melbourne. 

Additionally, business advisory principal Simon Brown was promoted to partner in RSM’s Busselton office while assurance principal Aimee Whittingham was elevated to partner in Melbourne. 

ESG partner Linda Romanovska had also started work at the firm’s Sydney office this week. 

RSM tapped the sustainability expert, who worked as a PwC director between 2021 and 2023, to bolster its ESG team of five in November. 

She has advised organisations such as the European Union’s platform on sustainable finance, Taronga Conservation Society and non-government standards development body Standards Australia on sustainable finance issues. Ms Romanovska is also completing a PhD at the University of NSW on the valuation of green infrastructure, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Christine Chen

Christine Chen

AUTHOR

Christine Chen is a graduate journalist at Accountants Daily and Accounting Times, the leading sources of news, insight, and educational content for professionals in the accounting sector.

Previously, Christine has written for City Hub, the South Sydney Herald and Honi Soit. She has also produced online content for LegalVision and completed internships at EY and Deloitte.

Christine has a commerce degree from the University of Western Australia and is studying a Juris Doctor degree at the University of Sydney. 

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