Accountant Jason Poser to be sentenced for stealing over $2m from clients

A high-ranking tax accountant who was placing up to 100 bets a day swindled over $2m from dozens of clients to fuel his severe gambling addiction.

An accountant who was placing up to 100 bets a day swindled over $2m through tax claims to fuel his gambling addiction.

Jason Richard Poser, 35, begged for no jail after he abused his clients’ trust while working as a manager at SuperGuardian.

Frank Niemann, for the prosecution, told the District Court during sentencing submissions that Poser stole over $2m from 85 separate funds between 2020 and 2022.

The court heard Poser stole amounts of $317,000 and $400,000 from Davco Nominees.

Mr Niemann said Poser notified each of his victims of the amounts payable to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

Jason Poser pleaded guilty to multiple counts of theft. Photo: Facebook

“It’s after that has occurred he has then gone on to the ATO’s website or gone into each of the accounts, changed the refund details and returned the money to himself,” Mr Niemann said.

“The amounts stolen are from self-managed super funds, which is money that one would assume is for the victims to comfortably retire.”

The court heard Poser sought extensions from clients before paying one by stealing from other clients.

Poser, of Highbury, pleaded guilty to 34 counts of theft.

He read an apology letter to the court, saying he was truly sorry for the damage he had caused.

“The financial aspect was damaging enough but the shock, anger and disappointment of being betrayed by someone you had every right to trust and who should have had your best interests front of mind,” he said.

Poser said his actions came from a place of desperation and sadness and recognised he had damaged the reputation of Super Guardian.

M. Woods, for Poser, asked the court to consider home detention, saying his client had now ceased gambling for nearly two years.

“This arose out of an all consuming addiction … he has and has had a severe gambling addiction, of the highest order,” Mr Woods said.

Mr Woods said records showed Poser placed 16,638 Sportsbet bets in 2020, which then escalated to 24,037 in 2021 and 26,492 in 2022.

“This is like 80, 100 bets a day. He can’t stop,” he said.

The court heard Poser got a job at SuperGuardian when he was 18 before eventually becoming a manager there.

“He’s lost his career, he’s ashamed, he’s embarrassed, his future is in jeopardy, he’s lost the trust of those who he respected in his workplace and others, he’s lost his self respect,” Mr Woods said.

Mr Woods said Poser had no ability to pay compensation as he hadn’t been working and would never be able to practice in accountancy again.

“The catalyst of stopping was getting the horrible phone call that someone had noticed,” Mr Woods said.

“It was always going to fall over and it was always going to end up showing the paper trail.”

Poser will be sentenced next month.