Bean counters RSM now call Brissie home

RSM boss Steve Healey says his firm can now well and truly be considered a Queenslander after clocking up a decade in Brisbane and looking forward to the state’s next growth stage.

RSM boss Steve Healey says his firm can now well and truly be considered a Queenslander after clocking up a decade in Brisbane.

Healey says although the professional services company has been in Australia for more than 100 years and has 32 offices, it was a relative newcomer to the Brisbane market.

“But I think, now that we have hit the 10-year mark, we can qualify ourselves as locals and proudly wear the maroon colours,” Healey says.

To celebrate the anniversary, RSM has launched a new report on the impact of the city’s rapid growth leading up to the 2032 Olympics.

Healey describes the report as an “inspiring and sometimes slightly terrifying” snapshot of Brisbane’s momentous growth trajectory over the next decade.

“The benefits will be huge,” he says. “But the numbers are large and we shouldn’t underestimate the challenges ahead to manage the logistics and not break anything that makes the city special along the way.”

One of the interesting statistics in the report compares Brisbane’s housing affordability with Sydney’s. In June this year, Brisbane had a median housing price of $725,397, 30 per cent lower than Sydney. At the same time Brisbane’s median weekly earnings were only $50 lower than Sydney, giving the northern capital a definite edge in housing affordability.

RSM Brisbane managing partner Steve Healey

Healey says RSM Brisbane has grown 25 per cent year-on-year over the past five years but it was determined to preserve its down-to-earth “one team” approach with clients across its risk advisory, audit and assurance, restructuring and recovery, business advisory and tax services. The RSM brand will soon be highly visible on the city skyscape when the firm relocates to new premises in Queen Street, complete with a giant sign.

Healey has been with the firm since 2019 after previous partner roles at Grant Thornton and Deloitte. Last month, RSM snared its newest partner Liz Mannoor after a 16-year stint at Deloitte. Another partner Steve Stavrou is a former Deloitte 25-year veteran before he made the move to RSM in 2020. Andy Graham, who is part of the RSM executive team based in Brisbane, transferred to the city in 2013 to set up the local RSM office.

The Brisbane team also includes Jacob Elkhishin, the RSM national leader in resources, mining, energy and sustainability, who has served his whole career with RSM, including stints in Melbourne and Boston. For anyone wondering about the RSM letters, they are derived from the initials of the three international founders – Rhodes, Reydel and McGladrey.

Footy food

Brothers Rugby Club is relaunching its food offering down at Crosby Park with a soft launch charity event this Sunday. Club president Geoff Rodgers says Brothers stalwarts, community members and good friends are invited to Firebird Food & Catering located in the previous Ruggers restaurant space at Crosby Park from 3-7pm. The event will support Firebird’s charity work for women and children affected by domestic violence. Brothers Rugby earlier this year said it would put the restaurant operation out for tender to see what the best options are for the site as a mooted redevelopment of the park edges closer.

CBIC chief executive Gary Coleman and chairman Geoff Rodgers.

Originally published as Bean counters RSM now call Brissie home