By CASEY NEILL
MICHAEL Ryan’s name will no longer appear on the accounting firm he started almost 30 years ago.
But he couldn’t be happier.
Aston Ryan Malcolm and Waters Dace announced at Sandhurst Golf Club on Thursday 19 November that from 1 January they would join together as Ashfords.
Mr Ryan joined with sole trader Paul Aston in 1985 and they added Dennis Malcolm to the mix in 1986.
He’s the only founding partner of either firm still actively involved in operations.
“I am now 61 years of age, a baby boomer, the oldest professional in the practice, and now have the comfort that my succession plan is in place,” he said.
“I am excited by the merger as it gives our firm some real clout in the south-east suburbs region.
“We now have the next generation of professionals ready to drive the business to new levels and be equipped with the know-how, technical skills and business acumen to cater for client needs.”
Mr Ryan said Ashfords would have offices in Dingley and Dandenong, “where many of our clients are based, and that location provides a real competitive edge for us against our city firm counterparts”.
“I am proud to say I have never lost sight of the fact that clients always come first and even after volatile times in the investment markets along with the good times, the practice has never had one complaint made against it,” he said.
Partner Richard Vaughan said the two firms brought together their audit divisions under the Ashfords banner last year.
“It was dipping the toe in the water,” he said.
“A total merger was in the back of our minds.”
Partner Greg Cusack said setting up headquarters in the same building as M and K Lawyers in Dandenong was “a natural fit”.
The two share many clients and most are Dandenong-based.
The new company will have more than 60 people on the pay roll, making it the largest in the region.
“A lot of our team have had city experience but we’re suburbs boys. We’re not Collins Street imports,” Mr Cusack said.
He said being a larger firm would make it easier to attract new talent.
He’s been with Aston Ryan Malcolm for more than 25 years, and most business associates he was introduced to when he started were gone.
“A lot of the people I speak to never met Aston, Ryan, Malcolm, Waters or Dace,” he said.
But the meeting rooms in the Dingley office would be named after the founding partners – Aston, Ryan and Malcolm.
Mr Cusack said it would be a nice touch for older clients and a story to tell new clients.
