As Richard Watkins approaches the exceptional milestone of 20 years with Moore Australia, we wanted to celebrate his hard work and achievements across the past 19 years with Moore Australia (WA), alongside his recent promotion to Associate Director.
In 2007, Richard joined the Perth office as a graduate accountant straight out of university. He knew he wanted a career in accounting but didn’t have a clear idea of where he wanted to go.
“I had always known that I wanted to work in accounting, but not necessarily which field,” he recalls. “The industry is broad and contains multiple disciplines. Fortunately, Tax and Business Advisory is where I landed, as it lends itself to topics and matters that I naturally gravitate to.”
Throughout the last two decades, Richard has witnessed enormous change across the profession, both in technical skills and legislation. When he began, he was working on desktop towers and CRT monitors, whereas today he works within an entirely digital environment, technology has transformed the way accountants work and interact with clients.
“When I first started, paper files filled our desks and in-trays, and entire workpaper folders were printed and compiled,” he says. “Now everything is electronic, from document management through to digital signatures.”
Beyond technology, he has seen significant changes in legislation and the Australian Taxation Office’s (ATOs) approach to compliance, requiring accountants and advisors to continuously adapt their knowledge and approach.
Yet despite all the change, some things have remained constant.
“The importance of strong client relationships and having good people around you, this hasn’t changed throughout my time with Moore,” he says.
Throughout his career, Richard has steadily progressed from learning the fundamentals as a graduate accountant to becoming a trusted advisor to clients and mentor to emerging professionals. He focuses on helping clients navigate complex challenges while supporting the development of the next generation of accountants.
When asked what achievement he is most proud of, Richard is quick to highlight the journey itself.
“Even just to last as long as I have is an achievement in itself,” he says. “As a graduate accountant, the role felt overwhelming at times, but the variety of work and opportunities to keep learning have made it an incredibly rewarding career.“
That variety remains one of the aspects he enjoys most. Working with businesses and individuals from diverse industries and backgrounds continues to provide new challenges, while the support and expertise of colleagues help broaden perspectives and strengthen outcomes for clients.
But we were most keen to know, after almost two decades with Moore, what has kept him here?
“It’s a combination of the people, the opportunities and the variety of work. The role has continued to evolve over the years, which has kept things interesting and rewarding,” Richard shared.
When reflecting on his career to date, we asked him what three words stood out to him, to describe his time with us. He said: Growth, People and Opportunity. Together, they capture a career defined by professional development, meaningful relationships, and the willingness to embrace new challenges.
As Richard Watkins steps into his new role as Associate Director, we congratulate him on this well-deserved achievement and thank him for his ongoing contribution to Moore Australia, our clients and our team.
Associate Director, Tax and Business Advisory
Moore Australia (WA)
Richard is an Associate Director at Moore Australia in Perth, specialising in tax and business advisory and helping businesses navigate compliance, structuring and strategic decisions with confidence. Nearly two decades on, it’s the people, the opportunities and the variety of work that have kept him at Moore Australia. He sums up his career in three words: growth, people and opportunity.
