Member profile: Josh Walding

Employer: PDK Financial Pty Ltd

Position: Business Services and Tax Senior Manager

I completed a double degree in Commerce and Applied Finance at the University of South Australia in 2004, upon which I obtained a graduate position at Ernst & Young. I spent 8 ½ years at EY in the Private client area of the Tax Division working with family businesses and high net wealth individuals before deciding to join PDK Financial, where I have been for 2 ½ years undertaking a similar, but more hands on role directly with clients.

Describe your current role

My current role is varied and always different with each client bringing their own challenges and issues. On any day I can be advising family groups on the best structure to undertake their business, to working through complex tax issues on proposed transactions for some of our larger clients, or undertaking tax planning initiatives so our clients are aware of their approximate tax positions before completing their tax returns. I also manage the compliance team for our SMSF clients, and internally mentor the junior staff along their professional journey.

Describe your involvement in The Tax Institute’s committees or contribution to the Institute

I have sat on the Membership Services Committee (SA) for about 18 months, presented at University’s to highlight the benefit of Student memberships and presented at various Bi-monthly briefings and other TI events.

What are your career highlights?

From a client perspective, no one highlight sticks out, but working directly with clients to assist and watching them grow their businesses, whilst arranging their structures to be efficient and effective has been very rewarding. I was lucky enough to be seconded to the Brisbane office of EY relatively early in my career, which was a great step out of my comfort zone and personally was a very rewarding experience.

Why did you join The Tax Institute?

The availability of information and technical resources the Tax Institute can provide is second to none. Being in a smaller firm now, having access to such resources written by your respected peers is beneficial for me to keep up to date with relevant legislative changes and key topic areas that directly influence my clients’ businesses and affairs.

What advice can you give to graduates?

Put your hand up and get involved. In professional practices, success doesn’t come to you, you have to get out there and chase it. If you’re willing to step up and have a go, it shows great initiative and a thirst for developing your education and experiences.

Who or what inspires you?

My Dad is a constant motivation for me. I grew up one of 4 kids from a country community. We never came from a financially abundant background, with mum staying at home to raise the family, Dad took whatever work he could to ensure food was on the table and clothes were on our back. He’s shown incredible loyalty to the company’s he worked for, which has taught me valuable lessons. He’s always been a great sounding board for me, both professionally and personally, and shown me what type of father I want to be for my children.

What do you do to unwind?

I have 2 young children, so unwinding really revolves around them. I get so much joy from the hugs I get from walking through the door when I get home every day. Aside from family, I love playing golf, and touch football, and travelling whenever we can.

Favourite holiday destination?

I have just recently returned from a 3 month holiday travelling the East Coast of Australia with my wife and the kids in a caravan, and whilst I have travelled overseas a few times before, I think North Queensland is one of the most scenic and relaxing areas I have been to.