02 Dec Former Big 4 partners Brandon Brown and Phil Sands join BellchambersBarrett
BellchambersBarrett is thrilled to welcome two former Big 4 partners to the team. Brandon Brown and Phil Sands each bring over 25 years of experience in the private and public sectors to our firm – and have both taken on partnership roles in our Assurance and Social Advisory division.
The right time, the right place
Previously a Partner at KPMG Canberra, Brandon specialises in performance, governance, risk management and assurance in the public sector, particularly for large and complex agencies.
‘After more than two decades in a Big 4 firm, I felt it was the right time to move to a Canberra-based firm that specialises in providing assurance to the federal government,’ says Brandon.
‘And this was such a unique opportunity – to join such an amazing team at a well-respected firm that’s aligned to my professional passions and personal values.’
Phil, meanwhile, spent 8 years as a Partner at KPMG Canberra, leading the risk, assurance and governance business. He also held the role of Chief Operating Officer of the National Risk Assurance business.
‘BellchambersBarrett has a very strong reputation in the market,’ says Phil.
‘I’ve been watching its growth over the last 10 years with interest… and colleagues who’d joined the firm speak very highly of the culture. So I’m thrilled to come on board and be a part of that.’
A testament to the firm’s culture
Co-founder Shane Bellchambers is beyond excited to have Brandon and Phil join the partnership and lead the firm into its next chapter of growth.
‘It’s fantastic we’re able to attract such quality senior people from the Big 4,’ says Shane. ‘Both Brandon and Phil are well respected in their fields and bring a wealth of expertise to our team.
‘Their significant public sector experience, in particular, offers a huge opportunity for us to grow that area of our business.’
Shane is also proud that BellchambersBarrett’s culture has enabled it to attract high-quality talents who share the firm’s values.
‘We’ve always been mindful about the culture we build here at the firm,’ he explains. ‘And we want to employ the right people who we feel will fit into that culture.
‘Many of our leaders and staff already knew Brandon and Phil before this, so I’m confident they will fit right in.’
Planning for future growth – and succession
Due to the public sector’s rising demand for mid-tier professional services firms, BellchambersBarrett has already experienced significant growth over the years.
‘In just 10 years, we went from 4 team members to 100,’ says Shane. ‘And we aim to continue growing by 10%–20% over the next 2 to 3 years.’
With this projected growth in mind, Shane says Brandon and Phil’s appointments also align with the firm’s succession plan.
‘By recruiting younger leaders – and bringing fresh blood into the fold – our older partners can begin to step out over time,’ Shane explains.
‘I am confident that Brandon and Phil will settle into their leadership roles and spearhead the assurance team forward quickly.’
It’s an exciting time for sure. And the new partners are more than ready to get started.
‘I’m looking forward to complementing the firm’s existing clients with some even larger ones,’ says Brandon. ‘I believe we’ve got the capacity and capability to stretch ourselves, and I can’t wait to see what we’ll achieve going forward.’
Phil agrees, adding, ‘I can’t wait to help shape BellchambersBarrett’s next phase of growth.’