Celebrating employment milestones
Do you ever find yourself pondering the quality of your workplace culture? One of the best ways to assess whether a business is nailing the environment, mission, value, ethics and expectations that make up the ‘personality’ of a workplace, is by seeing how many long-term employees that workplace has retained.
When it comes to workplace culture, Matthews Steer must be doing something right, because this month we celebrated the 20thanniversary of not one, but two, of our valued colleagues – Adrian Misiano and Gayle Considine – both of whom cited our team-based company culture as one of the primary reasons they’ve stayed with the business for two decades.
Adrian joined Matthews Steer on March 2, 1999, with two and a half years’ experience under his belt. A North West Melbourne local, Adrian went to school at St Bernards, lived in East Keilor and was one of the first chartered accountants to graduate at Matthews Steer.
“It was really great to have a local person with strong community connections join the team, Adrian knew everyone,” says Matthews Steer Managing Partner Ken Matthews. “Adrian pioneered much of the business services work we do at Matthews Steer, he genuinely cares about our community, our clients and our people.”
Over 20 years Adrian has grown and evolved with the Matthews Steer business, completing his Masters in Entrepreneurship, becoming Company Secretary, Director, and then Partner in 2008, and serving as an advisor to Family Business Australia and accountant to the Victorian Transport Association (VTA). Adrian says Matthews Steer has provided him with opportunities normally associated with top tier CBD firms.
“Matthews Steer keeps reinventing itself,” says Adrian, who heads up our Transport, Caravan, and Property Divisions. “The firm is always proactive, always innovative, and always on the lookout for new tools and processes, and with that approach, comes opportunity.
“I had a long-time interest in transport and I was encouraged to pursue that interest, which has resulted in my relationships with the VTA and Caravan Industry Australia. At Matthews Steer, provided you can show benefit to business, you are encouraged to take your ideas and run with them, and it’s those challenges that keeps things interesting.”
Ken says Adrian’s emotional intelligence and strong leadership epitomise the culture at Matthews Steer. “The humility he brings to his role, and the care and concern he has for our people and clients, is what Matthews Steer is all about.
“Adrian has transformed numerous businesses, and helped them grow on their journeys, by taking an active interest in their wellbeing. And, in transforming those businesses, he’s helped transform the lives of his clients and their employees.”
Gayle joined Matthews Steer on March 15, 1999. She still remembers her interview with founding partner Geoff Steer, and the day she found out she had secured a role as Geoff’s assistant in Matthews Steer’s Financial Planning Division.
A Wikipedia-like memory and an eye for detail are just two of the qualities Gayle brings to Matthews Steer. Over the course of 20 years she has worked across multiple areas within the firm, expanding her role as the needs of our business grew, to her current role in human resources and as executive assistant to Geoff, Director Anthony Flapper, and our General Manager Catherine Duncan.
The go-to person for all things Matthews Steer from software to the social club, Gayle is renowned for her warmth and friendly, supportive manner, and Geoff says clients who worked with her 20 years ago still ask after her when he speaks to them.
“Matthews Steer prides itself on its workplace culture, and its career pathways, and Gayle embodies both,” says Geoff. “Gayle has played a really important role in establishing our culture over the years, from her role as board secretary where she provides a bridge between our executive team and staff, to her growth into her HR role, where her caring, nurturing nature make her a natural.
“For most new recruits today, Gayle is first point of contact with Matthews Steer as she takes them through their initial induction and training and her maturity, confidence and interpersonal skills shine through in everything she does.”
Gayle says what she loves about working at Matthews Steer is that there are few limits on what team members can achieve.
“When I started saw failing as failing. Now I see failing as learning – you learn from your mistakes and that’s how you grow as a person and as a professional,” says Gayle.
“Now I tell our recruits: ‘if you see an opportunity being presented grab it with both hands and run with it’. At Matthews Steer people will stand by you whether you succeed or fail. The culture here means that people are always willing to provide support, guidance and mentorship. You can ask for help from anyone in the office, no matter how senior or junior, and you will get help.”
Ken says Matthews Steer’s evolution as a firm, and our continued position as the No.1 accounting and advisory firm in North West Melbourne, depends on the evolution of our people.
“When we conceived Matthews Steer, our vision was to create a business where everyone could reach their full potential, and that’s been the case with Adrian and Gayle,” says Ken.
“They’re still learning and growing to this day, they have very strong relationships with our clients, networks and associations, and they nurture those relationships.”
Adrian and Gayle join Ken, Geoff, and Liz Matthews in Matthews Steer’s ‘20 Club’ with partner Anthony Flapper set to join them mid-year when he celebrates his two-decade anniversary, with Sharyn Drew set to record her 20-year milestone in 12 months’ time.