I'm Antoinette Tatarelli, NOT JUST an accountant

More than just an accountant? For Antoinette Tatarelli, it is about growing people, championing women, and building a firm and a community where possibility feels real.

As Managing Partner of PKF Adelaide, Antoinette Tatarelli does not see her role as simply running a business. At its core, she sees it as nurturing something far bigger, a place where clients, team members and the broader community can grow with confidence and purpose. While technical advice and strong financial guidance provide the foundation, it is people that give the work its meaning.

“The numbers are the framework, but it is people and potential that bring everything to life.”

What makes Antoinette more than just an accountant is her deep commitment to helping others grow. She is passionate about paying it forward and creating an environment where people feel genuinely supported to develop their skills, confidence and careers. Watching someone within the firm step into their potential, or seeing a client reach a milestone they once thought impossible, is what she finds most rewarding. For her, accounting is not the end point, it is the platform that allows people and possibilities to flourish.

Outside the firm, that same sense of purpose drives her involvement in philanthropic and not for profit work, particularly supporting organisations that assist women and families in vulnerable situations. Working alongside community groups keeps her grounded in the very real human impact of leadership.

Antoinette is acutely aware that professional services, and leadership within it, has long been male dominated. Being entrusted with her role is something she holds with pride, but also with deep accountability. She recognises that visibility matters, and that how she leads today helps shape what leadership looks like for the women who will follow.

“When you work alongside women rebuilding their lives, it stays with you. If I have been given the opportunity to lead, then I want to do it well, not just for myself, but for the women who will step into roles like this in the future.”

Her leadership philosophy is grounded in values shaped early in life. Antoinette grew up with a strong work ethic and a belief in possibility, that if you apply yourself, act with integrity, treat people well and stay curious about the world, doors will open. That sense of purpose, of building something meaningful and giving back along the way, continues to guide how she leads the our Adelaide office today.

“If you are honest, authentic and genuinely curious, you can build something that matters and bring others with you.”

Those values also influence what Antoinette values most in the people around her. She admires those who care deeply, about their work and about each other. Integrity, authenticity and generosity of spirit matter. The most fulfilling workplaces, in her view, are those where people celebrate one another’s successes, share knowledge freely and genuinely want to see both individuals and the business thrive.

And then there is her guilty pleasure, a love of beautiful things. It is something rooted in her upbringing, where she was taught to always present herself at her best, because you never know who you might meet or what opportunity might arise. Today, that translates into an appreciation for craftsmanship and personal pieces that are thoughtfully made and timeless.

“There is something deeply satisfying about craftsmanship, the detail, the care, the intention. It is a small indulgence, but it is also a way of celebrating quality, creativity and rewarding yourself after a busy stretch of work.”

Antoinette’s story of being more than just an accountant is a story of responsibility and purpose.

“I have always believed that the true measure of success is not what you achieve for yourself, but what you unlock in others. Working alongside community groups constantly reminds me that the work we do in business has a very real human impact, that contributing time, skills or resources can help someone move forward with dignity and hope, and that kind of impact energises me deeply. Accounting gave me a voice and a platform, but being more than just an accountant means using it with care, courage and generosity, so others can step forward with confidence and know they belong here too.”
 

NOT JUST an accountant NOT JUST an accountant is PKF’s declaration that our firm and our profession are built on people, values and impact, shining a spotlight on the human leadership, purpose and responsibility behind the numbers.