Taking a different path: Josh’s journey with PKF Perth

Not all accounting careers follow a straight path. For Josh Doust, the path included stepping away from the profession to pursue a lifelong ambition: learning to fly.  

A career detour 

Josh started his accounting career in 2012 with Pike Skinner and was part of the firm’s merger with PKF Perth. Having grown alongside the business through a period of significant change, he developed strong technical capabilities and built lasting relationships within the team.  

After several years establishing a strong foundation in the profession, Josh took on a new challenge: earning his commercial pilot license and pursuing a career in aviation. When COVID-19 disrupted the travel industry, Josh returned to PKF Perth in 2020. Since then, his role has broadened from a primarily technical focus to leading client engagements, supporting business owners through complex decisions and helping develop the next generation of advisers.

Building trusted client relationships 

Josh advises privately owned and family businesses across a range of industries including mining and resources, construction, real estate, early learning and hospitality. His work includes preparing financial reports including deferred tax notes, navigating complex tax compliance and advisory engagements involving division 7A, capital gains tax and structuring of cross-border corporate entities. He helps clients understand their financial position, address day-to-day business challenges and make informed decisions about growth and future planning.

Reflecting on his career, Josh particularly valued the opportunities to develop his client communication skills and take on more complex work. A recent highlight has been expanding his experience in advisory and tax advice on business acquisition and sale transactions. Over the past three years, Josh has advised on several transactions with a combined value of more than $80 million. Working with the PKF Corporate Finance team, Josh has helped business owners navigate the complexities of buying and selling businesses to achieve successful commercial outcomes.

Building trust with clients and helping them make informed decisions is one of the most rewarding parts of the role.

"What I enjoy most is getting to know how a client’s business works and being someone they can turn to when they need a practical way forward. Building that trust over time means we can look beyond the immediate issue and help them make informed decisions with greater confidence.” 

Learning and developing

In recognition of his contribution, he was promoted to Senior Manager in Business Advisory last year, an important milestone in a role that now combines client leadership, technical expertise and team development.

As a Senior Manager, Josh oversees client engagements from planning through to delivery, coordinates team workloads and works closely with Partners on complex matters. He has developed expertise in translating financial information into practical advice, identifying emerging issues and helping clients put stronger reporting and decision-making processes in place.

Mentoring junior team members is an important part of that responsibility. Josh reviews work, provides technical guidance and helps team members build the confidence to communicate directly with clients. He also encourages them to understand the commercial context behind each task, so they can develop into well-rounded advisers rather than simply focus on the numbers.

The people behind the journey  

Josh says PKF Perth’s collaborative culture has been central to his development. Access to Partners, an open-door approach to leadership and opportunities to learn across the PKF network have supported his progression.  

"At the end of the day, it's the people that make the difference." 

Reflecting on the journey

“My career has taken a few different turns, and each one has helped me build the skills and perspective I bring to my role today. Moving from accounting into aviation and then returning to PKF Perth gave me a broader outlook and confirmed where I can make the greatest contribution.”