After 36 years with Davidsons, we bid farewell to Director Stephen Wight as he embarks on his well-deserved retirement. Stephen, ironically and affectionately nicknamed ‘Rowdy’ for his quiet nature, has long been a cornerstone of our firm, and his departure will be widely felt.
Building the Davidsons audit division
Stephen joined Davidsons in 1988 and became a director just three years later. He’s been instrumental in growing our audit and assurance division from a one-person operation to the thriving team it is today.
Stephen reflects, “When I started, Davidsons was a team of about 20, working from two houses side-by-side in Aberdeen Street. The audit division was just me – a team of one. And over some time, that’s grown to two audit directors and a team of dedicated staff. That’s something I’m proud of.”
As a Chartered Accountant, registered company auditor and self-managed superannuation fund auditor, Stephen brought a wealth of expertise to his role with experience spanning a range of industry sectors, particularly health, aged care and not-for-profit entities.
Davidsons Managing Director Justin McGrath notes, “Steve is highly regarded in the health industry, conducting audits for regional hospitals. For a period of time, we looked after a large number of regional Victorian school audits for the Governor General’s office. Steve has grown our audit division into what it is today – a constant and reliable division within the firm. Our audit services are a big part of the Davidsons brand, and that’s because of what Steve’s done out there in the market.”
Stephen’s commitment extended beyond Davidsons, serving on the Barwon Health board for six years and chairing its audit committee during significant growth.
Leading and mentoring the next generation of auditors
Justin describes Stephen’s unique leadership style, “He always came with a reserved view on things, but you knew it was a very thoughtful perspective. Steve has always been that voice of reason. He’s been a constant in the firm – never too excited, never too flustered, always a calming influence. Although he’s reserved, when he speaks, you listen.”
Stephen’s approach to client service was equally impactful. He believed that an audit should provide more than just compliance. By working closely with management and building a deep understanding of each business, Stephen ensured that audits added genuine value by identifying risks and improving internal procedures.
His impact on the next generation of Davidsons auditors is notable. Incoming Audit Director Lucy Partridge says, “Stephen has been a great mentor, not just to me but to everybody in the audit team. There are so many things that he’s taught us that are not necessarily even audit-related. He has a very analytical brain and can look at a situation, analyse it, make a decision and back himself. And he’s been able to build our confidence so we can back ourselves, which is a vital skill for auditors.”
Justin adds, “The audit team has presented so many opportunities for staff within the firm – a number of our team members started in the audit division working with and being mentored by Stephen before moving into other areas and going on to have long, successful careers with us.”
Reflecting on 36 years
As Stephen reflects on the past 36 years, he says, “I’m proud and happy to have been at Davidsons for the length of time I have. I’m proud of where we are today as a firm, and I look forward to Davidsons’s continued success.”
Justin sums up Stephen’s impact on Davidsons: “This is the end of an era in some respects – Steve is the last of the partners from when we came onboard. So, you lose a lot of the Davidsons history, we lose his expertise and we lose a quirky personality around the office. Steve is someone I really feel comfortable talking to and bouncing ideas off, so I’ll miss that.”
He adds, “You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. We’ll have so many times where we think, ‘I’d love to talk to Steve about that’. He certainly does leave a legacy within the firm – Rowdy will never be forgotten.”
New beginnings
Stephen’s retirement plans include travel and spending more time with loved ones. “We’ll be travelling this year, spending lots of time with the grandkids and just catching up with people,” he shares.
Lucy adds, “He’s never been able to have a holiday in audit season from August to October, so I hope he and his wife Lynn can go and do all the things they’ve looked forward to and make the most of this time.”
Justin concludes, “If anyone deserves a good retirement, it’s Rowdy. He gave every last bit he could to Davidsons and our clients and deserves a long and lasting retirement.”
Thank you, Stephen, for your decades of dedication and the lasting impact you’ve made on Davidsons. Your loss will be deeply felt across the organisation, and we’ll miss your expertise, decisiveness and thoughtful perspective. We wish you all the very best for your retirement, and we’re excited for you to experience this new chapter with your family.
As we bid farewell to Stephen, we’re thrilled to announce that Audit Manager Lucy Partridge has stepped into his role, ensuring a seamless transition for our staff and our clients.
Stephen says, “Just knowing Lucy as a manager and what she’s been able to do with the audit team already – bringing us up to speed technically, managing and controlling the workflow – I’m confident she’ll succeed.”
For any questions about this transition, please don’t hesitate to contact us on 03 5221 6399 or via info@davidsons.com.au.
Justin McGrath
Managing Director, Davidsons
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