40under40 Winner - Mark Ceglinski

Tax accountant Mark Ceglinski is part of the team that is aiming to make Pitcher Partners the leading ‘second tier’ accounting firm in Perth.

Pitcher’s Perth office opened in March 2004 following the merger of Ceglinski & Co, a specialist tax firm, and the larger Norgard Clohessy, and provides a full range of accounting services to small to mid cap public companies and large privately owned businesses.

Mr Ceglinski brings 16 years’ experience to the firm, including six years as a partner at Andersen and Ernst & Young.

He says the 2002 collapse of Andersen was the biggest disaster he has been involved with, in part because the successful Australian business “had the legs taken from under it” when the US partnership collapsed.

During his time at Ernst & Young, Mr Ceglinski concluded that many businesses in Perth were seeking an alternative to the ‘big four’ accounting firms but could not find a credible option.

He believes Pitcher Partners, which has doubled its staff numbers to 62 in less than a year, provides that alternative.

During 2004, Mr Ceglinski also established Swings & Roundabouts, a public unlisted company that has taken an innovative approach to the wine industry.

Instead of focusing on assets such as land, buildings and equipment, it targets brand, production and distribution agreements.

Outside of work, Mr Ceglinski is a member of the fundraising committee for the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research.