Path to Partnership
With Greg Travers Managing Partner of William Buck and Chair of the William Buck Group
In this episode of the Path to Partnership podcast we welcome Greg Travers, Managing Partner of William Buck New South Wales and ACT, and Chair of the William Buck Group. Greg shares his unconventional entry into accounting, initially aspiring to be a vet or landscaper, before discovering a cadetship at KPMG in 1992. He reflects on his seven years at KPMG, highlighting the strong foundations in work ethic and professional discipline he gained. Greg discusses his pivotal move to William Buck in 1999, when it was a much smaller firm with only two partners in Sydney. He explains his desire for a different work-life balance and a more direct impact on clients, which a smaller firm offered. This led him to help build William Buck's specialist tax practice. He recounts becoming a partner around 2004 and the realisation that partnership was just the beginning of a new journey. Greg also details his progression to Head of Tax and, in June 2023, to Managing Partner. He emphasises William Buck's managed succession approach, which ensures continuity and a focus on long-term strategy rather than individual agendas. Greg offers insights into the evolving path to partnership, stressing the importance of a holistic contribution beyond financial metrics, a strong personal brand, and specialisation. He also shares his thoughts on the impact of AI on the accounting profession, viewing it as an enabler for more valuable client services, and discusses the growing influence of private equity in the Australian market. Greg concludes by offering advice for aspiring partners, newly appointed partners, and those aiming for managing partner roles, underscoring the significance of integrity, curiosity, and authenticity.
