Pat Donato Email & Phone Number

South Yarra, Victoria, Australia

As Group CEO, Pat is responsible for strategy development and implementation on behalf of the shareholders. Pat also develops and implements strategies related to revenue and profit growth on a national scale, people development and raising of the companies' market profile. This position also includes leading a strong executive team to deliver business performance, ensuring financial strength, client growth and management, innovation, ESG and risk management.

Melbourne, Australia

As National Managing Partner of the Fordham Group, Pat is responsible for strategy development and implementation, key stakeholder management and oversight of operations. Pat also develops and implements strategies related to revenue and profit growth on a national scale, people development and raising of the firm’s market profile. This position also includes assessing employee performance, financial plan development and adherence, client management and risk protection.

Melbourne, Australia

Prior to joining the Fordham Group, Pat was a Strategy Consultant with GHD – a leading professional services company both in Australia and internationally. GHD provides services in the engineering, architecture, environmental and construction fields to both private and public clients. As Strategy Consultant, Pat was responsible for creating a new "Go to Market" Strategy to assist in future revenue growth for engineering services in a declining market. In this role, Pat reported directly… Show more Prior to joining the Fordham Group, Pat was a Strategy Consultant with GHD – a leading professional services company both in Australia and internationally. GHD provides services in the engineering, architecture, environmental and construction fields to both private and public clients. As Strategy Consultant, Pat was responsible for creating a new "Go to Market" Strategy to assist in future revenue growth for engineering services in a declining market. In this role, Pat reported directly to the Organic Growth Leader and Board Members. He also developed a fully functioning, executable Growth Strategy, undertook significant stakeholder management activities, and developed a small team who were responsible for the implementation of the Growth Strategy. Show less

Melbourne, Australia

As former BDO CEO (Sydney and Melbourne), Pat closed out all the contractual and commercial aspects of the merger between BDO and Grant Thornton. A leading independent assurance, tax and advisory firm, Grant Thornton helps organisations “unlock their potential for growth”. After merging with the BDO Sydney and Melbourne businesses, Grant Thornton had over 1,300 staff across seven offices in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney with an annual turnover in excess of $250M.In… Show more As former BDO CEO (Sydney and Melbourne), Pat closed out all the contractual and commercial aspects of the merger between BDO and Grant Thornton. A leading independent assurance, tax and advisory firm, Grant Thornton helps organisations “unlock their potential for growth”. After merging with the BDO Sydney and Melbourne businesses, Grant Thornton had over 1,300 staff across seven offices in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney with an annual turnover in excess of $250M.In this position, Pat also managed delivery of larger parts of the integration program (i.e. client, staff and partner transition) and relocated approx. 500 staff in Melbourne and Sydney. Show less

Melbourne, Australia

Pat was CEO of BDO (Melbourne & Sydney) prior to the Grant Thornton merger. A leading full service accounting and advisory network, BDO Australia provided services to ASX listed companies and privately held business. As CEO, Pat was responsible for more than 500 staff and an $85M+ turnover. Before merging BDO NSW & VIC with Grant Thornton Australia, BDO NSW/VIC was the fifth largest full-service audit, tax and advisory firm in Australia and was part of a global network of 47,000 people across… Show more Pat was CEO of BDO (Melbourne & Sydney) prior to the Grant Thornton merger. A leading full service accounting and advisory network, BDO Australia provided services to ASX listed companies and privately held business. As CEO, Pat was responsible for more than 500 staff and an $85M+ turnover. Before merging BDO NSW & VIC with Grant Thornton Australia, BDO NSW/VIC was the fifth largest full-service audit, tax and advisory firm in Australia and was part of a global network of 47,000 people across 1,082 offices in over 110 countries. In his role as BDO CEO, Pat was responsible for Strategy Development & Implementation (markets, people & financial), Stakeholder Management (external & internal) & Operations (8 internal functions). During this time, some of Pat’s key achievements; growing the firm’s revenue by 8% between 2009 and 2012 through the GFC; delivering cumulative average profit growth over four years of approx. 60%; increasing brand awareness by over 18% between 2009 to 2012; and increasing the market share for BDO in ASX500 companies by more than 2%.Included in Pat’s key achievements while CEO of BDO was successfully leading and completing the most significant professional services industry merger in Australia over the last 15 years; transitioning $75M in revenue (7,000 clients and 50 partners across Melbourne and Sydney); and negotiating and settling the merger’s commercial terms. Show less

Melbourne, Australia

Prior to his CEO role with BDO, Pat was Head of Advisory Services. A division consisting of non-tax and audit services, such as Corporate Finance, Management Consulting, Performance Improvement, Risk, Corporate Recovery and Forensics, it entailed 16 partners and approximately $15M in revenue. In this role, Pat was responsible for integrating all service disciplines and products into a single “go to market” group to grow revenue within the existing client base and use these services to… Show more Prior to his CEO role with BDO, Pat was Head of Advisory Services. A division consisting of non-tax and audit services, such as Corporate Finance, Management Consulting, Performance Improvement, Risk, Corporate Recovery and Forensics, it entailed 16 partners and approximately $15M in revenue. In this role, Pat was responsible for integrating all service disciplines and products into a single “go to market” group to grow revenue within the existing client base and use these services to penetrate new clients and markets. Some of Pat’s key achievements as Head of Advisory Services included growing new business and new markets areas by more than 12% between 2008 and 2011 and creating and implementing a key account program resulting in $5m in new revenue. Show less

Melbourne, Australia

Pat was Head of Business Consulting at William Buck – a Chartered Accountants and Advisory firm. Providing Audit & Assurance, Business Advisory, Business Recovery, Corporate Advisory, Tax Services, Management Consulting and Wealth Advisory, William Buck has a particular focus on the middle market. Pat’s role as Head involved managing the firm’s Consulting Division including three partners and 45 employees. He was responsible for setting strategy, ensuring execution, client management… Show more Pat was Head of Business Consulting at William Buck – a Chartered Accountants and Advisory firm. Providing Audit & Assurance, Business Advisory, Business Recovery, Corporate Advisory, Tax Services, Management Consulting and Wealth Advisory, William Buck has a particular focus on the middle market. Pat’s role as Head involved managing the firm’s Consulting Division including three partners and 45 employees. He was responsible for setting strategy, ensuring execution, client management, people development and financial administration. Some of Pat’s core achievements during this time included developing new revenue streams for the firm, growing revenue in excess of 20% each year and successfully penetrating ASX500 companies as a non-Big Four firm. Show less

Melbourne, Australia

As partner at William Buck for six years, Pat was responsible for winning and delivering large scale, complex consulting services to major clients. As part of this role, Pat developed and mentored a small, high calibre consulting team; successfully delivered projects; and established long-term relationships with significant clients (e.g. Telstra, AFL, Australia Post, VRC, RACV & GM Holden).

Melbourne, Australia

Senior Manager of Business Consulting with Ernst & Young for five years, Pat managed delivery of client services and grew sales in relevant markets. A professional services firm, Ernst & Young provides Assurance, Tax, Advisory and Transactions services, and is a Big Four audit firm. In this position, Pat managed service delivery and was responsible for sales into relevant markets. Core achievements while Senior Manager included new client acquisition, fast track promotion (results based) and… Show more Senior Manager of Business Consulting with Ernst & Young for five years, Pat managed delivery of client services and grew sales in relevant markets. A professional services firm, Ernst & Young provides Assurance, Tax, Advisory and Transactions services, and is a Big Four audit firm. In this position, Pat managed service delivery and was responsible for sales into relevant markets. Core achievements while Senior Manager included new client acquisition, fast track promotion (results based) and network creation. Show less

Melbourne, Australia

As Financial Controller at Domestic Comfort Services, Pat was responsible for all aspects of financial management. This included accounts payable and accounts receivable functions, payroll, general ledger and IT, regulatory reporting, budget and forecasts preparation, internal control policies and procedures and reporting to the Board and Executive Management. Core achievements in this role included successfully implementing a new IT system to manage all customer and billing information and… Show more As Financial Controller at Domestic Comfort Services, Pat was responsible for all aspects of financial management. This included accounts payable and accounts receivable functions, payroll, general ledger and IT, regulatory reporting, budget and forecasts preparation, internal control policies and procedures and reporting to the Board and Executive Management. Core achievements in this role included successfully implementing a new IT system to manage all customer and billing information and reengineering all finance processes to create efficiencies and reduce costs. Show less