14 Dec Meet the Partner: Jamie Lucas on growth and building relationships that last
From merger meetings around the dining table to being part of leading a team of 100+, Partner Jamie Lucas has been part of BellchambersBarrett since the early days.
We sat down with Jamie as he reflects on the firm’s growth, what keeps him motivated – and why strong relationships will always matter more than numbers.
Jamie, you joined BellchambersBarrett back in 2016. How did that come about?
When I joined, the firm was purely focused on audit and advisory work.
Shane (Bellchambers) and James (Barrett) had a great thing going, but they saw an opportunity to expand. At the same time, Deborah Poulton and Associates – a well-regarded tax and accounting firm – was looking for a succession plan for Deb and a long-term home for the clients and staff within her firm.
So we all came together with a shared vision to create a broader, multi-service firm. That was the beginning of BellchambersBarrett as we know it today.
That sounds like a big change for you – especially coming from PwC. What made you say yes?
Jamie Glenn was the first person to convince me that it was a good idea. My wife (Larissa) and I had decided Canberra was going to be home. And while I gained a lot of valuable experience at PwC in both Melbourne and Canberra, I felt it wasn’t the right fit for the Canberra tax and accounting market.
I wanted to help local clients; people doing interesting things, running good businesses. And BellchambersBarrett gave me the space to do that. It felt like the right step at the right time.
So what was it like merging two firms and creating a new service line?
It was a learning curve for sure. We made a lot of mistakes, but I think that made us better in the long run. We spent a significant amount of time aligning cultures and making sure everyone felt at home. At the time our audit team was experiencing rapid growth, we needed new accommodation and at the heart of it we were still a small business ourselves. It was a very exciting time and thankfully it all worked out!
There were fewer than 20 people across both firms at the time. Today, it has over 100 people. What’s that growth been like for you?
It’s been a really enjoyable experience. Our approach to growth has always been deliberate and considered.
We knew that it’s always about bringing the right people into the business. People who fit our culture, enjoy a bit of fun and care about their clients and each other.
That’s been true in our organic growth and through mergers… like our more recent one with Accrue, which resulted in some amazing and likeminded people joining the firm.
You’ve been in this profession for almost 20 years. What keeps you motivated?
The relationships. I work with really good people, both clients and colleagues.
The clients I work with are building things. Solving problems. Taking risks. That kind of work is exciting. I love that we get to be their sounding board – whether it’s strategy, structure or, sometimes, just lending an ear when things get tough. That’s where I feel I add the most value.
Do you have a personal philosophy to your work?
I’ve always seen tax as a byproduct of success. We obviously want to help clients manage it well, but our focus is on helping them build great businesses. That means asking hard questions, helping them make tough decisions when needed, and being available when they need us.
What’s been a career highlight for you at BB?
Honestly, seeing the people around me grow. Watching team members become partners. Seeing long-term staff step into leadership.
Knowing that people have trusted me to assist them with their careers. That’s what I’m most proud of – building something that’s bigger than any one person.
And the biggest challenge?
Like everyone, we’ve faced challenges. COVID was a big one. That was a time of real uncertainty.
But everyone showed up (to their Zoom meetings at least), stood up and did what needed to be done. The culture carried us through, and I think we came out the other side stronger!
What do you love most about the culture at BellchambersBarrett?
The work-life balance. We genuinely respect people’s time and value their life outside of work. You won’t find many people here after hours – that’s very different to other places and it’s by design.
We work hard, but we manage our workloads so people can go home to their families and live their lives. And I think that is why we’ve built a loyal, motivated, happy team.
Outside of work, what keeps you busy?
Family (Larissa would say too many fun trips with friends). I’ve got two young kids, so life is full-on, but in the best way.
Finally… if you weren’t an accountant, what would you be doing?
I don’t really know, to be honest. I pretty much signed up to be an accountant when I was 17 and have not looked back. I certainly wouldn’t be running marathons… As a kid I thought I was going to become a lawyer purely based on my favourite TV show in Boston Legal, so let’s run with that.