Allen Audit & Advisory is proud to announce the promotion of Katrina McPhee to Partner, following her recent qualification as a Registered Company Auditor (RCA). This milestone marks a significant step, officially establishing Allen Audit & Advisory as a two-partner audit-only specialist, led by Principal Richard Allen and Partner Katrina McPhee.

Katrina joined the firm in 2019 and has played a pivotal role in its growth and evolution. “She was given a whole client base within the first week that we weren’t sure if we were going to continue with or not,” recalls Richard.

“She was told, ‘You can either run with it and make it yours, or we can shut that aspect of the business down.’ Not only did Katrina run with it, she has grown it by a multiple of five since those days.”

Richard describes Katrina as driven, dedicated, and a great communicator. “Katrina will take on tasks with a level of focus and concentration that is pretty much unheard of. She brings her all to everything she does, and has done so throughout the entire six years she’s been with the firm.”

For Katrina, being an auditor wasn’t part of the original plan. “I wanted to be an accountant, then I got a job with KPMG as an auditor, and realised I loved it,” she says.

Her passion for problem solving, analytical thinking, and variety in client work quickly found a home in the audit world. “It’s ever-changing. I find it exciting, which some may find strange, but I love it,” she says.

Katrina also credits Richard with helping shape her journey. “A big part of why I love auditing is because I work with Richard,” she says.

“It’s the dynamic he provides. It’s having the ability and space to take an audit and go with it, knowing he has trust in you, and when he does provide input, it’s impactful.”

Katrina never set out to be a partner, but the role grew naturally from her experience. “After my promotion to Manager in 2023, I realised it was something I wanted to aspire to.”

For Richard, Katrina’s promotion reflects a broader evolution. “It solidifies the fact the firm has grown into a real driving force in the audit business,” he says.

“There’s not a huge number of firms with the same structure and focus we have. We’re a pure audit play. It’s all we do. The whole team is driven and focused on that.”

He also notes the complementary strengths the two partners bring. “Katrina brings a real focus on deep technical knowledge; she will drive right down into the accounting standards and how they should be applied to the clients. My natural lean is more to the relationship side, and Katrina’s is more to the detail-oriented work.”

Katrina is now looking ahead to the impact she can make across the team and client base. “I’m most excited about the change I can bring, the growth I can do within myself and the team,” she says. “I enjoy training staff and watching them develop. For clients, I hope to bring an honest communication approach, where they can come to me and we can get into the nitty-gritty in a language they understand.”

Her technical lens will continue to shape the firm’s culture. “Compliance is a huge push for me, from operating a business to the accounting standards to the auditing standards. I want to tick all the boxes and help the team develop that personal touch with clients,” she says.

Richard says the promotion has had a refreshing effect on the firm’s direction. “It brought back where my roles and responsibilities as an auditor really should lie. Watching Katrina come through, re-questioning everything in the firm—the why, the what for—was incredibly useful. Particularly in our environment, where we need to bring that level of curiosity and questioning to our clients as well.”

As a two-partner firm, Allen Audit & Advisory is poised for a new phase of growth. Richard says the most rewarding part of the evolution is how it impacts those around it. “New challenges, new team members, team members coming up through the ranks—it’s always exciting to see,” says Richard.

“It’s not just about our growth. We’re seeing our clients find their stride. Their businesses are growing, and we get to be part of that. That’s what we’re looking forward to the most.”