Cranbourne-based bookkeeper Diane Lucas of Direct Management is officially Australia’s best after winning the Bookkeeper of the Year award at the 2017 Australian Accounting Awards held in May.
The accolade comes on the back of winning the 2016 International ProAdvisor of the Year award from among 150,000 QuickBooks Online advisors worldwide.
As one of the first registered BAS agents in Victoria, Diane worked for the family’s Dalmore agricultural business for seven years before establishing Direct Management in 2006.
Over the past 18 years, she has built a reputation as an industry disruptor and one of the most influential accounting professionals in the nation.
“I’ve always known what I wanted to achieve, but a turning point was when I started working with a business consultant four years ago,” Diane said.
“One of our first tasks was to crystalise my vision for the business, and document my personal and business goals. Four years later, I can literally tick each one off as accomplished. My absolute self-belief and conviction has been fundamental to what I’ve achieved so far, as has been sharing the vision with my team.”
Diane sees the awards as recognition of the invaluable contribution of her team.
“Without my team, the growth I have been able to achieve, both personally and for my firm, would not be possible,” she said.
Beyond her regular business responsibilities, Diane is a strong advocate for advancing the bookkeeping industry by lifting standards to the highest level.
“I am passionate about helping great bookkeepers become exceptional bookkeepers. As a trainer and writer for Intuit Australia and co-author of the Pure Bookkeeping Manual for QuickBooks Online and Reckon Accounting, I am able to educate people about the benefits of cloud accounting software and empower them to become exceptional through the use of proven systems.”
Equally passionate about empowering others associated with the bookkeeping industry, Diane, in 2015, established the closed Facebook group, Cloud Storm, Australia’s largest independent forum for accounting industry professionals and cloud software vendors. In its first 12 months, Cloud Storm attracted nearly 500 members.
Diane also provides industry insights through her advisory role on the Bookkeeping and Accounting Industry Advisory Committee for the Monarch Institute in Melbourne, and industry representative role on the Australian Bookkeepers Association.
