Ben Marshman

Ben, a director of Kothes since 2023, grew up in the Bega Valley in a family with a history of providing professional services ranging from engineering to health.

Ben grew up in Tathra before moving away to work in hospitality and marketing including four years at Bathers Pavilion Balmoral. His experience taught him the importance of attention to detail and setting high standards, things that attracted him to Kothes Accounting Group when he returned home.

He started in the Kothes audit division in 2015 then moved into tax. While getting practical experience he became a chartered accountant and chartered tax advisor. He has also worked in a Perth accounting firm for three months through Kothes’ links with Walker Wayland Australasia, an association of independent professional firms in Australia and New Zealand.

Ben’s tips for businesses

• Make sure you get everything set up properly from the start such as payroll and your cloud accounting system.
• When managing your business and personal finances, don’t look at things in isolation, you need a holistic, big picture approach.
• Running a business has many aspects, and you can’t be expected to know absolutely everything. That’s where your accountant comes in. Having professional help and knowledge can make a huge difference to the success of your business.

What Ben loves about working in a rural community

When Ben became a Kothes director, in one of his first client meetings he discovered how far back connections can go.

“I met some farming clients who used to see Roy Kothe, and coincidentally my grandfather who was a surgeon in Bega operated on the husband’s arm in the 70s after a farming accident. It was a special experience to know we have both family and business connections going back a long time.”

Ben follows a few simple steps as a Kothes director

• My responsibility as a chartered accountant is to take the fear out of financial situations for people. If you have gotten your financials into a bit of a mess we can work it out. We’re here to help.
• Building trust with your clients is really important because you are working with people’s livelihoods and futures.

Specialist areas, skills and experience

Ben specialises in general small business and Xero. He looks after broad range of clients ranging from fishermen to farmers to professionals, investors and tradesmen. With people at the start of their business journey, he helps set up their accounting systems and assists with cash flows.

• Chartered Accountant
• Chartered Tax Advisor
• Registered Tax Agent
• Bachelor of Commerce (Acc) Wollongong University
• Justice of the Peace (NSW)

Work-life balance

Ben loves surfing and the beach. His family is extremely important and he and his wife Ashlea have three young girls. Ben feels fortunate that they are able to live near the beach in the same small community he grew up in while raising a family and working in rewarding professional careers.