David is one of the founding directors of Sotherton’s Melbourne; heads up the Audit practice, Sotherton’s LLP and also leads the firms Clothing, Manufacture & Importing; Retail; and Not For Profit practices.

David’s extensive involvement in the NFP sector has included engagement across the Asia Pacific region to undertake extensive reviews and internal control implementation and review projects to ensure the client organization has moved towards operational best practice. His extensive regional exposure provides considerable insight into both operational and administrative issues. His regional assignments have required his working in locations which include India, Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka and Timor. New Zealand, Hong Kong. He was instrumental in setting up the back office functions of the practise and travels to countries ensuring that these processes in a growing segment of the firm continue to be implemented correctly. He continues to explore other countries that can be used within the Asian region to further expand these services

David, was one of the first CPAs in Australia to be trained and accredited as a Peer Reviewer, an involvement he is still heavily committed to. He also heads up the firm administration team and, as such, is largely responsible for the management of the practice. 

David is a registered company auditor and has extensive experience in relation to internal control processes, private client groups, as well as organisations in the 'not for profit' sector, acting for both local and overseas organisations, which is a key area of his work. He is also part of the Mergers and Acquisition team and in recent years has been involved in a number of successful industry consolidations. David various roles require him to both travel overseas to assist clients  within the specialist areas he leads in not only driving further clients for the practise but in  assisting clients expand their trading within the Asia Pacific region.

In addition to his audit qualifications he holds a B Com from Melbourne University, is a Fellow of CPA, an associate member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia and a registered tax agent. As part of David’s long term commitment to the profession, he acts as mentor to Peer reviewers as they undertake their training.

David also co-chairs the Sotherton’s National Assurance Committee and is the editor of the Sotherton’s national magazine, “The Report”.

As part of his communal involvement David has held various positions and is currently chairman of one of the oldest Jewish community congregations in Australia. David continues to act in an honorary capacity to a number of Not For Profit organisations showing his and the firm’s commitment to the sector.

Mark is the director responsible for forensic accounting, due diligence and business investigations. As a forensic accountant since 1992, Mark has significant experience in providing expert witness reports and giving evidence in court, Mark's responsibilities include consulting in Family Law property settlements and Commercial disputes.

Mark advises and undertakes corporate and business due diligence investigations within an acquisition or merger context. He has led due diligence teams in a large number of acquisitions and consolidations involving a wide range of industries for large private corporations as well as publicly listed companies. Mark sits as an independent director on a number of boards and lectures to lawyers in all areas of Forensic accounting and Family Law. Mark has also been sought after as a guest speaker at conferences due to his strong standing in his field.

Mark began his career at Sotherton’s in 1987 and was admitted as a director in 1993. He holds a Bachelor of Business and a Bachelor of Education (Economics). Mark is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and a Fellow of CPA Australia. In 1992 Mark also became eligible to act as a Commercial Arbitrator.

As part of his special interest in forensic accounting, Mark was selected to become a member of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) in the Legal Practice List. He has also been selected to be a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Professional Conduct Tribunal.

Over the last 5 years Mark has spent a considerable time to develop the US market and assisting our IGAF Worldwide member firms in wanting to enter the Asia Pacific region, in particular Australia as well as providing an avenue for our clients seeking to expand into the US market place.

Peter Pryn

Peter, who joined Sotherton’s Melbourne in 2000, was admitted as a Director in March 2008. A Chartered Accountant since 1981, Peter managed a Victorian Legal Practice with multiple offices and also established and ran his own successful accountancy practice for over 10 years. He has developed expertise in personnel management, financial and general management as well as I.T.

During his time with the firm in addition to the day to day responsibility for the practice management Peter has been responsible for  our back office support activities whereby the firm provides full support to new entrants into the Australian market place ranging from payroll , data processing , internal  reporting , creditors and debtors  processing and banking support . This also includes establishing systems and processes to ensure the overseas parent can audit with maximum efficiency.

Peter also the responsibility for the offshore outsourcing team which is based in India.

In July 2008 the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, advanced Peter’s membership status to Fellow.

Peter has been actively involved in many community organisations including ‘Little Athletics’ and also devoted four weeks in 2006 to act as a Commonwealth Games volunteer.

Vick Fak, an Associate Director at Sothertons Melbourne who joined the firm in 2006, is a Chartered accountant who began his career in 1993 with significant expertise in both business services and audit. He has completed a Bachelor of Business majoring in Accounting at Monash University and currently holds a tax agents license.

Prior to joining Sothertons Melbourne Vick worked in various accounting and management roles dealing with small to medium sized clients in the building & construction, medical, manufacturing, legal, Tattersall’s agencies and hotel/clubs. His entrepreneurial style and ability to 'think outside the square', has enabled Vick to provide clients with a level and style of service that is keenly sought after by clients.

Vick is currently applying to become a registered company auditor and has auditing experience across a broad range of sectors including Private Companies, Not for Profits, Real Estate Trust Accounts, Travel Agents and Solicitor Trust Accounts. 

Vick relaxes with a round of Golf, bike riding and watching his football team Hawthorn.