Beyond the Balance Sheet: Hood Sweeney celebrates 50 Years and looks to the future

Hood Sweeney’s unique position as a South Australian advisory firm with diverse, integrated client services is driving its next wave of growth alongside expected strategic acquisitions of aligned, specialist firms. 

By building on its core accounting and finance expertise with integrated business advisory, people and culture, and IT capabilities, the firm is helping clients navigate change, harness AI and technology, and achieve sustainable growth. 

When Peter Hood started an accounting firm in 1976 with a single client, he didn’t imagine that the firm which still bears his name, alongside former partner Graham Sweeney, would be operating fifty years later and having such a significant impact on the success of so many South Australian businesses. 

Back in 1976, accounting largely meant compliance, tax and annual accounts, and computers were only beginning to enter offices, while today accountants are increasingly strategic advisers and AI and cloud systems are transforming financial management. 

While its services and technologies are vastly different to when Hood Sweeney started life 50 years ago, one key thing hasn’t changed, its focus on people. 

There’s no better story to illustrate Hood Sweeney’s fifty years of growth, innovation and opportunity than the personal story of the firm’s Managing Director, Marisa Riccio.

Marisa joined Hood Sweeney in 1999 as an undergraduate commerce student at the University of South Australia and today leads a team of more than 140 finance & accounting, business advisory, leadership development and IT professionals. 

She has been part of the Hood Sweeney story for more than half of its life and Managing Director for the past eight years, since when the firm has achieved 26 per cent revenue growth, and expanded its services and client base.

Today, Hood Sweeney incorporates growth advisory firm Blue Jam and technology advisory firm Orlo One and supports more than 3,000 clients across South Australia and into other States and Territories.

“Regardless of industry sector, our clients are experiencing an unprecedented pace of change which comes with both significant opportunities and risks, and relationships with trusted advisors are more important than ever,” said Ms Riccio.

“While our core services remain accounting and business advisory, these services are inextricably linked to decision-making regarding our clients’ investments in people, technology and growth.

“In South Australia, our business community is still dominated by small and medium-sized enterprises who often don’t have the full in-house expertise required to support key business decisions and benefit from external expertise and perspective.

“Clients increasingly want fewer, more connected advisers. We can understand the whole organisation rather than providing disconnected advice from separate specialists.”

While its Head Office is based in Adelaide, Hood Sweeney has a strong regional presence with offices in Whyalla, Kadina, Clare and Port Augusta, with specialisations in Agribusiness, Construction, Family Business, Food & Hospitality, Health, Not-for-Profits and the Wine Industry.

It’s 50-year history has given the firm perspective and valuable insights from riding the ups and downs of the South Australian economy and the fortunes of its key industries, supporting clients through good times and bad.

“Our economy is moving from being based heavily on what it produces and extracts to one that earns more from what it designs, develops, services and exports,” said Marisa. 

“It’s an exciting time for new and emerging industries but also our traditional industries that can benefit from advanced manufacturing, technology, research and value-adding. Take farming, this is now a highly sophisticated and complex industry.

“In this environment, we see significant opportunities and need for Hood Sweeney’s expertise, our people and our clients.”

Hood Sweeney will celebrate its 50th year at an anniversary dinner at Adelaide Oval on October 7th which will be attended by clients and employees from across South Australia.