Staff Profile: Steve Jardie

Steve Jardie, Manager at our Brisbane office shares how he came to insolvency after a career change and what keeps him in the industry. 

I made the decision to pursue an accounting degree later in life, and upon graduation, I actively applied for several accounting roles. The position I secured was in insolvency, and that’s where my career in the field began.

I was heavily involved in church work. A close friend suggested I do a Masters of Professional Accounting as a transition, with the idea we’d work together in an accounting firm while I continued my church commitments. In the end, he changed his mind, but I finished the degree and decided to keep going with the accounting.

That was in 2006–2007, when I was 46. I landed a role at a small Insolvency firm in Parramatta, Sydney. At the interview, I remember being really curious about the work that they did. I didn’t know a lot about insolvency at that particular time.

How did you make the move from Sydney to Brisbane?

As my parents were ageing, and my son was around nine, I wanted him to grow up closer to family, so we moved to Brisbane in 2019.

Initially, I thought I’d make the move to Brisbane and do something different, but it became clear where my skills and opportunities were.

I ended up working remotely for several years, before COVID made it the norm, and then moving back into an office role at the end of 2024 with B&T Advisory.

What professional achievement are you most proud of?

Gaining my CPA qualification at the end of 2016, at the age of 55.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of the work you do?

Achieving a good result in a challenging situation. Insolvency is often about sweeping up after a mess, but I find it very rewarding if we can secure a dividend for creditors, help employees with a claim, or support a director through a rough patch.

What have you learned from colleagues that’s made you better at your job?

Two things stick with me:
1. Every claim you make must have a basis in law. You can’t just write letters and make demands, you need to ground everything in legal principle.
2. You don’t have to know everything, but you do need to know how to find answers and use the resources around you.
Both of those gave me confidence and shaped my approach to the work.

Is there a book, podcast, or story that’s influenced you lately?

To be honest, recently I’ve been focused on my health. Earlier this year, I was diagnosed with a serious illness. Thankfully, I am responding well to treatment and have been really inspired by the remarkable technology available in healthcare.

It’s incredible, and that’s what’s inspired me most, seeing the treatment work so well.

The firm and the entire team at B&T Advisory have been incredibly supportive, which I’m very grateful for. Right now, managing my health while continuing my work is my focus.