Brian Woods
Delivering value though future-focused advice, service and relationships.
Leading our Cairns office, Brian Woods works with commercial, community and government agency clients to deliver expert financial and business advice focused on business improvement, risk management and ongoing professional service.
Brian believes in future-focused business partnership and relishes the opportunity to contribute to client success.
Brian has over a decade of experience in leadership with DFK Kidsons and a strong portfolio of long-term client relationships in areas such as financial and business advice, accounting services, investigations, administrations and change management.
He is particularly passionate about improving the condition of Indigenous corporations and an approved consultant of the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC) and the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TRSA) business support panels.
Prior to joining DFK Kidsons, Brian had a successful career in the financial services, local government and education sectors.
Brian is a Certified Practicing Accountant, Fellow of CPA Australia, Registered Tax Agent and Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Business in Accountancy from Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.
Brian is also a Board Member of the Queensland Government Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service and Chairs the Finance & Performance Board Committee.
Brian’s philosophy on life and business is “Don’t wait – do it now. I encourage everybody to believe in success. There is never a better time to start than today.”
Rob Wernli
Assurance partner driving business improvement.
Managing Partner of our Melbourne office, Rob Wernli engages with private corporate, government, association, union and not-for-profit sector clients, providing professional external audit and assurance services that go beyond the demands of statutory compliance.
Rob’s broad-remit audit and assurance practice focuses on building lasting client partnerships through business advisory and guidance services covering corporate governance, statutory reporting, risk assessment and management, probity, accounting standards and business improvement.
To his clients, he is a trusted partner in the application of business tools to improve efficiency, evidenced through many long-term repeat engagements with charity, government, welfare and private sector organisations.
Rob has over a decade of experience with DFK and has served as a Director and committee member of DFK Australia New Zealand.
He began his career with KPMG in their Audit Division before launching a private practice partnership which later joined DFK.
Rob is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, a Registered Company Auditor and Registered Tax Agent.
He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne.
Rob is also an Agent for the Victorian Auditor General and has served on the audit committees of several public sector agencies.
Rob is a keen practitioner of ‘making a difference’ and an active supporter of several local charities.
Michael Port
Practical value, professional expertise and hands-on delivery.
As Partner in our Melbourne office, Michael Port leads an audit, accounting and consulting practice providing ASX listed clients with a range of accounting and advisory services based on his considerable expertise and experience in external audit, recognising the particular challenges that listed entities face.
Michael also works with small, medium and large scale private businesses and not-for-profit organisations providing specialist external audit service and business advisory in governance, compliance, accounting standards, financial report preparation and advice on industry regulation and trends.
He seeks to build close relationships and deep understanding of client business and focuses on hands-on delivery of up-to-date technical expertise delivering tangible value.
Michael has been with DFK since 2009. Prior to this he was an Audit Partner at Parnell Kerr Forster (PKF) and earlier in his accountancy career, Audit Manager at KPMG.
Michael is a Member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and a Registered Company Auditor. He graduated with a Bachelor of Business in Accounting from RMIT.
Michael stresses the need for modern accountancy practices to be ‘flexible, agile and responsive to client needs’ to keep ahead in today’s changing business environment.
Michael is involved as a volunteer with a number of local community organisations.