Amir Ishak is a highly experienced tax accountant and property advisor who leads Property Tax Specialists in providing tailored solutions to help clients maximise returns and protect their assets. With over 20 years' experience across accounting, advisory, and property development roles, Amir leverages his expertise to address complex tax situations for property investors.
How Did You Start Down This Career Path?
I've had a passion for business since my early teens. I wanted a career that would allow me to work with diverse companies and make a meaningful impact. After earning my business degree, I started my career at one of the Big Four accounting firms, gaining invaluable insight into the corporate world.
An opportunity soon arose to move to the Middle East as an auditor for a government authority. My manager often commented that I was able to solve problems, not just identify them. I leveraged this strength in my next role, heading up quality assurance for a major property finance group.
Upon immigrating to Australia, I struggled to find a comparable position that used my multifaceted skill set, and I found the rigid Big Four firm culture was not the right fit long-term for me.
Upon immigrating to Australia, I struggled to find a comparable position that used my multifaceted skill set, and I found the rigid Big Four firm culture was not the right fit long-term for me.
I started in tax accounting but wanted more client interaction and problem-solving. Joining Property Tax Specialists gave me the perfect platform to apply my expertise in finance, accounting, compliance, and property to provide targeted solutions to investors.
What Inspires You in Your Role/Industry? Why?
My inspiration comes from working with driven and creative people in the property investment world. Many of our clients and partners are visionaries who have built amazing portfolios, companies, and projects from the ground up.
Their ambition pushes me to keep gaining knowledge and honing my expertise so I can effectively support them.
More broadly, the dynamic nature of property keeps me engaged and motivated. Trends, regulations, markets - there's always something new to unlock strategic advantages and growth opportunities for our clients. I love the challenge of turning complex information into elegantly simple, tailored solutions.
Whether it's navigating a complicated tax scenario or advising on an innovative development model that I know will boost returns, I find great fulfilment in helping investors maximise the value and tax efficiency of their portfolios.
Ultimately, I'm driven to repay the guidance that propelled my own career. Property can be an economic engine for wealth-building, and I want to provide the insight investors need to drive growth.
What’s Your Approach to Customer Service That Separates You From the Rest?
I prioritise a customised, consultative approach when working with investors. Many firms simply provide generic, cookie-cutter advice without considering the client's specific objectives or obstacles. I pride myself on customising solutions that help investors overcome specific obstacles and capitalise on opportunities in their portfolios.
This bespoke service model demands availability and transparency. I make myself and my team accessible to address time-sensitive issues as they arise.
I also believe in straight talk, even when the truth is complicated. I cut through dense industry jargon and lay out options in clear, direct language. If a strategy has downsides or risks, I will explain those candidly while mapping out a plan to mitigate them.
Building trust empowers clients to take control of their investments confidently.
How Do You Innovate and Stay Ahead of Industry Trends?
Innovation starts with cultivating a learning mindset and prioritising continuing education. I devote substantial time to studying the latest research, regulations, and emerging real estate models across Australia and globally. This helps me spot shifts that may impact investors before they gain mainstream awareness.
I also learn just as much from clients, partners, and our internal team. Hearing diverse perspectives reveals fresh opportunities and challenges. It provides new ideas for better leveraging technology, streamlining processes, or adding value through expanded services. I consider these insights with market data to translate them into improved solutions.
Ongoing innovation also means challenging established ways of doing things. I continually ask what we could do better or differently to drive more value. Whether exploring creative property development structures or rethinking how we leverage data to improve advice, I stay open to trying new approaches.
While innovation stems from an insatiable curiosity, we temper that with practical validation. I test new offerings with trusted clients to garner real-world feedback. This process ensures we convert new ideas into tangible value for investors.
What Is the Toughest Challenge You’ve Faced in Your Role? How Did You Overcome It?
Early in my time at Property Tax Specialists, we had a situation where a new client faced a complex tax bill that threatened the viability of their entire portfolio. It was initially challenging to unravel the web of entities, property transfers, and restructuring that triggered this liability.
However, I relied on the analytical skills, determination, and teamwork honed over my career to drive understanding and explore alternatives.
I started by gathering more context through transparent discussions with the client and our internal team. This enabled me to map out an accurate timeline of events and pinpoint where the risk originated. We then brought in legal counsel and an industry tax expert to enhance trust and perspective.
As a result of collaborative dialogue, we were able to uncover a previously overlooked strategy that ultimately exempted a significant part of the bill.
What Are Some of Your Goals for the Next 5 Years?
In the next five years, I aim to:
Overall, my goal is to consolidate Property Tax Specialists' standing as the foremost advisory firm for Australian property investors. I want to empower an increasing number of clients to build thriving portfolios as trusted partners focused on their long-term growth.
Concluding Remarks
In my 20 years in accounting and property advisory, I've aimed to provide the insight investors need to strategically grow their portfolios.
As Principal Advisor at Property Tax Specialists, I lead a driven team equally committed to understanding each client's unique objectives and challenges. By pairing bespoke solutions with an open, consultative approach, we empower property investors to maximise returns and prepare for the future.
There is still so much more value I want to deliver by constantly expanding my capabilities and perspective. I look forward to further evolving how we serve as trusted partners for our clients.
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