About Us
Cascade was founded and commenced operations in 1985 by Karen McDonald. The name Cascade Accounting Solutions was registered in July 1998. Since 1999 we have been trading under the name of Cascade Consulting Services Pty Ltd when we incorporated. we are excited to be celebrating our 20th Anniversary on 16 July 2018
Our director is a fully qualified accountant and Fellow with the IPA (Institute of Public Accountants) with extensive business systems experience. She is an associate member of the Qld Law Society and a member of the Australian Computer Society. Therefore, we are able to provide all our business customers with reliable systems that tick all the right boxes for their accountants.
Cascade has connections to a complete range of industry specialists that allows us to offer clients a full range of business computing solutions and enables us to pass on low overheads as savings to all of our customers.
Karen McDonald – Director and Visionary
B.Bus (Accy) FIPA AACS AFIAM Registered Tax Agent
Experience
Karen has a solid career in accounting and accounting software.
With a wealth of experience across small businesses, manufacturing and government organisations, Karen is most passionate about accounting software and small business operations. The experience gained throughout her time in government roles adds to Karen’s invaluable set of skills that allows her to help small businesses work quickly and efficiently through red tape.
Karen’s career started in the accounting industry, with over 10 years experience employed in small business accounting and taxation firms during the 1980’s and early 1990’s
From 1994 to 1997 she held a finance position at Griffith University.
1997 to 2004 saw Karen contracting to Government departments and Government agencies while building the client base for Cascade as we know it today.
In 1998 Karen rescued a failing implementation of Finance One for Queensland Fisheries. In 2001 Karen took a contract at Maroochy Shire Council to get a new implementation of Finance One back on Track.
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Business (Accounting) QUT
- Post Graduate Study at Deakin University
- Tax Agent
- Workplace Training Category IV
Away from work, Karen’s favourite past times include her dog Smokey, bush walking (especially when there is a waterfall to find), travelling and movies.
Accreditations
- Wise Owl Legal Software
- Intuit Pro Advisor for QuickBooks online
- Xero
- Reckon Accredited Partner with accreditations in the full suite of ReckonAccounts products Reckon Point of Sale and ReckonOne;
1997 to 2009 Karen was a certified consultant for PC Law.
2008 to 2010 Karen was a licensed agent for File Pro
Elizabeth James – Accountant & Tax Agent
AIPA BA Grad Dip Accounting Registered Tax Agent
Roles
Elizabeth James is an experienced Accountant and Tax Agent. She has run her own accounting practice for 30 years and comes to us with a Gold Mine of knowledge. She specialises in Small Business accounting and tax, complex individuals and self-managed super funds.
Elizabeth has lectured in Australian Taxation Law at Griffith University for 15 years.
Elizabeth joined Cascade in 2022.
Qualifications
AIPA BA Grad Dip Accounting Registered Tax Agent