Five Minutes with Dion Carbone

Late last year, Hood Sweeney elevated two accounting advisers to Director roles. Dion Carbone and Matthew Bartemucci were promoted from Associates reflecting their contribution to growing the business and to their clients.

Dion Carbone joined Hood Sweeney in 2013 as part of the merger with boutique accounting firm Shearer + Elliss. A former high-level soccer player, the chartered accountant began kicking goals in the Accounting & Business Advisory team, working with growing businesses and high-profile professionals.

His promotion was coupled with another big achievement, becoming a first-time father. And this year marks Dion’s 10-year anniversary at Hood Sweeney, where he continues to serve clients within the SME (small-to-medium enterprises) team.

What is your favourite part of your job as an Accounting & Business Adviser?

Building lifelong relationships with people whether that’s with clients or team members - I get real satisfaction from seeing them achieve their goals. I am a big goal setter from my sporting career, and this has directly translated into how I advise clients and the team.

I also value thinking laterally – there is never one correct way to solve a business problem, which allows for creativity in what would seem externally to be a very linear industry.

Having the culture around us to promote innovation is also a part of the role that is really important to me and something I try to proactively emphasis throughout the business.

Summarise your journey to now.

I studied a double degree in Commerce and Law at university with hopes of being a football player (world game not the oval one) rather than focusing on an accounting career.

My journey in accounting began as a graduate in 2013 when I joined Shearer + Ellis who were very supportive of my sporting career at the time. I quickly recognised my passion for business, strategy and ultimately building lifelong relationships from observing the partners interactions with clients and our team.

In December of that year, we merged with Hood Sweeney, and I have never looked back. I have been incredibly fortunate to work with some great individuals and have mentors who challenged me to develop and achieve my ambitions.

I work alongside terrific clients, many of whom I would call more than clients such is the depth of our relationships, which has allowed me to continuously grow knowledge alongside their growth, while adding value wherever possible along the way.

In 2022 I was appointed as a Director at Hood Sweeney joining the group of individuals that I had real admiration for in leading the business. It had always been a goal to become an owner at Hood Sweeney but to do so with such a great group is even more special.

So, what next?

Grow, grow and grow more.

Grow the business and provide opportunities for the next group of ambitious members of our high-performing team.

Grow our clients’ businesses – getting to see them exceed their goals both financially and non-financially is why we do what we do as business advisors.

Grow personally and continue to blend personal life with the business as one of the greatest rewards of our industry is the overlay of experiences. I have a young son, so the family is growing as well and I am preparing myself for the white line fever to return albeit from the sidelines in the future.

What advice would you give your younger self starting out?

Always ask questions - there is never a point where you ask too many. We ask questions to create connections not just to obtain information. A well-placed question can not only strengthen a relationship, but it can also be as equally valuable as the answer itself.

This goes in hand with the above but stay curious. This means thinking about what is not directly in front of you, but it also means appreciating what you don’t know. This can be challenging when you are trying to prove yourself (something I had to learn) but there is power in understanding what you don’t know.

Above all else enjoy the journey not just the destination – it’s easy to get caught in thinking ‘happiness will come from success’ when it’s very much the other way around.