Kathy Tung, Account Manager

Kathy has a lifelong association with the NFP and charity sector. She has been involved in volunteering since early childhood. By the time she was old enough to say, “Donations of $2 or more are tax-deductible,” she was doorknocking for the Red Cross.

Kathy is a Chartered Accountant with CFO experience in the NFP sector and public practice. After an illustrious career in hospitality management, Kathy’s foray into accountancy was not a planned career move. Kathy went back to University to obtain a Business Degree and discovered that numbers and getting them to tell a compelling story sparked a newfound passion.

A key turning point for Kathy was a Dan Pallotta TED Talk: “The way we think about charity is dead wrong.” It highlighted the double standard of not-for-profit and for-profit organisations. NFPs are expected to minimise spending rather than invest to maximise impact, while the for-profit sector is lauded for doing the opposite. Society has this misplaced notion that NFPs’ spending on ‘overheads’ is detracting from ‘the cause’, but it’s not a zero-sum game. Kathy’s crusade is validated by the report tabled by Social Ventures Australia (SVA) and the Centre for Social Impact (CSI) “Paying What It Takes,” A sentiment that NFPs and charities can relate to.

“My special sauce is explaining financial concepts using highly relatable analogies,” says Kathy. Accounting terms can feel like a foreign language. People running and managing NFPs are familiar with financial concepts; however, the terminology or a pre-existing notion of particular words often needs untangling. Kathy aims to demystify complex terms and reframe her client’s relationship with them. For example, a liability is not necessarily a bad thing; it is only a label, and when put into its correct context, clients can grasp what it means and how it relates to their organisation rather than see it as a negative position.

Kathy’s clients keep her motivated. Supporting them while they tackle the big issues in our world is inspiring. She is committed to continual professional development and has an insatiable appetite for learning anything new in finance. From listening to world-class accounting podcasts to updating her compliance and regulatory knowledge and collaborating with peers, Kathy is a fountain of information and financial intelligence for anyone managing the financial operations of an NFP or charity.

Outside of her work, she devours audiobooks and podcasts and is a textile crafting queen specialising in sewing, crochet, and cross-stitch, which makes sense as she is double-jointed in both thumbs

At Accounting For Good, we work with NFP organisations with a turnover of $1M or more.

Contact us for a free consultation if your organisation needs expert financial guidance. Let us handle your accounting needs so you can focus on what matters most—serving your community and driving positive change.