Meet our leadership team
Our Team
Peter Fitzpatrick, CPA
As the founding partner of P J Fitzpatrick & Associates Pty Ltd over 40 years ago and with over 40 years of experience in accounting for small to medium businesses and individuals, Peter has a wealth of practical experience guiding businesses and individuals through tax, audit, growth, cost cutting, succession planning and other business critical issues.
On weekends Peter likes to spend time with his family, boating (happily he no longer owns a boat and uses a friend’s), watching sport including the Beaumaris football team, local cricket team and his beloved Saints.
Robert Zucker, CPA
Robert has over 40 Years of experience working in many different areas related to Accounting and Taxation. His roles have included working in the State Revenue Office, engaged in the accounting profession and as a Company Accountant in private Industry before going into his own business specializing in Taxation in the early 1990s.
It has been most satisfying meeting the needs of small Business clients, working to clarify their financial situation and help guide them through their Tax obligations and finally setting their sights on pathways forward to a better future. The process of preparation of accurate financial reporting and then discussing outcomes with clients usually results in clients having a clearer vision of how to progress. It has always been my primary goal to provide excellent service in all that I do to the greatest extent possible.
Over the years I have put my hand up for pro bono work acting usually as Treasurer for a number of Not for Profits and Community organisations most recently as Secretary of Rail Trails Australia.
Robert is married to Kathy and has 3 adult children. When not working I enjoy being active and keeping fit cycling (usually with Kathy) …as a famous person once said – Life is like riding a Bicycle, to keep your balance you must keep moving. There is more to life than cycling though, there is AFL Footy and the Saints and taking off on Caravan adventures discovering parts unknown!
FOUNDING PRINCIPAL
Brad Phelan, CPA
Brad is a registered tax agent and member of CPA Australia.
Having over 19 years of experience in private practice and accounting roles, Brad’s career began as a graduate at the ATO. He then made the move to a mid tier firm where he spent the next 16 years specialising in small to medium business tax and advisory. Brad’s role prior to joining Fitzpatrick Ruschinek Zucker was as the Chief Financial Officer of an international retail company providing direct exposure to the day to day issues that confront a business as it transitioned from a family business to a high growth international business.
At over 2 metres tall, or 6 foot 8 inches in the old scale, Brad is head and shoulders above your average accountant. He has played football and basketball at a competitive level and still plays basketball semi competitively. As a local Brad can often be found supervising his children at a bayside basketball court or playground.
MANAGING PRINCIPAL
FOUNDING PRINCIPAL
Ben Ruschinek, CPA
Ben is a registered tax agent and member of CPA Australia and Tax & Super Australia.
Ben established Ruschinek and Associates over 50 years ago and his continual focus has been on always making sure that his clients are in the best possible financial position at each stage of their life.
He is particularly attuned to the needs of small to medium size businesses and entrepreneurs. Ben can offer strategic advice right from the setup of your business, managing your business, and all the way through to succession planning.
Fluent in Yiddish and having a basic understanding of German, Ben is now spending his extra time with his wife, whom he has been married to for over 50 years, his 5 children and 24 grandchildren. They are scattered across America, Israel and of course Australia.
He has an interest in the NDIS programs and often helps on a pro bono basis to set up self-managed funding programs to comply with the NDIS. Ben also assists Not for Profit Organisations, again on a pro bono basis.
FOUNDING PRINCIPAL
Ziyu Wang, CPA
Having over 15 years of experience in accounting and tax in the accounting practice. Ziyu’s ability, enthusiasm, technology savvy and ambition is experienced by client and fellow team member alike. These outstanding characteristics have made her a key member of the firm.
Ziyu prides herself on her commitment and dedication to servicing a wide variety of clients from small to medium sized businesses, individuals and superannuation funds.
Ian Metzke, MBA BSc
With 30 years of commercial experience. Ian has overall responsibilities for our outreach program, customer experience and business integration.
If he’s not driving his teenage sons to activities he can be found at the gym, on his bike or drinking a green tea at his local cafe.
CEO
SENIOR MANAGER
Saiyidah Wyse, BSc
Saiyidah(Ida) joined the firm in late 2022 as office manager. With Sandra retiring after 12 years of fantastic service, it was very important we found the right person to fill this role. It has been great to have Ida step up and take control from the get go, helping both clients and staff of the firm.
A Singapore native, Ida migrated to Australia in early 2022. Prior to this, she studied Biomedical Science and worked as a Senior Medical Technologist at a Covid Diagnostic lab in the height of Covid. In her spare time, Ida loves to relax with a good book in hand, or catch up on her favourite series.
