2024 Women to Watch
This year we showcase over 80 South Australian women to watch throughout the year. From business, to careers, arts to science. This year’s selected women highlight the depth and diversity of the women in our state and also the vast array of opportunities to develop a business or career in South Australia. Find our more about our inaugural Women to Watch initiative here.
Miriam Holme is the founder and director of Fab Tax Accountants, where she also serves as the Chief Accounting Angel. Holding both a CPA qualification and a Master’s in Taxation, Miriam has dedicated over 14 years to assisting small businesses in navigating the complexities of finance and taxation. She specializes in making accounting accessible and stress-free for her clients, prioritizing clarity and understanding over technical jargon.
Miriam is recognised as one of Australia’s leading experts in cryptocurrency taxation, offering invaluable advice to clients engaged in investing, trading, or mining digital currencies. Her expertise has earned her finalist positions in three categories of the Women in Finance Awards: Accountant of the Year, Director of the Year, and Women’s Community Engagement Program. She manages a diverse portfolio as an Airbnb host and contributes to her family’s businesses, including Unwind Holidays and Organic Hill as she mothers five children and two stepchildren.
// Favourite inspirational quote
“If it was easy, everyone would do it”
// Let’s get to know you
My journey through commerce, law, economics, and taxation, culminating in a CPA and a Masters in Taxation, has deeply influenced my career and personal development. Wanting to blend my bookkeeping skills and tax expertise, I founded Fab Tax Accountants from my kitchen table in 2011. It’s grown into a thriving seven-figure business, powered by organic growth and strong client referrals.
Venturing into the wine industry four years ago, I joined my partner at Organic Hill in McLaren Vale, taking on financial and management roles. This included representing South Australia’s wine industry in Vietnam, integrating business challenges with personal growth. Rising interest rates prompted me to transform my investment properties into profitable Airbnbs, further involving me in Unwind Holidays, our family’s property management business.
My engagement extends beyond business. The Sisters That Slay podcast and recognition in South Australia’s 40 under 40 highlight my commitment to empowering others. Managing a vibrant community of over 800 on Facebook and navigating businesses through COVID-19’s challenges, I’ve become a crucialknowledge source for nationwide clients.
Juggling growth across Fab Tax, Organic Hill, and Unwind Holidays, alongside managing a bustling household with five kids, is demanding yet rewarding. Every day, I embrace the challenge of doing what I love, supported by an incredible team. My evolving leadership role across these businesses aims not just to navigate change but to inspire and empower, reflecting a journey of relentless growth and meaningful impact.
// What is your goal or intention for 2024? And how are you going to achieve it?
This year, I’m stepping into what feels like new shoes, albeit ones I’ve been unknowingly preparing to wear all my life—I will evolve into the Group CEO of Unwind Holidays, Fab Tax Accountants, and Organic Hill. It’s a role everyone seems to think I was born for, being the eldest of three sisters and naturally slipping into leadership roles. Yet, the quickness of this transition has taken me by surprise, nudging me to confront my own perceptions and the little voice in my head that tells me I can’t.
I want to embrace my identity beyond “the accountant” of Fab Tax and be seen as a leader across the three businesses. To do this, I have engaged a business coach. Accountability is my new best friend; it keeps me on track amidst the whirlwind of daily operations and personal commitments. This mentorship will refine my leadership skills and is teaching me to navigate my journey without my dad, who was my personal mentor and cheerleader. His loss left a void, determination honours his legacy. I’m on a mission to master my time, recognising that strategic delegation and prioritisation will help achieve my ambitious goals. With my partner frequently abroad, balance between CEO and present parent to toddlers and teens is my daily reality. Embracing the chaos, from a messy kitchen to the endless to-dos, I remember to breathe and focus on what matters. This year is about growth, resilience, and the beauty of managing life’s complexities with grace and determination.
// If you could share one takeaway from your business or career journey, what would it be?
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my journey in business and career, it’s that change is not only inevitable but also essential for growth.
You see, I’ve come to realise that you’re never too old to pivot, to reinvent yourself, or to pursue new passions. I started out with a clear vision and goals for my business, but along the way, I’ve learned to embrace evolution. If something no longer lights me up or if I find myself getting bored with a certain aspect of my business, I’m not afraid to make a change. Whether it’s delegating tasks to someone who’s passionate about them or simply letting go of things that no longer serve me, I’ve learned the importance of staying true to what energises me.
Life has a funny way of throwing curve balls. While things may not always go according to plan, I’ve learned to trust my instincts and follow what brings me joy. If something sparks excitement and enthusiasm within me, I’ll pursue it wholeheartedly. But if it drains my energy or feels like a chore, I’m quick to course-correct.
If there’s one takeaway I’d share, it’s this: embrace change, follow your passions, and never be afraid to rewrite your story. It’s never too late to become who you want to be when you grow up.
// What would being a Woman to Watch mean to you?
My road hasn’t always been straightforward. Navigating back-to-back pregnancies, each with its own set of challenges, and the whirlwind of raising two toddlers a year apart, has tested my mettle in ways I never anticipated. Yet, my commitment to my businesses, the invaluable team I work alongside, and communities we serve is the driving force keeping me in the arena, even when balance seems impossible.
My resolve to be proactive, to delve into and disseminate crucial information about grants and governmental initiatives, remains strong. The lessons from COVID revealed massive gaps in awareness among businesses regarding available resources, shaped my mission and drive to create resources and information to demystify complex topics like cryptocurrency and other financial trends through webinars and podcasts, so people can make informed decisions.
Despite scaling back to part-time work with the arrival of my children, my accounting business has thrived. Facing the daunting prospect of a skyrocketing mortgage for our dream home, I innovated by converting my properties into Airbnbs—a risk that paid off, ensuring financial stability. The past four years have dropped unprecedented challenges for me. To be recognised as a Woman to Watch would be more than just an accolade. I see it as a celebration of my relentless effort, nights spent strategising, and days filled with clients and children. Being seen for all I have overcome and accomplished is an affirmation that every step taken, no matter how daunting, has placed me right here and now to do what fulfills me.
// What would you like to see for the future of South Australian women and girls?
Many have dubbed me a “superwoman,” a title that, while flattering, masks the true complexity and struggle beneath the surface. This perception of effortlessly juggling everything and always appearing flawless is a myth I wish to dispel. Reaching this point in my life has been an arduous trek, I’ve faced challenges that have felt insurmountable. Despite support, there are days when getting out of bed feels like a Herculean effort.
The expectation that women should excel in careers AND bear the brunt of household chores and childcare is a double bind stretching us thin. It’s a narrative to change for the future of South Australian women and girls. I imagine a future where the community unites to ease the burden on families with two working parents—or, a single working parent – where the relentless rat race fades into a more compassionate, understanding society recognising the impossibility of achieving an unattainable ideal.
Running my own business offers me a semblance of flexibility, a privilege I don’t take lightly, especially on days when life throws its curveballs. But what about those without this flexibility?
I envision a South Australia where access to childcare is not just available but affordable, where childcare and nanny services are recognized for their invaluable contribution to families and are accordingly tax-deductible. A place where welcoming nannies and au pairs from abroad is facilitated by supportive policies, akin to the systems in places like Singapore, helps manage households and ensure children are cared for in nurturing environments.
Get in touch with Miriam:
LinkedIn: Miriam Holme
Website: www.fabtax.com.au
Check out all of the incredible Women to Watch for 2024 here as their profiles are uploaded throughout the year.
To become an SA Woman Member, check out our Membership Options here.