Colin Leigh Davis

Member’s name: Colin Leigh Davis
Date of Hearing: 17 July 2026
Division: NSW
Tribunal: One Person 

On 17 July 2026 the One Person Tribunal (OPT) found Mr Colin Davis breached CPA Australia’s 11 May 2022 Constitution (“the Constitution”) Article 36(a) in that he had "committed, participated in or been involved with an Adverse Event” as defined in:

Complaint 1

Article 76(c) of the Constitution as having “breached this Constitution (or a constitution of the Company in force from time to time before the Amending Date), By-Laws, Code of Professional Conduct or the Applicable Regulations” by failing to comply with By-Law 9.5(b), to “successfully complete a periodic Practice Review within the Practice Review Program Prescribed Timeframes.”

Background

As the holder of a CPA Australia Public Practice Certificate, the Member was selected to undergo a Practice Review. Following an assessment conducted on 21 November 2024, an Assessment Support Plan was issued and accepted by the Member. The Plan included a high-priority action requiring the Member to arrange an audit of the firm's trust account, which had not been audited since 2015, by 28 February 2025. The Member failed to complete the required corrective action and, as a consequence, did not complete the Practice Review or obtain a Letter of Completion.

Complaint 2

Article 76(c) of the Constitution as having “breached this Constitution (or a constitution of the Company in force from time to time before the Amending Date), By-Laws, Code of Professional Conduct or the Applicable Regulations” by failing to provide a satisfactory explanation in writing with respect to the Complaint as required by By-Law 5.2(a)(iii).

Background

On 12 November 2025, a Notice was emailed to Mr Davis to provide a sufficient and satisfactory written explanation about the Complaint. Further emails were sent on 16 December 2025 and 12 March 2026, despite follow up phone calls, no written response was received and on 4 May 2026, the matter was referred for hearing to a One Person Tribunal.

Decision

Mr Davis did not attend the One Person Tribunal Hearing and a denial of each of the Complaints was entered on his behalf. The One Person Tribunal considered the evidence before it and found the Complaints sustained.

Penalty and Costs: 

The One-Person Tribunal considered the submissions and mitigating factors put forward by CPA Australia, including the Member’ assertions that a number of technical, environmental, and harrowing personal issues affected his ability to attend to the corrective action required. However, the OPT determined that the Member was given a clear path and extensive time to remediate the high-priority issue, however failed to do so. The OPT took into consideration the seriousness of not having a trust account audited over several years, and imposed the following penalties:

Complaint 1:

• Forfeiture of membership. Not to be readmitted until evidence of the successful completion of an audit of the Member’s trust account for each of the last three annual accounting periods has been provided to the General Manager Professional Conduct.

Complaint 2:

• A severe reprimand.

Mr Colin Davis was ordered to pay a contribution to CPA Australia’s costs of $10,798.50.