Articles by: Stephen Burns

Stephen Burns is a seasoned entrepreneur and company director with over 20 years of experience helping businesses grow, scale, and navigate complex financial and operational challenges across Australia, the US, and Asia. Today, he leads organisations that support thousands of clients while operating in highly regulated, fast-moving environments, including ASX- and NASDAQ-listed markets, with a professional background that spans executive leadership, company directorships, and global operations.

He is the Founder and Managing Director of Accountants Direct, a public accounting firm serving more than 8,000 clients worldwide, supporting business owners with practical, scalable accounting and advisory solutions. Stephen is also a Co-Founder and Non-Executive Director of Payou, a payments technology business built on Australia’s New Payments Platform (NPP), as well as a Co-Founder of Cyclion Energy, a cleantech venture focused on converting plastic and organic waste into fuel or electricity. His leadership and business involvement are also recognised across global founder and startup ecosystems, including F6S, and through industry collaborations such as Accountants Direct’s partnership with Annature to streamline e-signing for corporate and personal tax returns.

Earlier in his career, Stephen was Chief Operating Officer of OzEmail Ltd, where he led a team of over 200 staff across Australia and worked closely with its parent company, MCI WorldCom, across the US and Asia. He also served as a Founding Director of the Gold Coast Titans NRL bid team, playing a key role in securing the club’s National Rugby League licence.

Stephen is an active angel investor and advisor with a particular interest in cleantech and fintech. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from Griffith University, an MBA from the University of Technology Sydney, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is also a member of the Institute of Public Accountants, with his professional footprint additionally reflected across recognised business intelligence and directory platforms.