From Delhi and Poonch to Melbourne, Pritpal Singh and Sid Sharma have built a boutique accounting firm where integrity, trust, and long-term relationships define true success.

At first glance, the world of accounting may seem to revolve around balance sheets, lodgements, and tax returns. But for Pritpal Singh and Siddharth (Sid) Sharma, the heart of their work lies not in transactions but in trust. Together, as partners of Honest & Young, a boutique CPA practice in Melbourne, they have built a firm that places relationships at its core. Their philosophy is simple yet profound: a client is never just a file number or a transaction, but a partner in a long-term journey.

Their paths to this shared vision began thousands of kilometres apart.

Pritpal Singh: A Legacy of Values
Born and raised in Delhi, Pritpal Singh was drawn early to the precision of accounting, qualifying as a Chartered Accountant before migrating to Melbourne in 2007. His move was motivated by a father’s instinct—wanting his children to have the best possible education and opportunities. “I always thought my kids should have the best opportunities in the world,” he reflects.

In Australia, he completed his CPA and laid the foundation of Honest & Young. The name captured his guiding principles: Honest for integrity, Young for continuous learning. Over the years, his firm became synonymous with transparency and fairness. Clients stayed for decades, not because of flashy promises, but because of Singh’s quiet commitment to values. “We never overcharge, we always explain, and we keep everything transparent,” he says.

That ethos has translated into tangible results. From reducing a $200,000 default tax assessment to just $20,000, to winning private rulings that saved clients six-figure sums, Singh has built a reputation as a tireless advocate for those he serves. Yet beyond numbers, his inspiration comes from family and culture. His wife Jaswinder, his two sons, and his mother’s influence are anchors in his journey. And every August, he celebrates Indian Independence Day at the Consulate in Melbourne, surrounded by the familiar rhythm of dhol and the tricolour. “India is always in my heart,” he says.

Sid Sharma: Resilience Forged in Poonch
If Singh’s story is one of integrity shaped in Delhi, Sid Sharma’s is one of resilience shaped in the border town of Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir. Growing up amid curfews and shelling, Sharma recalls nights spent huddled with family in a single room, hoping to outlast the chaos outside. What could have scarred became instead a training ground for adaptability. “Life was uncertain there. You learned to do your best with what you had,” he says.

Guided by his mother, a school principal with an unshakeable belief in education, Sharma moved to Melbourne in 2007 for his Master’s in Accounting and Financial Management. He earned his CPA and soon after joined Singh to establish Honest & Young. For Sharma, accounting is not just about compliance but about vision. “We do the lodgements and bookkeeping, yes. But we also look at the bigger picture—cash flow, growth strategies, and building family legacies,” he explains.

Technology excites him—automation, AI, and machine learning—but he insists it must serve humanity, not replace it. “AI is powerful, but empathy, care, and honesty will always set us apart,” he says.

Away from work, Sharma finds balance in Melbourne’s lifestyle—walking along the Yarra with his wife, Bhageshwari, a doctor, or heading out camping with their dog Gypsy. Yet, like Singh, his heart often travels back to India, to the spiritual pilgrimages of Vaishno Devi and the closeness of joint family life.

Honest & Young: Built on Shared Belief
Together, Singh and Sharma have shaped Honest & Young into more than a CPA firm. It is a place where cultural roots meet professional excellence, and where values are never negotiable. Their clients range from individuals seeking tax clarity to family businesses planning their futures, but the foundation remains unchanged: integrity, transparency, and trust.

In an industry where short-cuts and quick fixes often tempt, they have chosen the harder road of principle. “Without values, you cannot survive in this profession. With values, survival is harder—but it is meaningful,” Singh reflects. Sharma echoes the sentiment: “Be honest, and keep learning. That is the philosophy of Honest & Young.”

Their journeys—one from Delhi, one from Poonch—could not have been more different. Yet in Melbourne, they converged to build something lasting. Honest & Young is more than a business; it is a testament to how integrity and resilience, lived daily, can redefine success.

In a world obsessed with numbers, Pritpal Singh and Sid Sharma remind us of something far more enduring: that the most valuable asset an accountant can offer is not a figure on a page, but trust.

By Tonee Sethi