Zac Hayes, director of HA Accounting, completed Wodonga TAFE’s New Enterprise Incentive Scheme, a government-funded program that provides accredited training in small business management, business advice and income support for eligible participants.

MORE BUSINESS NEWS:

Mr Hayes had worked as an accountant, but wished to start his own venture.

"I really didn't know how to run a business, I knew how advise on them but didn't know how to run one," he said.

"So the NEIS program was a good interim step for me to a) take the time out to learn and b) build up a bit of a support network and business plan on how to actually execute it."

This week Mr Hayes learned he has been named a finalist in the Australian Small Business Champions Awards in the category of entrepreneur aged under 30.

This followed HA Accounting winning three sections of the Victorian SMSF and Accounting Awards in November, with Mr Hayes named Professional of the Year - Regional.

Wodonga TAFE, which offers the NEIS program for the Riverina area, encourages people with a business idea to consider opportunities under the scheme.

Mr Hayes said the assistance he received helped him to "walk the talk that I've done as an accountant".

"Think about vision, purpose, goal setting," he said.

"It enabled me to sit down and reflect on how I wanted to run my firm and be different."