Anurika Fernando
Manager Accountant // Smart Business Solutions

From a small coastal town in Sri Lanka to building a thriving career in Australia, Anurika Fernando’s journey is one of resilience, passion, and purpose. At just 19, she left behind everything familiar - her family, her home, and the only life she had ever known - to pursue a dream career in accounting.

From Sri Lanka to Australia

Anurika Fernando’s journey began in a small coastal town in Sri Lanka, where she grew up surrounded by beautiful beaches, a close-knit family, and a rich cultural heritage. With a natural love for numbers and a deep desire to help people, she set her sights on accounting. At just 19, she made the bold decision to leave everything familiar behind and move to Australia to pursue her studies.

Moving to Australia alone was both exciting and daunting. Anurika began her studies at Deakin University, first staying with a family friend before moving into a share house with other students. To support herself, she worked part-time at a laundromat, where she built lasting relationships with the business owners. Those early years taught her resilience and adaptability—qualities that would shape her future career.

Overcoming Challenges to Build a Career

After graduating in 2016, Anurika faced the challenge many international graduates encounter—finding an accounting role while on a work visa. Determined to gain experience, she took an unpaid internship, even paying for the opportunity to learn. It was a difficult but strategic decision that ultimately led to her first professional role in accounting.

A Life-Changing Opportunity

Everything changed when Shannon Smit, founder of SMART Business Solutions, reached out on LinkedIn. That message opened the door to a career where Anurika could make a real impact. Now, as a Manager at SMART, she works closely with small business owners, helping them navigate financial complexities and build sustainable businesses. She values strong client relationships, focusing on quality over quantity, and understands firsthand the challenges that business owners face—because she has lived them herself.