After 55 years in the same job, making the decision to finally retire was "pretty big", Mr Brady (72) said.
The job appealed to him as a young man "and it's never been any different".
He will finish work by the end of March and admits he will miss both staff and clients.
After leaving St Kevins College, where he was dux, he started work for Howard Stott in December 1954.
In 1956, Mr Stott and Charles Jones formed the partnership Jones and Stott and, in 1969, the name changed to Jones, Stott and Brady.
In 1976, Colin Wollstein joined the partnership to ultimately replace Mr Stott - Mr Jones had earlier retired - and, from 1981, the firm was Brady and Wollstein.
In November last year, it - along with another Oamaru firm, Scott and Co - joined accountancy group WHK Taylors Otago.
Outside of his accountancy work, Mr Brady had done part-time jobs, including working for builders, farmers, truck drivers and on the wharf, which he enjoyed and had added to his knowledge of his clients.
"It makes you able to talk their language," he said.
It was once commented by a staff member that "we've got no clients at all, we've just got a lot of friends who think they are clients".
That relationship would continue under the new ownership, Mr Brady said.
A lot of his work was associated with the community and he is honorary auditor to many local groups.
Once he cleared the last jobs on his desk and finally did retire, he expected he would find plenty to do.
Mr Brady has been heavily involved with the community.
He was awarded a Rotary Paul Harris Fellowship for his work in the community, plus a Fellowship of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.
In 2007, he received the Benemerenti Papal Medal - one of the highest papal awards that can be bestowed on a lay person - acknowledging his contribution to Catholic education.
He has been involved with Scouts since 1946 and last year received Scouting New Zealand's highest good service award, the Silver Tui.
He is a justice of the peace and a trustee of the Waitaki Power Trust.
Mr Brady was looking forward to spending more time with his wife, Moneuan, and their family (the couple have eight children), playing more croquet and travelling.
A keen cyclist - "it's good for my body", he said.
He and his son-in-law planned to cycle the Otago Central Rail Trail in one day next month and he was busy organising a Scout camp at Waianakarua this month.
Oamaru had been good to Mr Brady and his family and he enjoyed making a contribution to the community.
"It's been a good life.
"I've never ever wanted to do anything else," he said.
