Geoff Okey - B.Com. CA

Worked for eight years for Ernst and Young (Chartered Accountants) including two years in London. Fifteen years based in Auckland working as an accountant in building supplies for Carters and Benchmark with an emphasis on budgeting, cashflow planning and management reporting, and reviews and development of internal systems. Moved to Katikati in 2002 joining a predecessor of Accumulus Limited.

Geoff’s background in business accounting has provided him with operational experience in most aspects facing small business owners and believes in ‘keep it simple’ processes.

Geoff’s interests are reading, walking, and watching sports.

Strengths – all aspects of tax, small and medium business accounting, orchard and farm reporting and internal business systems

Alan Dodwell - B.Sc. CA

Worked for sixteen years with Ernst & Young in London and Auckland - mainly in Audit and Insolvency gaining experience of a wide range of businesses. Alan emigrated to New Zealand in 1988, joining a predecessor firm of Accumulus Limited in 1994.

Alan has an interest in investments and enjoys small business accounting and taxation, particularly dealing with Trusts and business structures.

Alan’s interests are playing bridge, walking the dog, actively supporting his children’s leisure and sporting activities.

Strengths – all aspects of small business tax, orchard and farm reporting, investments, trading structures and technical issues.

Janet Lacey - NZ DipBus AT

Worked in clerical and legal positions (both in London and New Zealand) before joining Owen Dunning’s practice in 1987 and eventually becoming Office Manager.

During this time Janet has placed high importance on upskilling and has completed a New Zealand Diploma in Business Studies and attained her Accounting Technician qualification.

Growth of the business and the importance of information technology systems has also seen Janet develop her knowledge of computer systems (and she can dismantle a pc at 20 paces!). Jokes aside, she maintains our practice management and accounting software and gives knowledgeable support with other software including BankLink and Cash Manager.

Janet’s very approachable manner is appreciated by many clients, especially those who find the world of Accounting a daunting one.

Janet’s interests are exercising at local gym, fishing, walking Labradors and swimming.

Strengths – GST, PAYE, annual account preparation, income tax, orchard and farm reporting, software support, helping business to get started and office management.

Maree Brown

Maree was born and raised on a dairy farm in Taranaki.

Maree has had a diverse career from 8 years in the Royal New Zealand Navy to balloon decorating, dairy farming and owning an avocado orchard. She has co-owned a successful IT & Electrical Engineering Company where she specialised in IT training and process automation software design. She has been working as an accountant for the last five years.

Maree has been a QuickBooks (Accounting Software) trainer since 1996 and is helpful with any aspects of the mysteries of computers.. Maree’s interests include spending time with her 3 daughters, going to the gym and getting involved in any activity that sounds like fun – tramping, bike riding,shopping.

Strengths – GST, PAYE, income tax, computer software (particularly QuickBooks), day to day office management

Paul Shanks

Strengths – Financial instruments;planning, budgeting and analysis; financial and management reporting; spreadsheet and database applications.

Sara Ellery

Having qualified with a BSc in Biochemistry from Massey Sara worked for ten years as a science technician in the meat industry before, during and after doing her OE. After this Sara progressed to better things and started work as an accountant! She has worked with firms in Taupo, Rotorua and Gisborne before moving to Athenree for her husbands work and joining us mainly producing and finalising sets of accounts.

Sara has three children one at Victoria University, one at Waihi College and one at Katikati College. Chasing round after her family, and the 25 sheep and cattle on their lifestyle block leaves little time for Sara’s leisure pursuits of gardening and enjoying the view with friends over a bottle of wine (and the view and the wine are good!).

Strengths – Annual account preparation

Carey Hume

Often Carey’s cheerful face is the first one you see as you come up our stairs.

Carey was born in the South Island, but has lived in Katikati for over 20 years. Carey has an office management background with experience in both New Zealand and Australia in a wide range of industries. Having four children, now mostly grown up, has given Carey plenty of opportunities to be involved in the local Katikati community. Carey looks after a lot of the administration that happens at Accumulus and is more than happy to help you solve any puzzles you may have.

She enjoys scrap book work and sewing and is very creative. We are often the recipients of wonderfully made little presents which we all enjoy.

Strengths – Practice management, good writing skills, Company Office returns and requirements, PAYE, Client Liaison, ‘Making Things Happen’.

Renae Mohi

Renae was born in a small Central Otago town called Balclutha. Her family moved to Katikati when she was nine and have lived here ever since. Renae has completed a NZ Diploma in Business majoring in Finance and Accounting.

Renae has strong cultural and ancestral links to Katikati and the local Marae, and worked for the local Kohanga Reo for two years prior to working for Accumulus.

In her spare time Renae enjoys spending time with her partner and son, she also enjoys playing sports and is a particularly talented netball player.

Strengths – Annual account preparation, wages & PAYE, GST, income tax and anything else she is ever asked to do

Lisa Robb

Lisa joined us in 2009 from a local kiwifruit packhouse. She has a partner and two primary age children , is currently studying extramurally towards an accountancy degree and working fulltime so has heaps of energy.

Lisa began her working career with National Business Review a job she thoroughly enjoyed and she still misses the excitement of being in the publishing industry.

She has settled well with us and is enjoying the challenges that are part of the work in an accountancy practice.

Strengths – Wages and PAYE, GST, annual account preparation, income tax and any other work that anyone ever gives her

Sheryl Sutton

Sheryl took a circuitous route to accountancy. After starting in picture framing she trained in office procedures and entered the hospitality industry. She has worked in all aspects of tourist hotels all round the country culminating in four years in hotel management. Having moved back to the area thankfully Sheryl joined us from a clerical job with a building supplies company in Tauranga.

Sheryl and her husband live miles up in the hills in the bush where they are self sufficient for power and water and fight a running battle against possums. Sheryl enjoys bush walking, decorating, gardening, diving, travel and therapeutic firewood chopping. Sheryl is a very creative person and has done some top notch oil paintings.

Strengths – Wages and PAYE, GST, annual account preparation, income tax and any other work that anyone ever gives her

Yvette Williams

Originally from Putaruru (South Waikato), Yvette moved to Katikati in March 2006. Yvette graduated from The Waikato Polytechnic in 2000 with a New Zealand Diploma in Business Studies and is continuing her study as an extramural student with Massey University to complete a Bachelor of Business majoring in Accounting. She successfully passed Professional Competency Exam 1 in October 2007 and is now an Accounting Technician. Prior to moving to Katikati, Yvette spent three years working for Graham Brown & Co Ltd Accountants in Putaruru and a further three years working for the South Waikato District Council. She also spends time assisting her husband on the dairy farm on which he is a sharemilker. Yvette’s interests include art, reading and spending time with her husband, family and friends.

Strengths – GST, annual account preparation, income tax, manages our technical library and good on research

Karl Ward

Lived in the Katikati area most of his life.

Has a New Zealand Diploma in Business Studies and a BOP Polytechnic Diploma in Business (endorsed in finance) and is now completing his studies part time through Waikato University towards a Bachelor of Management Studies.

Enjoys training in martial arts, movie making and playing poker.

Is the Accumulus champion chocolate eater

Strengths – Annual Accounts Preparation, GST, Income Tax, Banklink and any odd jobs around the office.

Viv Proffitt

Viv has worked in accounting offices since 1978, starting as a receptionist and then moving onto preparing financial statements and tax returns and expanding her knowledge to cover anything she is asked to do. She joined Bev Oswald in June 1999, the practice later sold to a Tauranga firm, Ingham Mora, which has relocated back to Tauranga. Viv started with Accumulus in December 2010.

She enjoys fishing, camping, tramping, sewing and dancing.

Strengths – All aspects of annual accounting preparation including: Livestock, GST and Income Tax

Chris Hewlett

Strengths – Calmly doing the many varied tasks that need doing administratively in an accounting practice. Organising the team members to participate in a variety of events both inside and outside of work hours. Always cheerful.