Chris is the newest Director at Bridge, having become a Director in April this year. But he’ll be no stranger to Bridge clients, having worked with the firm for the last 12 years.
Chris is a fantastic example of Bridge’s commitment to giving staff the training and development opportunities they need to excel. He joined the firm after completing his Bachelor of Accounting degree, starting in our Dargaville office as he previously lived in Warkworth, before moving to Whangarei seven years ago. He went on to achieve his Chartered Accounting qualification under the guidance of our other Directors, and now he’s a Director himself, he’ll be training and mentoring the next generation of accountants at Bridge.
Chris’s accounting training is very broad-based, and as part of the Bridge team he’s gained experience working across the full range of accounting services. But his particular specialty is in business valuations, and he frequently spends time these days carrying out valuations for business sales and purchases, as well as for shareholder changes and exit strategies.
“Our expertise in this area comes from our experience” says Chris. “As a firm we have been completing these assignments for a long period”.
As a Director, Chris now has a big influence on the future direction of the firm, but he says his aspirations are pretty simple. “It’s to provide a high quality service to our clients and to work alongside them to help them achieve success. So my hopes are really for our clients rather than for us,” says Chris.
He also keeps a keen eye on developments within the accounting profession and sees technology and the way it’s changing accounting as a great opportunity to allow us to serve our clients better.
“Staying on top of changes in technology will be key for the business”, Chris says. “The firm places a strong emphasis on internal training, so attending courses and keeping up to date with change is really important for us.”
When he’s not at work, Chris enjoys getting outdoors and going mountain biking and running. But with an eight-month-old son, he says his downtime has changed a lot lately – now he reckons sleep is great when it’s available! We’re sure he’ll be back on the trails again soon enough.
If you’d like to speak to Chris about a business valuation, or any of your accounting or business advisory needs, give him a call or drop him an email. Like everyone here at Bridge, Chris is dedicated to supporting your business journey to ensure your legacy of success.
