Success takes teamwork, and at Bridge we work with you as part of your team to help you achieve your goals. No matter what your business goals are, which industry you’re in, or what kind of assistance you’re looking for, there’s someone on our team who can help.
We’re proud to invest in our people, giving them the skills and experience to meet your needs. That’s why so many of our team have achieved – or are working towards – Chartered Accountant status. We’d like to introduce you to a few of our Chartered Accountants, so you can see some of the many ways Bridge can support your business journey.
Heather Woolhouse – Chartered Accountant, Farming & Investments Specialist
Having lived on a beef farm – previously a dairy farm – with her husband and children since the 1990s, Heather has plenty of relevant experience to share with our farming clients.
“I’m familiar with Farm Focus and Figured, both specialist farm accounting programs,” says Heather. “I help farmers with the reconciliation of cattle and answer their many queries about which expenses they can claim. I also help with cashflows when clients need a loan from the bank, selling statements and asset allocations when required for the sale of a farm.”
Heather also specialises in the tax implications of investment portfolios, including for both NZ and overseas shares, which she says many farmers choose to invest in after they sell their farm.
Ryan Perkins – Chartered Accountant, Cashflow Forecaster & Xero Expert
Ryan is our resident cashflow forecasting expert, helping business owners to identify periods where cash may be short or in surplus. It’s a useful tool for any medium to large business, says Ryan, but is especially important for businesses in the early stages of growth.
“Cashflow forecasting gives you the ability to plan ahead and secure finance where needed or see when capital expenditure would be appropriate,” Ryan says. “It’s also a great way to test out different scenarios to see how it affects the cash balance, such as increasing sales by 10%, or reducing debtor days. There are plenty of other benefits too, like building a better relationship with financiers, and gaining more insight into the key drivers of cash movements in your business and how to optimise them, which will ultimately increase the value of your business.”
Ryan also helps with Xero setup and training, from the basics to more complex functions such as accounts payable, entering budgets and custom reporting.
Keely Blake – Chartered Accountant, Xero Setup and Training Specialist
Keely helps businesses set up and get the most out of Xero and their entire accounting system
“Usually for new businesses this includes recommending the subscription to best suit their needs, so I’ll find out what they need from their accounting package in terms of compliance such as GST registration, and what functionality they need from Xero such as invoicing or bills, inventory, payroll, projects or multi-currency transactions, along with reporting,” says Keely.
Keely also helps with more complex setups requiring integration with other systems, such as those requiring inventory management. Then once the setup is done, she offers tailored training, along with ongoing support, to help clients get the most out of their accounting package.
“Accounting software like Xero is a must for any business these days,” says Keely. “It gives you a greater understanding of where your business is at and helps with future planning.”
Wherever you are on your business journey, we’re here to help
From day-to-day accounting and tax compliance to specialist business advice, one of our qualified and experienced team will be glad to help. Simply contact us for a chat about where you’re going on your business journey today.