Taryn Phillips joins Whanganui's Adept Accountants, takes on Lower Hutt firm's clients

Taryn Phillips (second from right) has joined the Adept Accountants team (from left) Trevor Young, Rochelle Minnell, Kate Osborne and Lance Green.

Whanganui chartered accountant Taryn Phillips has joined the team at Adept Accountants to look after new clients the firm has acquired from a Lower Hutt practice.

Lance Green and Trevor Young started Adept Accountants four years ago and recently brought Phillips on board when they had the opportunity to purchase Lower Hutt accounting firm Raroa Accountants from Elaine White, who wanted to retire.

"We originally started Adept Accountants because we wanted to offer something a little bit different from the usual accountants, in that Trevor and I did all the work with the clients - there was no intermediary," Green said.

"Since then we've grown quite significantly. We're been pleasantly surprised from where we started.

"Raroa Accountants had the same philosophy as we had but we couldn't take on another practice without engaging somebody else."

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They took on Phillips to look after the Lower Hutt client base and additional clients.

"We see it as part of the evolution of our firm and having a female influence is totally brilliant," Green said.

"Technology means it's possible now to have clients in other areas. We have a diverse client base and quite a few overseas clients."

Phillips said the Raroa practice was varied and already had clients all around New Zealand "so they were used to working with someone in another place".

"I've been to Lower Hutt a few times to meet the clients face to face but I don't have to be based there," Phillips said.

Phillips was previously an associate at Richard Millward and Associates which merged with Moore Stephens Markhams in mid-2017.

"I've really enjoyed my time working with Richard [Millward] but I wanted to go back to a smaller practice," Phillips said.

"There's more personal contact with the client and more involvement in day-to-day operations with the client. There's a walk-in policy here - clients don't need to make an appointment. It's a refreshing change for me."

Phillips said accountancy was "not just about processing the accounts any more".

"Things have changed in the workplace and a lot of clients are female and want to deal with a female accountant."

It was important to keep abreast of developments in government requirements, such as the common reporting standard and anti-money laundering obligations, Green said.

"With Taryn on board we have the capacity to grow to the next level. It's a really positive step in our business and Taryn has the capacity to see new clients."

Elaine White has become a consultant to Adept Accountants to give continuity and ensure a smooth transition for her former clients.