By Renée Lang
Photo Ishna Jacobs
Although the firm of Johnston Associates South has been well established in Nelson for more than 10 years, what might not be so well known is that it is the fastest-growing firm in its field in the Nelson-Marlborough region and has offices in Havelock and Blenheim.
Staff also offer much more than the usual compliance services, and this is because they are of the view that it’s important to look at not just where modern accounting is right now but where it is going – and how their advisory consultancy services can help, particularly pertaining to specialist consulting and succession planning.
In fact, two of their new associates are offering services that in previous years might have been viewed as well outside the traditional purview of chartered accountants.
Specialising in business technology, Jonathon Deans CA joined the firm four years ago after a fairly traditional stint in the world of accounting. However, with his interest in technology and certification in Xero, Xero Payroll and Workflowmax, he has quickly established himself as the go-to associate at the firm for advice on the best and most appropriate software available for clients’ specific needs. It’s an important part of the service that Johnston Associates South offers, given the ongoing changes and improvements in technology. However, Jonathon also has significant experience in the areas of business structure and cashflow forecasting and his industry specialties include trades, professional services, IT and retail.
Blenheim-based associate Ben Halliday is firmly focused on business development which he knows quite a lot about, particularly as it was his experience that saw Johnston Associates South establish a small but extremely efficient team in Blenheim two years ago. Not only did Ben research and find the premises but his background in HR saw him successfully recruit the staff members necessary for the branch. For this, and other reasons, he sees his role within the firm as unique and he is justifiably proud of the referrals the firm receives as a result of his ‘out-of-the-box’ approach to modern accounting. One of Ben’s interests is winemaking and so it is hardly surprising that he counts a number of local wine companies and winemakers among his clients. Like Jonathon, he places a high value on the services he offers, which are tailored to individual client’s needs and thus go well beyond the day-to-day issues of compliance.
It’s also good to know that the large team behind both Jonathon and Ben also have their clients’ best interests at heart and with their unwavering belief in always taking into consideration the ‘best fit’ for each client, it’s clear that if you want to work with an accountancy firm that doesn’t just look at your present needs but is also actively signalling useful directions for the future, you’d do well to choose Johnston Associates South.
Contact
jacalsouthisland.nz
Phone: 03 548 7437
Jonathon: jdeans@jacal.co.nz
Ben: bhalliday@jacal.co.nz