Who we are
Our People
The McKenzie+Co team
We are a great team that loves working together in a friendly, fun and open environment.
This is the McKenzie+Co team on our annual bus trip. Keeping to our theme of Mexican, we all dressed up in anything Mexican related and took a trip to Dunedin for a day of Escape Rooms, great food at Amigo’s and Workmate Bingo. What better people could you enjoy dressing up and having a great day out of the office with, (what happens on tour, stays on tour)!
The Director
Fraser McKenzie
Fraser’s passion is anything rural. “Rural businesses are different, to get it right you need to understand the nature of farming and the people involved, it is complex, the business of the family is intertwined with the family business.”
While all aspects of the work are challenging, Fraser particularly enjoys getting the structure and governance of rural businesses right, making sure time is spent planning with clients, not only for those who may be looking for succession options, but those starting their farming careers and wanting to progress.
fraser@mckenzieca.co.nz
Associate
Helen Fortune
Helen has recently relocated from Christchurch to join our team, purchasing a property in Ngapara. She loves partnering with businesses to achieve their needs of today while planning for tomorrow. Helen helps our clients by developing their financial literacy, systems & processes, change management, forecasting and cashflow management skills, utilising IT systems, and risk evaluation & mitigation. At home Helen enjoys exploring the countryside with her dog Mike, gardening, reading and spending time with her family.
General Manager & Human Resources
Jo Harnett
Jo is a North Otago local with a background in banking and business administration / management. Jo is charged with making sure our valuable team are well looked after and supported. As a strong values based firm, Jo ensures our unique culture is proudly maintained. As a support for senior management, Jo helps keep the organisation running smoothly while looking out for improvements along the way. Outside of work, Jo enjoys playing squash, walking Wilbur the dog, and dabbling in art and metal sculpture (although her welding could do with a bit more practice!).
Accountants
With over 125 years of collective industry experience, you couldn’t be in safer hands. Clients are paired with the accountant who has the right skills and knowledge to get the best out of their business.
Debbie Gilchrist
Debbie is our longest serving team member and has a level of skill and experiences to match. While Debbie can do most things, she focuses her expertise on farming. Debbie’s longevity extends to her clients who she has a close friendly relationship with and would hope that her clients feel the same as she works very hard on their behalf.
Abby Bruwer
Abby now works remotely from Christchurch where she lives with her husband, two young daughters and son. She has a farming background and recently completed her Associate Chartered Accountant qualifications. Abby mainly works from home these days as she combines work with motherhood.
Abbey Martyn
Abbey is a Chartered Accountant having returned home to Oamaru after her time studying and working in Dunedin and is currently on maternity leave. She has been with us for over 5 years and has a vast array of knowledge between both the rural sector and commercial. Outside of work Abbey enjoys spending time with her family.
Kelly Byars
Kelly works remotely as a Senior Accountant from her home in Invercargill where she lives with her husband. She has previously worked at a Chartered Accountants firm in Gore for 22 years at a Senior Accountant level which included Reviewing and working directly with Agribusiness clients. She is a keen squash player/coach and owns a 200ha dairy cattle grazing farm located at Arthurton, 20 mins North of Gore.
Megan McLeod
Megan is an Oamaru girl at heart. She has completed a Commerce degree from Lincoln University bringing together her studies and a semi-rural upbringing, Megan has a good understanding of rural businesses and is keen to help on any agricultural related projects. Megan is also our Xero Go-To-Girl for both in-house and client related queries. Although this keeps Megan busy, she likes to spend her free time with family and friends and particularly likes our local lakes.
Judith McLay
Jude is from Canterbury, born and breed, and spent many years in Chartered Accountancy offices in Christchurch. After spending the last 15 years working as an Accountant for a tourism business in Te Anau she now finds herself back to her roots in our firm. Judith works remotely from her lifestyle block in Mossburn, Southland. Judith has a passion for cooking and baking, which is handy when her husband loves to eat !!! Other interest are her pets, walking and trying to fish.
Eddi Gayfer
Eddi brings over 20 years Chartered Accountancy experience to the team, working remotely from her home in Wanaka. She enjoys working with a variety of businesses and appreciates rural New Zealand. Eddi likes to take in the scenery along the many walking tracks on offer and she also enjoys artwork and all sorts of puzzles.
Susie Chambers
Susie works remotely from Cambridge, but originally from Waimate, so a South Island girl at heart. She has rejoined McKenzie’s after 10+ years out of paid work to raise a family. Susie is looking forward to getting back into the swing of it all. Outside of work Susie enjoys spending time with family & friends and trying to keep fit. She also has a passion for sewing and loves the fact she can wear something no-one else has!
Hope Wilson
Hope is a country girl at heart, having grown up on a dairy farm. After completing her Bachelor of Commerce degree, majoring in Accounting and Minoring in Management, from Otago University, Hope decided to move home to be closer to her family and friends. Hope’s older brother, Blake, taught her from a young age to not be scared of hard work. In her spare time, Hope enjoys adventuring and spending time with her partner.
Melissa Milmine
Melissa lives with her husband and two children on a lifestyle block and has recently joined our team as a Graduate Accountant after completing her Bachelor of Business (Accounting). Outside of work she helps her husband manage their plumbing business and enjoys trips away with the family in the caravan, reading and keeping fit with Crossfit.
Jakki Shields
Jakki grew up on a crop farm in Kakanui and is one of the newest staff members to join the McKenzie & Co team. Jakki is currently studying the NZ Diploma in Business (Accounting) and is looking forward completing the Bachelor of Accounting in the near future. She is a proud mum of 2 young, yet super busy, boys and outside of work she loves sport and spending time with family and friends.
Teng Lim
Teng is also one of our new staff members. Teng is originally from Singapore and moved to New Zealand 3 years ago. Teng is an Accountant with a commercial and government background. He has an interest in Industrial / Infrastructure Development. Outside of the office Teng you enjoy hiking and travelling.
Tax Management
Tax compliance is an important part of the services we provide to our clients; taxation laws are increasingly complex and ever-changing. Our Tax Team are 100% committed to accuracy, meeting deadlines and achieving the best outcome for every client.
Andrea Griffin
Officially, Andrea is a integral part of our Tax Team. Unofficially she is proficient at most things and always happy to give it a go. Andrea keeps on top of our tax administration and assists with client payroll processing. Outside of work Andrea enjoys time spent with family, church and watching movies.
Claire Gilchrist
Claire is a qualified Accounting Technician and has many years of experience in Chartered Accountancy firms in both the North Island and South Island. Joining McKenzie+Co in 2009 as part of the Accounting team, Claire has now moved into a Tax Management role, overseeing our client’s tax obligations and managing our client base with Inland Revenue. Outside of work Claire enjoys the outdoors, is an avid animal lover and an accomplished dancer.
Technology and Innovation
With technological change creating opportunities for business to become more effective and efficient you can be sure we are keeping you up with the changes. Our staff are technology focused and are constantly searching for better solutions for business and are here to offer support when needed.
Administration
Now you can put a face to the voices who answer our office line. Both front-of-house and behind-the-scenes tasks are completed with professionalism and smiles by our Administration Team.
Jennie Mills
Jennie is our gatekeeper. She has a talent for making everyone smile when they come in the door. We rely on Jennie for support to the accounting team and clients alike. She fulfills many administration services across McKenzie+Co. She is also Fraser’s “go to girl” and keeps him on the straight & narrow. Outside of work Jennie enjoys traveling with her husband, spending time with family & friends and enjoying life.
Izhan Minnaar
Izzy/ Izhan is the newest addition to the McKenzie+Co “Front-of-House” administration team with the goal of making sure you leave our office with a smile. She is originally from South Africa (and no, she didn’t ride a lion to school). Izhan has been calling NZ home for more than 5 years, getting married & having her baby in Timaru, and has recently moved to Windsor. Outside off work, she loves spending time with her family by taking walks on the farm & upcycling furniture.
Bex Diedrichs
Bex is an Oamaru girl at heart and is responsible for preparing client payrolls, bookkeeping and Xero support. Bex enjoys spending time at the Waitaki Lakes during the Summer months, walking, gardening and a good board game, but most of all Bex loves to spend time with her family and friends and supporting her children in their involvements.
Tori Griffin
Tori is one of our Administration Team. Her role is Admin Support, so you may receive emails or texts from her chasing up missing paperwork. Outside of work Tori enjoys time spent with her family and going for walks with their dogs.
Fleur Newton
Fleur hails from Australia and joined our team in 2013. Fleur takes charge as our Projects Manager which includes workshops and seminars along with many other tasks. Fleur supports all departments within McKenzie+Co as well as our clients and is willing to give anything a red-hot go. Outside of work Fleur is passionate about her family, photography, health and fitness & the great outdoors.