ADVISORS

Professional Advisory Team

Shand Thomson has been providing accounting services to the farming and business community in Clutha District since Percy Shand established the practice in 1944.  Since then, there have been a number of principals in the firm including Bill Thomson (senior), Don Sutherland, Archie MacTavish, David Baughan and Brian Dodds. Long-time South Otago residents will be familiar with these gentlemen through their involvement in community organisations - a cornerstone value supported by the current principals.

SUSIE JOHNSTONE

Susie has a wide range of governance experience including the office of the Auditor General's Audit & Risk Committee, chairing the Dunedin City Council's Audit and Risk Committee and the Southern District Health Board's Finance Audit and Risk group, and board roles with REANNZ, Otago Polytechnic, Southland, Otago and Southern District Health Boards, Tourism New Zealand, the NZ Blood Service and the New Zealand Hockey Federation.  She is currently a director of Dunedin City Holdings Ltd and several of its associated companies and a trustee of the Dunedin Diocesan Trust Board and the Clutha Foundation.

Locally, she likes to work with agri folk and the businesses that support them. Her focus is helping people achieve optimal outcomes whatever their circumstances, especially in the areas of succession planning and property sharing. 

  • Specialist fields: Governance, Systems, Education and Health, Agri Advisory, Succession, Relationship Property Resolution

JIM JOHNSTONE

Jim holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Commerce from Lincoln as well as a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting from Otago University. He is an innovator and facilitator in the areas of agri governance, benchmarking, and investment. He helps farming families lift on-farm performance and find succession and relationship solutions. Jim served for several years on the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountant's primary sector committee, is a previous board member of Clutha Health First and was the inaugural Chair of Sport Clutha.  More recently Jim has been working with the committee steering the new Town Hall project in Balclutha.

  • Specialist fields: Farm Management, Sector Benchmarking, Health Sector, Agri Governance, Agri Business, Succession

GAYE COWIE

Gaye and her husband farm at Tuapeka West running sheep and beef. She enjoys working with young farming families in the sheep, beef and dairy sectors helping them increase their financial management skills and grow their business. In the past Gaye was Deputy Chair of the Clutha Development Inc and Chair of the Board of Proprietors of St Hilda's Collegiate School. She is a past Chair of the Clutha Valley Primary School Board of Trustees and was instrumental in securing a new school facility for the district.  She is currently a member of the Chartered Accountants Australia New Zealand Rural Sector Committee and supports her local community in her role as Chair of Tuapeka Community Health Company.

  • Specialist fields: Agribusiness, Tax Planning, Family Succession, Education

TRACEY MURRAY

Tracey is a Chartered Accountant with a degree in Business Studies from the Open Polytechnic. She has a broad range of experience in the SME sector working with businesses and investors on their reporting and tax obligations and helping larger organisations with full scale management and external reporting. She has specialist skills in finding "best fit" software solutions for SMEs and implementing business process automation software solutions and loves to help with day to day system issues. 

Tracey is the treasurer of two local churches and is a board member of the Dunedin Diocesan Finance Committee.  She recently joined the Board of Recovered Living NZ.     

Specialist fields: Taxation, Advisory Services for SMEs, DIY Software & Solutions, Business Startups, Restructuring

CAROLYN MILLS

Carolyn joined the Shand Thomson team in 1985 and worked with Jeff Seymour for many years.  Her skill and judgement were recognised when she was appointed an Associate in 2020.

Carolyn leads technical training sessions for our team and her quietly confident and pleasant manner are a real asset to all she works with.

  • Specialist fields: Agri Advisory, Farm Benchmarking, Taxation

TIM BATHGATE

With a degree from Lincoln University (Farm Management/Rural Valuation) Agri is very much Tim's home base and he particularly enjoys working with farmers, foresters and the industries that support them. He has interests in advisory, taxation and business planning and as a certified trainer in Cash Manager Rural, Xero and Figured can also help clients put in place the recording systems that work best for them.

  • Specialist fields: Agri Advisory, Farm Benchmarking, DIY Software Solutions, Taxation, Forestry/ETS

NICOLE EDWARDS

Nicole joined Shand Thomson after graduating from the University of Otago.  She was awarded CA status with CAANZ in 2017.  Nicole has a natural talent with IT solutions and has experience in almost all of the options available.  She is a member of the Otago special interest taxation group and enjoys working with young people starting out in business.

  • Specialist fields: Agri Advisory, DIY Software & Solutions, Taxation, Xero Implementation

BILL THOMSON

Bill has a rich history of involvement in the rural business community which includes chairing District business support and economic development agencies. He is also a past Chair of the Otago Community Trust and the local association of Justices of the Peace. Bill has been a long standing contributor and office bearer of the Life Education Trust. Bill works with SMEs, farming families and family trusts, specialising in inter-generational transfers and agri investments. Those he works with benefit from his wide breadth of commercial experience and business acumen.

  • Specialist fields: Community Development, Business Mentoring

JEFF SEYMOUR 

Jeff works predominantly with the farming, forestry, agri business and contracting communities and they benefit from his extensive experience in these areas. He is actively involved in our local community, and is currently the Chair of the Cross Recreation Centre, the new Clutha District indoor sports facility, after successfully bringing the $5m project to fruition as Chair of the fundraising body. He served as a Clutha District councillor for twelve years, chairing the Corporate Services Committee.

  • Specialist fields: Forestry, Agribusiness, Local Government, Employment
DIY Software

We would love to see you at one of our bi-annual drop in sessions at the new Clutha Community Hub.



Keep an eye on Facebook and Instagram for our next session.

Community

Our advisors have a proud history of supporting community organisations. The Clutha Foundation, Clutha Recreation Centre and Owaka Museum are just a few of the entities that we are passionate about.

Fellowship Award

Gaye Cowie was recently awarded a Fellowship by Chartered Accountants Australia New Zealand. The fellowship recognises Gaye's significant contribution to the agri community. Read more in our Autumn 2019 newsletter.

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