MEDIA RELEASE FROM ASHTON WHEELANS AND MIGHTY EFFICIENT, WANAKA
August 25, 2016. For immediate release
Wanaka accounting firm and bookkeeping company win regional accolades with Xero
Two Wanaka businesses have been recognised for excellence in accounting and bookkeeping at the annual New Zealand Xero
Regional Awards.
Accounting firm Ashton Wheelans and bookkeeping company Mighty Efficient yesterday won Xero Accounting Partner of the
Year and Xero Bookkeeping Partner of the Year respectively, for the entire Southern region.
Accounting Partner of the Year and Bookkeeping Partner of the Year were the only accolades given out at the regional
awards, held in Queenstown. Dozens of accounting and bookkeeping businesses from all over Otago and Southland entered
the competition. Entrants had to demonstrate innovation in client services to improve business performance.
Both Wanaka companies are now in the running for their respective national titles, which will be announced at the
Xerocon South gala dinner in Brisbane on September 9.
Mighty Efficient is owned by Wanaka women Anja O’Connor and Bronwyn McCarthy. Since establishing in 2012, the company
has grown significantly, earning Xero Gold Partner status and O’Connor and McCarthy recently developing an app for their
clients. The app is designed to track labour which makes it easy to manage payroll and invoicing for people in the
construction and trade industry.
“What matters to us is making life easy for our clients – whether it’s full bookkeeping support, setting up Xero or
offering training sessions.” O’Connor says. “We are always looking for a better way of doing things, and the app
represents that. We are humbled and honoured to receive this award and are thrilled that bookkeeping is recognised as an
important profession.”
Ashton Wheelans’ Wanaka office is run by chartered accountant and partner Nigel Perkins. Perkins, who also set up in
Wanaka in 2012, now has a client base of 600 from Auckland to Invercargill – made possible with Xero accounting
software. Ashton Wheelans, which also has offices in Christchurch and Kaiapoi, is the only Platinum Xero partner in
Wanaka.
“We are delighted to receive this award. It recognises that we are a proactive firm that embraces technology and
promotes innovation with our clients,” Perkins says. “We believe in providing accounting with a difference - supporting
our clients closely and helping them achieve their business goals, and Xero enables us to do this.”
ENDS