Women in Business: Switch Accountants and Advisors

Switch Accountants and Advisors may be a new company in town, but with 77 years combined experience between the three directors Charlene Purcell, Raina Hiki and Cathy de Farias, they are an experienced accounting team.

The trio recently set up Switch Accountants and Advisors, having already worked successfully together for many years and knew they shared a common vision of “caring about more than numbers”.

Charlene, Raina and Cathy all bring a unique skillset to Switch, aptly named because they deliver business services, support and advice to enable their clients to switch on new opportunities. Switch Accountants and Advisors mission is to uncover ways to achieve better results, help to improve efficiencies to free up more time and ensure hard-earned assets are protected.

The directors, and their team of six offer a full range of accounting and advisory services including: compliance and tax, business advisory and asset protection and can work with you to find the right software to support your business. Their strengths lie in their strong established networks amongst their own team and also within the business and professional community.

The Directors

Charlene Purcell

Charlene Purcell started her career in Wellington 24 years ago after graduating with a Bachelor of Business Studies (Accounting) from Massey University. Charlene has worked with an array of clients from individuals, family trusts through to corporates and everything in-between and has a special interest in the rural sector. Charlene prides herself on working closely with clients to ensure they can sleep at night knowing Switch is looking after their tax obligations and providing support to help them achieve their business goals. Outside of work Charlene loves watching her children play sport and camping off the grid down the coast. Two of her proudest achievements would be bungy jumping off the Pipeline in Queenstown and starting Switch Accountants – “jumping off a stable platform was a bit like taking the step away from a guaranteed wage to business ownership – scary”.

Raina Hiki

Raina Hiki has 23 years accounting experience, starting out as an office junior and working her way up the ranks through the years gaining a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) and New Zealand Diploma in Business along the way. Raina enjoys working with clients from a variety of business sectors and structures, providing accounting, business and tax advice. Raina’s driving force is to work alongside clients “to help them understand their numbers, achieve their business goals and plan for their future”. Her greatest achievements and passion are her children and being part of Switch Accountants and having the opportunity to work alongside people she respects and cares about.

Cathy de Farias

Cathy de Farias has just on 30 years of experience working for Chartered Accountants and just about every type of business structure and sector. Cathy’s passion is interpreting numbers and looking for opportunities to save time, money and stress for her clients. Cathy has had a varied career including working in packhouses, retail stores, picking berries, packing feijoas, drenching and herding goats, office administration, payroll officer, inventory tracking, early childhood work, Board of Trustees and volunteer work – all of which confirm she just loves numbers and people. Cathy believes having children has probably taught her the most in life in terms of what makes her tick, what she’s good at and not so flash at. Outside of work Cathty loves to travel and is grateful for her children and for having the opportunity to work alongside great people, in an amazing place.

If you are looking to make a change, contact the team at Switch Accountants and Advisors who pride themselves on keeping it real, being respectful, doing what’s right and delivering excellence. If you have the courage to embrace change – so does Switch Accountants and Advisors – so give them a call today.