Dignan Stephens Accountants

At Dignan Stephens Accountants we understand that our people are our most valuable resource and investment. Our stringent selection process allows only the most experienced and qualified people the opportunity to join our friendly and enthusiastic team of professionals.

Our reputation for outstanding service is driven by our focus on team training and mentoring, ensuring all team members are armed with the knowledge, experience and enthusiasm to take a proactive approach in resolving issues for our diverse client base.

BUSINESS SERVICES & TAXATION

Chris Warwick, B.Bus, CPA
Registered Tax Agent

Chris is a fully qualified Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA) who started his accounting career working in Canberra with RSM Bird Cameron. Now with over 13 years’ experience in the taxation & accounting industry, he specialises in property development, business re-structure and taxation minimisation.

Chris also has financial lending experience and currently oversees the development of the firm’s finance division.

His passion within business is working alongside business owners, helping them to grow their businesses. His personal passion is with his family and football.

Colin Mackenzie, B.Bus, CPA

Registered Tax Agent, Registered ASIC SMSF Auditor, Registered ASIC Agent

Colin, originally from Grafton in N.S.W, has been managing or has owned several businesses including retail, wholesale and services businesses before, in 2004, Colin and his family became residents of the Gold Coast.

Since 2004, Colin has gained extensive experience as a tax accountant and tax agent with various Gold Coast firms.

During the past 12 years Colin has helped many business clients, using his experience in business, to fulfill their dreams of successfully operating a business.

While still a tax agent, Colin is also the Auditor of the group and can provide assurance services to Trustees of Self Managed Super Funds, fellow practitioners using trust accounts, legal firms using trust accounts and Not For Profits Organisations.

Belinda Mitchell, B.Bus, CA

Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Registered Tax Agent

Belinda joined Dignan Stephens Accountants in 2007 with almost a decade of accounting and taxation experience. She primarily gained her accounting experience at a leading Southport firm, and also spent twelve months working in Edinburgh, Scotland where she prepared financial statements for an international fund management company with hundreds of billions of pounds under management.

Specialising in business advisory, taxation and management advice, Belinda has a wealth of knowledge and experience across a broad range of industries including construction, retail, transport and the medical and pharmaceutical industries. She also has extensive experience and knowledge of Self Managed Superannuation Funds.

Belinda takes a proactive approach in assisting her clients to minimise their tax, protect their assets and create wealth for their retirement.

Shayne Palfreyman, B.Bus, CA

Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Registered Tax Agent

Shayne has over twenty-four years experience in the Accounting Industry. Ten years in Commerce including five years as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Billabong where he was an integral part in their growth from a single-branded private company to a public company with global operations. Following his departure from Billabong, Shayne worked as CFO of Amart All Sports for 2 years and joined Dignan Stephens as a Partner in 2010.

His areas of expertise include self managed superannuation, specialising in property and structures; assisting owners to develop a plan to achieve business profit objectives and goals; annual budgets and cashflows; analysis of business results to improve profitability; and developing reporting systems and management structures to assist owners in running their business without being involved in every decision.

Shayne is an author of two books aimed to assist business owners and individuals to improve their financial situation;

Business 4 Profit: Increasing your business profit and cash flow
The Budget Kit
Michael Ivey, B.Com, CPA – Senior Accountant

Michael is a fully qualified Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA) and holds a bachelor of commerce (B.Com) in Accounting. He joined Dignan Stephens in July 2009 after relocating to the coast from Warwick, where he held an accountancy position with a local firm for just under 10 years.

Michael specialises in investment property taxation planning, business structuring and tax minimisation. He has a broad spectrum of experience in Rural, Retail, Manufacturing, Building & Construction, Transport and Pharmaceutical industries.

Michael anticipates tax issues that might arise in situations and assists our clients to obtain the most advantageous tax position.

Brad Stemp, B.Bus – Accountant

Brad worked in the financial services industry for three years, before deciding to specialise in management accounting. Brad worked for a leading mid-tier accounting and business services firm in Perth for four years prior to moving back to his roots on the Gold Coast. He joined Dignan Stephens Accountants in August 2012 and is currently studying towards his Chartered Accountant qualification (CA).

Brad specialises in family tax planning and  is a superannuation tax specialist. Brad has varied, in-depth experience of the resources sector, engineering, manufacturing, hospitality, management rights, agriculture, retail and SME’s.

As a local resident, (with Australia wide experience), Brad is able to identify with clients and provide them with the service that best fits their needs.

Joanne Zhang, B.Com, CA

Joanne joined Dignan Stephens Accountants in 2016 with ten years of accounting experience. Originally from mainland China, Joanne ventured to New Zealand where she graduated from the University of Auckland with her Bachelor of Commerce and began working in public accounting practices.

In 2009 Joanne relocated to Australia, further developing her knowledge of accounting, taxation services and self managed super funds across a multitude of entities.

Speaking both Mandarin and English fluently, Joanne is adaptable to any situation and remains level headed whilst endeavoring to provide clients with a variety of business services.

Courtenay Hawthorn – Accountant

Courtenay joined Dignan Stephens Accountants in February 2016 with ten years of administration experience, specialising in office management, whilst also possessing several years’ experience maintaining client’s accounts . Recently returning to work after maternity leave, Courtenay has been completing her Bachelor of Accounting and is currently enjoying the experience provided by working alongside the dedicated team at Dignan Stephens.

SELF MANAGED SUPER FUND & FINANCIAL PLANNING

Mike Oliver, B.Bus, CPA
Registered Tax Agent

Mike is a fully qualified Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA) with extensive experience in the accounting profession for some 14 years.  He has a variety of clients from diverse industries such as real estate, retail, construction and high net wealth individuals, with a strong focus on self-managed super funds.

Mike’s ability to grasp the big picture of your business, as well as understand what are the key performance indicators that effect you, has led him to become an integral part of the client’s management team.

Mike’s passion in business is to help his clients understand their most precious commodity (time) and to help them leverage to produce more effective results.

A father of 3, Mike enjoys the beautiful waterways of the Gold Coast and uses every chance he gets to be in or on the water.

AUDIT & ASSURANCE

Colin Mackenzie, B.Bus, CPA

Registered Tax Agent, Registered ASIC SMSF Auditor, Registered ASIC Agent

Colin originally from Grafton in N.S.W, has been managing or has owned several businesses including retail, wholesale and services business before in 2004 Colin and his family became residents of the Gold Coast.

Since 2004 Colin has gained extensive experience as a tax accountant and tax agent with various Gold Coast firms.

During the past 12 years Colin has helped many business clients, using his experience in business to fulfill their dreams of successfully operating a business.

While still a tax agent Colin is also the Auditor of the group and can provide assurance services to Trustee`s of SMSF, fellow practitioners using trust accounts, legal firms using trust accounts and Not For Profits Organisations.

Shane Parsons
 
FINANCIAL LENDING

Kristy Okkonen

ADMINISTRATION

Carey Batchelor, C.Dec – Practice Manager

Carey has over twenty-seven years of experience in administration, including 20 years for 2 of the major debt collection agencies and 6 years in public practice, with roles ranging from, reception and general administration to executive assistant and administration/practice manager.

Carey joined Dignan Stephens Accountants in March 2010 and helps manage the day to day operations of the practice. In her current position as Practice Manager, she provides professional support to the directors, assisting with reception, maintaining our computers and database software, and is responsible for developing and improving our internal systems and processes.

Throughout her career as an administrative support professional, she has developed a solid work ethic and understands the continuous need for strong workflow practices and operations. She has built up a wonderful rapport with our clients and her main focus is on customer service.

Dignan Stephens Accountants in Nerang, Gold Coast, QLD categorized under Accountants with expertise in GST / BAS Returns, Self Managed Super Funds (SMSF), Wealth Management.

Additional services by Dignan Stephens Accountants are Retirement Planning, Estate Planning, Accounting, Business Activity Statements Preparation, Insurance, Tax Planning, Superannuation, Budgeting.

Call the staff at Dignan Stephens Accountants to ask about our services and prices.

Services

Business Services

• Financial accounting and management reporting
• Strategic business planning
• Budgeting and Cashflow forecasting
• Asset protection
• Business restructure and analysis
• Succession planning
• Business mentoring
• Business benchmarking analysis
• Debt and Cashflow management

Superannuation

• Establishment of Self Managed Superannuation Funds
• Self Managed Superannuation Fund compliance including financial reporting and income tax returns
• Audit of Self Managed Superannuation Funds
• Employer superannuation compliance and advice

Audit and Assurance

• Trust account audits
• Business Services Authority (BSA) audits
• Internal control reviews
• Due diligence and acquisitions

Wealth Management
At Dignan Stephens we pride ourselves on being a fully integrated financial service provider. As such we are able to take care of all of your financial needs including:

• Risk insurance
• Superannuation
• Asset allocation
• Investment selection
• Wealth accumulation
• Retirement planning
• Redundancy planning
• Centrelink
• Investment administration
• Estate planning
• Salary packaging
• Lending
• General Insurance
• Tax Planning

Testimonials

“I highly recommend Dignan Stephens Accountants as our accountant of choice who understand and implement our instructions and requirements in relation to those business, accounting and taxation matters which are important to us. Our association with Belinda Pangbourne and Dignan Stephens Accountants has been of great benefit to us, and it is always a pleasure dealing with a person and firm setting such high professional and personal standards.”